Siena Research Institute

Siena College, Loudonville, NY

For Immediate Release: Friday, March 5, 2004

The Siena New York Poll for February: Approval Ratings, President and Congress

Bush Approval Plummets 9 Points to 35%; His Lowest Ever

Disapproval Up to 56%

President’s Highest Approval is for Handling War on Terrorism (51%);

Lowest is for Handling the Economy (28%)

Congress’ Approval Down 7 Points to 30%; Disapproval Up to 48%

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Loudonville, NY –  President Bush’s overall approval rating fell 9 points in February to 35%, his lowest ever, according to the latest Siena New York Poll from the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI). Congress’ approval rating also dropped, down 7 points to 30% - also a new low.

The President’s approval decreased across the board. The most significant drops were: down 14 points outside New York City (to 40%) and among women (to 30%); down 13 points among Republicans (to 75%); down 12 points among lower income and Independents and members of other parties.   

The President’s 35% overall approval rating is 10 points below his February 2003 approval of 45%; his 12-month approval rating average is also 45%. The President’s approval remains highest among Republicans (75%) and lowest among Democrats (17%). His disapproval went up 9 points to 56% --21 points higher than his approval..

SRI asked three more presidential approval questions. President Bush’s highest approval remains for his handling of the war on terrorism – 51% - but it is down 8 points from the previous month.  Approval continued to fall for his handling of Iraq – down 9 points to 35% - and the economy –down 9 points to 28%.

   At the same time, only a third of New Yorkers say the economy is moving in the right direction, down 13 points from the previous month. 

Congress’ approval also fell across the board, most significantly among the same groups that reduced their support of the President. Approval fell 11 points among Independents and members of other parties (to 28%); and 10 points outside New York City (to 30%) and among lower income (to 27%). Its highest approval remains among Republicans (38%); its lowest is among  those age 55 and older (26%).

Congress’ overall February 2004 approval rating is 9 points below its February 2003 approval of 39% and 7 points below its 12-month average of 37%. Its disapproval went up 4 points to 48% --18 points higher than its approval..

“It was a month of new lows for the President and Congress,” notes Joe Caruso, Director of Polling for the Siena Research Institute. “Even the President’s rating for his handling of terrorism – still his highest approval – is down 8 points to 51%. But his worst marks are for his handling of the situation in Iraq -35%- and handling the economy - 28%. New Yorkers seem to be saying, ‘We appreciate his efforts to keep us safe, but we want jobs.’ Now that Senator Kerry has locked up the Democratic nomination, President Bush faces another battlefront. It will be interesting to see what he does next: defends or attacks.”

This SRI survey was conducted during the month of February 2004 by random telephone calls to 620 New York State

residents over the age of 18.  It has a margin of error of +3.9 percentage points. For more information or comments,

please contact SRI Director of Polling Joe Caruso at 518-783-2901.  Survey Cross-tabulations and frequencies can be

found at:  www.siena.edu/sri/surveys.asp.

The Siena New York Poll for February 2004:

Approval Ratings, President and Congress