Washington, Sept 09: US President George W. Bush's approval ratings have taken a hit in recent weeks, but analysts say the reason lies in the country's economic troubles rather than the unrest in Iraq. The President's approval rating dropped nine points since May, slouching to 52 per cent, according to a poll published yesterday in Time magazine.
A poll by Zogby International released last weekend found his approval rating had slipped below 50 per cent. Only 45 per cent of respondents in that survey gave Bush positive marks, compared to 52 per cent a month earlier.
"It's a combination of Iraq and the economy, but much more based on the economy," explains Stephen Hess, a researcher with the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington.
But Hess argues everything is relative in polling data.
"If you look at his ratings before last February, for example, they would look fairly similar to what they are now," the expert says. "The spike up and the spike down all have to do with Iraq. In elective terms, the question of the economy is far more significant. These questions of Iraq at this time are not the sort that change election."
Bush, who is running for re-election in 2004, has already held a series of campaign-style events all over the country, showcasing his policies and achievements, while nine democratic hopefuls are stepping up attacks against him. Bureau Report