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American Morning

Gallup Poll: Bush Suffers From Increased Gas Prices

Aired May 11, 2001 - 09:20   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Many Americans -- we don't have to tell you this -- are concerned about rising energy costs; no doubt, you are among them. For some, gasoline prices are a reminder of those long gas lines from the '70s; and the concern is affecting President Bush's approval rating right now.

For a look at the latest figures on that, we turn to Gallup Poll Editor in Chief Frank Newport, who is live in Princeton, New Jersey.

Morning, Frank.

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR IN CHIEF: Good morning, Leon.

Indeed, President George W. Bush's job approval rating is now at 53 percent. That ties with the low point he had in March, and it's significantly down from two or three weeks ago, right after the Chinese plane -- recovery of the crew, when it was up to 62 percent. So he's apparently suffering, at least somewhat, because of energy.

Let's show you some of the specifics on gas prices. Have they caused you financial hardship -- we've asked that over the months -- we just got finished Wednesday night asking it again, and it's the highest point that we have seen now. Up to almost half of Americans -- 47 percent -- tell our Gallup interviewers, yes, increased gas prices have caused financial hardship.

Now, we've broken this out by income for you. This isn't a surprise: lower income households more likely to say yes. Those are those red bars -- 50 percent or higher. Interestingly, even the more affluent -- $50,000 and up households -- you've got 36 percent who claim that the gas prices going up has caused them financial hardship.

A lot of short-term pessimism, Leon. Look at this: we said, a month from now will gas prices be higher or lower or about the same? Eighty-three percent anticipate they're still going to be up. That's the American public saying, hey they're going up, up, up, closer to that $3 mark.

Now, six months from now we have a little more optimism; just about 38 percent say they're going to be up about, and about, oh, 40 percent say they'll be about the same.

Finally, driving this summer. Well, we've got a significant percent -- over 1/2 of Americans say they will drive less this summer because of the increasing gas prices. It's not in the West that that's going to have its effect, Leon, it's the Midwest and the South where we have people more likely to say, hey, I'm cutting back my driving.

Leon, Daryn, back to you.

HARRIS: Well, no surprise there, Frank. The folks in the Midwest are getting hit the hardest right now, with some of the highest gas prices in the country.

NEWPORT: Indeed. We thought it would be California, though; but apparently they're so wed to their cars out there that they're going to plow on driving regardless of the $3-a-gallon that we anticipate, perhaps out there this summer.

HARRIS: All right; that may be what it takes. All right, thanks much Frank Newport; we'll see you soon.

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