Little Change in Job Ratings of Bush or Congressional Parties

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- The latest USA Today/Gallup poll finds the job performance ratings of President George W. Bush and the Republicans and Democrats in Congress essentially unchanged compared to their previous readings, although Bush's job approval rating has now recovered five percentage points since his early-July low point.

All three political entities are viewed more negatively than positively by a majority of Americans, with the Democrats doing a bit better than the Republicans. While current ratings of the two major parties in Congress are not significantly lower than they were when last measured in February, they are at their technical low points for the trends that began in 1999.

According to the Aug. 3-5, 2007 survey, public approval of the nation's leadership currently stands at 37% for the Democrats in Congress, 34% for Bush, and 29% for the Republicans in Congress. More than 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of Bush and the Republicans in Congress, while 55% disapprove of the Democrats in Congress.

Gallup's previous job performance rating for Bush was conducted in mid-July. At that time, 31% of Americans approved of the overall job he is doing as president, and 63% disapproved. In early July, Bush reached the low point of his administration with a job approval rating of 29%. Since May, his approval ratings have consistently fallen in a relatively narrow range between 29% and 34%, and have averaged 32%. In the first four months of the year, his ratings averaged a slightly higher 35%.

Gallup's previous approval measures of the Republicans and Democrats in Congress were conducted Feb. 9-11, 2007. The trend documents a slight decline of four points for each, but this is within the margin of error for comparing results between the two surveys. Thus, there is no sign that the Democrats in Congress are suffering disproportionately from public criticism now that they control Congress.

As evident in the longer-term trend, the Democrats in Congress have tended to score higher than congressional Republicans on this measure since the pair of questions were first asked in 1999.

Despite the similarity in overall approval ratings of Bush and the Republicans in Congress, there is not a perfect overlap between the two. Sixty-one percent of respondents who say they approve of the way Bush is handling his job also say they approve of the job the Republicans in Congress are doing; however, 36% disapprove.

Similarly, opposition to Bush does not equate with approval of the Democrats in Congress. Of those who disapprove of the job Bush is doing, only 47% approve of the job the Democrats are doing in Congress while 45% disapprove.

One Positive Perspective

The public as a whole shows broad dissatisfaction with the nation's leadership, but it has not reached the point where a majority of Republicans and Democrats are critical of their own party's leadership. Partisans still have at least one group they can root for.

Fifty-nine percent of Democrats (including Democratic leaners) say they approve of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job. A somewhat smaller majority of Republicans/Republican leaners (54%) approve of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job. Significantly more Republicans and leaners (71%) than Democrats and leaners (6%) approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president.

Survey Methods

Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,012 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Aug. 3-5, 2007. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error 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.

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way [ROTATED] are handling their job?

A. The Republicans in Congress

B. The Democrats in Congress