Hurricane Katrina and the bungled government response have weakened President Bush, raising questions among Americans about his Iraq and flood-recovery plans and spreading fears among fellow Republicans about next year’s elections. An AP-Ipsos poll says nearly six in 10 people disapprove of Bush’s job performance, unchanged from the record-low rating he had before last week’s televised address from the heart of New Orleans. That underscores why GOP leaders fear Bush could be a drag on GOP candidates in 2006. Many in the poll also were concerned that Katrina and its aftermath would lead to a national economic downturn. Less than half approve of Bush’s handling of Katrina. Less than a third give him good marks on gas prices. Among the top responses:
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Overall, do you approve, disapprove or have mixed feelings about the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
40% approve
57% disapprove
2% have mixed feelings
When it comes to handling the relief effort for Hurricane Katrina, do you approve, disapprove or have mixed feelings about the way George W. Bush is handling that issue?
46% approve
51% disapprove
2% have mixed feelings
Poll IS based on telephone interviews with 1,000 adults FROM Sept. 16-18 in all states except for Alaska, Hawaii and areas recovering from hurricane damage or under threat of a hurricane
