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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's Voice: Bush Job Approval Rises

Aired October 14, 2003 - 06:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Despite all of the bad news out of Iraq, another bump for President Bush -- a good bump.
Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport is back with a look at the latest numbers. Frank's live in Princeton, New Jersey.

Are President Bush's numbers up again -- Frank?

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Indeed, a bump, two polls in a row.

Remember, his job approval rating, Carol, had fallen to 50 percent three or four weeks ago, and that was the lowest of his administration. That's right here, September 19 to 21 down from 59 -- actually, down from 71 percent back as the war was under way in March and April.

But look at what's happened. In our poll October 6 to 8, back up to 55 percent. And now, in the poll -- the CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll just finished, 56 percent. So, we're seeing a trend here, not a continued deterioration, but actually an uptick.

We're really scratching our heads, Carol, to be frank with you, to figure out exactly why. His public relations blitz, of course, is under way, but we're not sure that came in time to affect it.

Look here. On any of the specific things that we measure for Bush, and this is as of last Wednesday, he's actually lower than his overall ratings -- his economy rating, his world affairs rating, his handling of Iraq, all of those are below 56, and actually all of those are slightly down and not up.

So, it's a real interesting polling conundrum here as to why Bush's rating is up, but it's up 56 percent.

COSTELLO: Yes, maybe it's just as simple as people like him.

NEWPORT: A possibility. His favorable rating is at 60 percent, which is even higher than his approval rating. That is as a person. That's a possibility, Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about the numbers on the economy. His ratings there are low. Are there any other signs of optimism on the economic front?

NEWPORT: A little light at the end of the tunnel. Now, keep in mind that Americans usually are more optimistic looking forward than where they are right now, and that's what we found in our weekend poll. Forty-four percent -- now, that's on the left there -- say that they would rate the current economy as good. Now, we said a year from now at this time, what's the economy going to be like? A 20-point jump, almost two-thirds of Americans say they think the economy will be good a year from now. That could be having an effect for Bush.

COSTELLO: OK, so, people are wondering, any chance the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger will have a positive ripple effect for the president?

NEWPORT: I think it may have already had an effect. For one thing, Carol, it distracted attention. Nobody was paying attention to the Democratic critics last week, because they were all watching what's happening in California.

And also, he's a prominent Republican who has done well. We just asked over the weekend: Will he be successful as a governor? Now, this is all Americans, Carol, not just Californians, 61 percent say yes. So, I think across the country, a lot of people are rooting for Arnold, and maybe that's helping his fellow Republican, who is going to go out there and stand by his side, I understand, this week -- George Bush.

COSTELLO: Yes, now he's going to do it. Not during the election, though, but right now. Frank Newport, many thanks -- joining us live from Princeton, New Jersey.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.







Aired October 14, 2003 - 06:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Despite all of the bad news out of Iraq, another bump for President Bush -- a good bump.
Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport is back with a look at the latest numbers. Frank's live in Princeton, New Jersey.

Are President Bush's numbers up again -- Frank?

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Indeed, a bump, two polls in a row.

Remember, his job approval rating, Carol, had fallen to 50 percent three or four weeks ago, and that was the lowest of his administration. That's right here, September 19 to 21 down from 59 -- actually, down from 71 percent back as the war was under way in March and April.

But look at what's happened. In our poll October 6 to 8, back up to 55 percent. And now, in the poll -- the CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll just finished, 56 percent. So, we're seeing a trend here, not a continued deterioration, but actually an uptick.

We're really scratching our heads, Carol, to be frank with you, to figure out exactly why. His public relations blitz, of course, is under way, but we're not sure that came in time to affect it.

Look here. On any of the specific things that we measure for Bush, and this is as of last Wednesday, he's actually lower than his overall ratings -- his economy rating, his world affairs rating, his handling of Iraq, all of those are below 56, and actually all of those are slightly down and not up.

So, it's a real interesting polling conundrum here as to why Bush's rating is up, but it's up 56 percent.

COSTELLO: Yes, maybe it's just as simple as people like him.

NEWPORT: A possibility. His favorable rating is at 60 percent, which is even higher than his approval rating. That is as a person. That's a possibility, Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about the numbers on the economy. His ratings there are low. Are there any other signs of optimism on the economic front?

NEWPORT: A little light at the end of the tunnel. Now, keep in mind that Americans usually are more optimistic looking forward than where they are right now, and that's what we found in our weekend poll. Forty-four percent -- now, that's on the left there -- say that they would rate the current economy as good. Now, we said a year from now at this time, what's the economy going to be like? A 20-point jump, almost two-thirds of Americans say they think the economy will be good a year from now. That could be having an effect for Bush.

COSTELLO: OK, so, people are wondering, any chance the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger will have a positive ripple effect for the president?

NEWPORT: I think it may have already had an effect. For one thing, Carol, it distracted attention. Nobody was paying attention to the Democratic critics last week, because they were all watching what's happening in California.

And also, he's a prominent Republican who has done well. We just asked over the weekend: Will he be successful as a governor? Now, this is all Americans, Carol, not just Californians, 61 percent say yes. So, I think across the country, a lot of people are rooting for Arnold, and maybe that's helping his fellow Republican, who is going to go out there and stand by his side, I understand, this week -- George Bush.

COSTELLO: Yes, now he's going to do it. Not during the election, though, but right now. Frank Newport, many thanks -- joining us live from Princeton, New Jersey.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.