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American Voices: Bush Approval Rating Down, U.N.'s Even Lower

Aired September 23, 2003 - 14:32   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: As President Bush addressed the United Nations today he was faced with new polls suggesting his popularity has fallen to an all-time low. However the public's opinion of the U.N. is even lower. Gallup's editor-in-chief Frank Newport is tracking "American Voices." Frank, is the drop in approval a problem for President Bush?
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP: Well the White House is quick to point out that presidents have had approval ratings in the 40 percent before and have gone on to get re-elected. Certainly that's the case.

However any president would rather have a high, I think, rather than a low job approval rating. And right now two things are not going very well for Bush. The economy, as perceived by the public, and Iraq. And that's why we've got a drop down to 50 percent. That's just two points from a week and a half ago. Symbolically, however, that 50 percent is important for a president seeking reelection.

And also, Kyra, technically that's the lowest of the Bush administration. The lowest before this was a 51 percent back right before 9/11. So I can't see that the White House would view this with positive light even though they'll put a positive spin on it, of course.

PHILLIPS: President Bush is discussing Iraq and terrorism at the U.N. today. How are Americans viewing the U.N.?

NEWPORT: This is what's fascinating to us who study these things. In answer to your question directly, not well at all. After last spring, disapproval for the way the U.N. was handling its job has jumped up to 58 and then 60 percent negative. That's the negative in our most recent polls.

At the same time, all polling shows Americans want the U.N. to get involved very much in Iraq. And that's what I'll show you here, Americans aren't all that satisfied with U.S. involvement at this point. That's actually down to just 50 percent.

Key number here, this is probably the most important thing we have in our recent CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll, a drop of eight points in the percent of Americans who say the situation was worth going to war in Iraq. So that's eroding.

Americans want the U.N. to get involved even though they've not been very happy about what's U.N.'s done in the past. Kyra, we'll see what happens after Bush's speech today, of course.

PHILLIPS: Of course. Well presidential politics. Wesley Clark coming forward, making his announcement. How has that changed the Democratic race?

NEWPORT: Well he's rocketed to the front. Fascinating! We don't see this very often. He just announced last week and now we asked Democrats over the weekend, who do you want to be your party's standard bearer. Look at results: 22 percent retired General Wesley Clark. He's way ahead of Dean, Kerry, Gephardt and Lieberman.

Part of that's probably because he sounds good. He's a general. Our data show people don't know much about him. It's better to start out at the top than not, I think.

And look at this one. We pit Clark versus Bush for the general election, or even for that matter Senator John Kerry against Bush, they're both roughly tied actually. Clark's about three point ahead. This is all hypothetical of course, but this is kind of a reinforcement of two points, Kyra. Clark looks good, initially, that may change. And right now Bush is looking more vulnerable than he has over the last two years.

PHILLIPS: Interesting numbers. Frank Newport, thank you.

NEWPORT: You bet.

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





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Aired September 23, 2003 - 14:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: As President Bush addressed the United Nations today he was faced with new polls suggesting his popularity has fallen to an all-time low. However the public's opinion of the U.N. is even lower. Gallup's editor-in-chief Frank Newport is tracking "American Voices." Frank, is the drop in approval a problem for President Bush?
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP: Well the White House is quick to point out that presidents have had approval ratings in the 40 percent before and have gone on to get re-elected. Certainly that's the case.

However any president would rather have a high, I think, rather than a low job approval rating. And right now two things are not going very well for Bush. The economy, as perceived by the public, and Iraq. And that's why we've got a drop down to 50 percent. That's just two points from a week and a half ago. Symbolically, however, that 50 percent is important for a president seeking reelection.

And also, Kyra, technically that's the lowest of the Bush administration. The lowest before this was a 51 percent back right before 9/11. So I can't see that the White House would view this with positive light even though they'll put a positive spin on it, of course.

PHILLIPS: President Bush is discussing Iraq and terrorism at the U.N. today. How are Americans viewing the U.N.?

NEWPORT: This is what's fascinating to us who study these things. In answer to your question directly, not well at all. After last spring, disapproval for the way the U.N. was handling its job has jumped up to 58 and then 60 percent negative. That's the negative in our most recent polls.

At the same time, all polling shows Americans want the U.N. to get involved very much in Iraq. And that's what I'll show you here, Americans aren't all that satisfied with U.S. involvement at this point. That's actually down to just 50 percent.

Key number here, this is probably the most important thing we have in our recent CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll, a drop of eight points in the percent of Americans who say the situation was worth going to war in Iraq. So that's eroding.

Americans want the U.N. to get involved even though they've not been very happy about what's U.N.'s done in the past. Kyra, we'll see what happens after Bush's speech today, of course.

PHILLIPS: Of course. Well presidential politics. Wesley Clark coming forward, making his announcement. How has that changed the Democratic race?

NEWPORT: Well he's rocketed to the front. Fascinating! We don't see this very often. He just announced last week and now we asked Democrats over the weekend, who do you want to be your party's standard bearer. Look at results: 22 percent retired General Wesley Clark. He's way ahead of Dean, Kerry, Gephardt and Lieberman.

Part of that's probably because he sounds good. He's a general. Our data show people don't know much about him. It's better to start out at the top than not, I think.

And look at this one. We pit Clark versus Bush for the general election, or even for that matter Senator John Kerry against Bush, they're both roughly tied actually. Clark's about three point ahead. This is all hypothetical of course, but this is kind of a reinforcement of two points, Kyra. Clark looks good, initially, that may change. And right now Bush is looking more vulnerable than he has over the last two years.

PHILLIPS: Interesting numbers. Frank Newport, thank you.

NEWPORT: You bet.

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





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