Numbers Paint Bleak Picture for Bush as Core Support Seems to be Waning

A number of polls were released today and they all show President Bush's approval rate sliding. No surprise there. What is surprising is what those polls say about where he's losing support.

The latest Zogby national poll, released today, puts Bush's approval rating at 38%. That's consistent with other recent polls, which have put Bush in the 40% to sub-40% ballpark. The poll results show that Bush's approval rating in red states - states where he won in 2004 - is 43%, not much higher than the national rate. Just 27% of those describing themselves as moderates, a key block of voters, say they approve of Bush's overall performance. Among rural voters Bush's approval rating is 44%, while in the 'burbs he's at 42%. All of these voting blocks were key to Bush's victory in 2004.

To further illuminate this trend, an Elon University poll released today puts Bush's approval rating at 43% in Southeastern states. According to this poll, 57% of Dixie disapproves of the president's handling of the Iraq war.

How about the Midwest? The states don't come any redder there than Dan Quale's home state of Indiana. According to an Indianapolis Star poll, Bush's approval rating in the Hoosier state has dropped 18 points in a year, to its current 37% level.

A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll also had some numbers that should be disconcerting to the Bush camp. A total of 52% described Bush as a "strong and decisive leader," but that is the lowest rating Bush has ever achieved on that front. Fewer than half (47%) said Bush was "honest and trustworthy," 45% of those polled said Bush shares their values and only 40% say the president can "manage the government effectively." Some 73% said they feel big business has too much influence over Bush administration policy, and only 38% say Bush is paying adequate attention to what is going on in his administration.

Putting numbers aside, a story this week in The New Republic says leading Republicans in Congress are about to bolt. The story, written for The New Republic by the National Review's (talk about strange bedfellows) White House reporter Byron York, describes GOP leaders in Congress as "furious" with Bush over his missteps and the administration's continued "arrogance" despite the president's falling popularity.