Poll: Americans Back Bush Generally

Updated 3:46 AM ET March 27, 2001

By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans are still behind President Bush generally, polls suggest, but they have concerns about some of his policies and priorities.

By a 2-1 margin in an ABC News-Washington Post poll, people said Bush cares more about protecting the interests of large corporations than of ordinary working people.

Nearly Six in 10 approve of Bush's job performance, according to polls by ABC-Post and CNN-Time. The number who don't approve has increased by 10 points in the last month in the ABC-Post poll, to 33 percent.

About half approved of the president's handling of the economy and environmental issues, with slightly more supporting his handling of international issues, the polls found.

Public enthusiasm for Bush's tax cut plans has not increased measurably in the last month, with just one-fifth of the public saying tax cuts should be top priority, according to the ABC-Post poll, released Monday. Two-fifths said spending on domestic programs like health care and education should be the priority, and more than a fifth, 24 percent, said Social Security.

In the ABC-Post poll, more than two-thirds said they thought current projections for a $5.6 trillion federal budget surplus over the next decade is unrealistic and would support a proposal to scale back tax cuts in future years if the surplus turns out to be lower than predicted.

The CNN-Time poll released over the weekend showed similar concerns about Bush's perceived attitude of favoring big businesses.

And six in 10 said they thought Bush's talk about the country heading into tough economic times may have affected the economy. Republicans, by a 2-1 margin, thought his comments had not affected the economy, while Democrats said they have, by a 3-1 margin. Six in 10 independents thought his comments have had an effect.

Six in 10 in the ABC-Post poll said they believe the economy is headed into a recession.

Bush has been traveling throughout the country pitching his tax cut plan, but the ABC-Post poll suggested that Americans have other ideas about the nation's top priorities. Keeping the economy strong and improving education were the most often mentioned, followed by protecting Social Security and the environment. That was followed by cutting taxes and reforming campaign finance laws.

The ABC-Post poll of 903 adults was taken Thursday through Sunday and the CNN-Time poll of 1,025 adults was taken Wednesday and Thursday. Both have error margins of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

-- The Poll Guy (what@people.think), March 28, 2001

Answers

Slip slidin away...the closer to your destination the more it keeps slip slidin away... Bush is doing an excellent job of proving his critics right.

-- Cherri (jessam5@home.com), March 28, 2001.

Shoot, Cherri, aren't you always right? No needin' to prove you're right, as one of his head honcho critic. 60% approval ratin' ain't too bad fer a green horn.

But, yer still chewin' on them thar sour grapes. Yer blinded by yer hatred. Purty sad that ya can't see anything good about Dubya.

-- I'm (jestadumbol@pilot.com), March 28, 2001.

>>>By a 2-1 margin in an ABC News-Washington Post poll, people said Bush cares more about protecting the interests of large corporations than of ordinary working people.

What was the survey response to this question for Clinton? Oh, they didn't ask it.

>>And six in 10 said they thought Bush's talk about the country heading into tough economic times may have affected the economy.

What was the survey response to this question for Clinton's lack of talk about the downsliding economy, and its having not affected the economy? Oops, they forgot to ask it.

>>Public enthusiasm for Bush's tax cut plans has not increased measurably in the last month, with just one-fifth of the public saying tax cuts should be top priority, according to the ABC-Post poll, released Monday. Two-fifths said spending on domestic programs like health care and education should be the priority, and more than a fifth, 24 percent, said Social Security.

>>Nearly Six in 10 approve of Bush's job performance, according to polls by ABC-Post and CNN-Time

60% approval rating. What was Clinton's 2-mos into his reign?

>>Public enthusiasm for Bush's tax cut plans has not increased measurably in the last month, with just one-fifth of the public saying tax cuts should be top priority, according to the ABC-Post poll, released Monday. Two-fifths said spending on domestic programs like health care and education should be the priority, and more than a fifth, 24 percent, said Social Security.

No, they don't publish that the majority is for it, so to avoid it they sidestep the subject and instead just talk about 'top priority'.

-- eli (betheli@liontalk.net), March 28, 2001.

??????????

-- dudesy (dudesy@37.com), March 28, 2001.

"Purty sad that ya can't see anything good about Dubya."

I agree. Let's impeach the asshole for being a traitor!

-- Average American Citizen (beginning@to.see.reality), March 28, 2001.