Those trend data can be viewed at Presidential Approval Ratings Overview from July. The current Washington Post poll is a joint effort with ABC that questions adults but does not seek to question registered voters; thus, it is impossible to extend the 3.5 years of trend data.
Although the edges may have moved slightly, current data from similar polls suggest that the nation remains divided almost 50-50, with slightly more people disapproving than approving of the President and his actions in Iraq and on the economy.
Job as President
September 8-9, Zogby America polled 1,018 "likely voters" (margin of error, +/- 3.1%). In this poll, 47 percent gave the President "excellent/good" marks and 53 percent gave him "fair/poor" marks.
This compares with Washington Post July data (850, including registered voters, +/- 4%), where only 48 percent approved of how he is handling the White House and 50 percent disapproved. In comparison, at the end of his term, President George H. W. Bush had an approval rating of 56 percent.
A Time poll conducted in August (1,026 registered voters, +/- 4%) asked: "Has George Bush been more of a UNITER of our country, that is, bringing people from different sides together, or more of a DIVIDER?" Fifty percent said "divider" and only 39 percent said "uniter."
Iraq
An August poll, conducted by the University of Pennsylvania National Annenberg Election Survey before fatalities passed the 1,000 mark, surveyed 5,146 registered voters nationwide; the margin of error is +/- 1 percent. The question: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation in Iraq?" Overwhelmingly, the response was "disapproval" -- 52 percent to 45 percent.
These results are almost exactly the same as the July Washington Post poll, when the numbers were 55 percent disapproval and 43 percent approval. An August poll from Pew Research Center asked 773 adults: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation in Iraq?" The results: 52 percent disapprove and 43 percent approve (margin of error, +/- 4%).
These data suggest that the attitude about Iraq is unlikely to change between now and the election.
Economy
On July 11, 2004, only 45 percent of those polled approved of how President Bush is handling the economy and 53 percent disapproved. These numbers were virtually unchanged in the Washington Post-ABC poll in September, at 42 percent approval land 56 percent disapproval.
However, when 952 registered voters were asked "Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy, Bush or Kerry?" ... 47 percent said Bush and only 43 percent said Kerry (+/- 3%). Thus the dissatisfaction with Bush is not translating to a vote for Kerry.
Sources:
- The Polling Report
- Washington Post-ABC Poll, September
