GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- The latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll finds more than 4 in 10 Americans strongly disapproving of the job George W. Bush is doing as president. His support among his core supporters (Republicans and conservatives) is as weak as it has been. Only 40% of Americans believe Bush can manage the government effectively, the worst rating he has received on this measure during his presidency. Other measures of Bush's personal characteristics are also at or near their lowest points. 

The Feb. 28 to March 1 poll finds 38% of Americans approving and 60% disapproving of Bush's job as president, within a point of his lowest approval rating and tied for his highest disapproval rating. 

When Americans were asked a follow-up of whether they strongly approve or disapprove of Bush, more than twice as many Americans say they strongly disapprove (44%) as say they strongly approve (20%) of Bush. The strong disapproval rating is the highest Gallup has measured for Bush by a percentage point, and is the highest for any president since Richard Nixon during the Watergate era. 

Nixon is the only other president to register strong disapproval ratings above 40% in Gallup Polls. Nixon had a 48% strong disapproval rating in February 1974, and a 46% rating days before he resigned from office in August 1974. Gallup first asked about strength of approval during the Lyndon Johnson administration, and has asked it periodically for every president since.  

Forty-nine percent of Republicans now strongly approve of Bush, the lowest expression of solidarity with Bush by his own party to date. A majority of Democrats, 68%, strongly disapprove of Bush -- as they have each time the intensity follow-up has been asked since September 2003. For the first time, a majority of independents, 53%, now strongly disapprove of Bush. 

In all, 82% of Republicans approve of the job Bush is doing as president, one of his worst ratings among this group and significantly lower than the 91% average approval rating among Republicans during his presidency. Twice in his term, his approval rating has fallen below 80% among Republicans, once last November and again in a Feb. 9-12 poll. 

Just 10% of Democrats and 27% of independents approve of Bush. On 10 occasions during his presidency, Bush's approval rating among Democrats has been in single digits, including twice in February. Bush's approval rating among independents has dipped below 30% on four occasions, with a low rating of 26% in November. 

For the first time since he took office, Bush's approval rating among self-identified conservatives has fallen below 60%. Bush has averaged 77% approval among conservatives (this includes conservatives who identify as Republicans, independents, or Democrats). Thirty-one percent of moderates and 12% of liberals currently approve of Bush. 

Bush's Personal Characteristics

Despite a drop in his overall job approval rating from the low 40s to the high 30s in recent weeks, perceptions of Bush on each of four personal characteristics included in the poll have not changed much. However, these remain at or near the lows for his presidency.   

Of the four characteristics, Bush is rated most positively on being "a strong and decisive leader." Fifty-two percent of Americans believe that description applies to Bush. This percentage is similar to the 49% to 52% identifying this characteristic with Bush in the previous four surveys. 

Forty-seven percent of Americans believe Bush is "honest and trustworthy," the fifth consecutive reading below 50% for Bush on this measure since September.  

Just 45% of Americans say that Bush "shares their values," while 52% disagree. The percentage of Americans saying Bush shares their values has been below the majority level since last July. 

Bush receives his worst marks of the four characteristics on being able to "manage the government effectively." Just 40% currently believe that Bush possesses this personal characteristic. That is the lowest rating he has received on this item during his presidency, although less than a majority have agreed with this appraisal since last fall. 

Doubts about Bush's competence are also evident in a separate question that asks whether Bush is paying enough attention to what his administration is doing. Thirty-eight percent of Americans believe he is, while 58% believe he is not. This issue has been raised during the controversy over the proposed sale of U.S. seaport operations in several cities to a Dubai-based company. Bush reportedly did not know about the deal until after U.S. government officials approved it.

The poll also finds 73% of the public saying big business has too much influence over decisions made by the Bush administration. A majority of Americans have held this view throughout Bush's presidency, but the current reading is the highest Gallup has recorded to date.

Survey Methods

These results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,020 adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Feb. 28 to March 1, 2006. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Commentary: