For Immediate Release: Monday, April  5, 2004

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

Bush Approval Up 2 Points to 37%

Disapproval Remains at 56%

President’s Highest Approval is for Handling War on Terrorism (53%);

Lowest ratings is for Handling the Economy (29%)  

Congress’ Approval Down a Point to 29%; Disapproval Down a Point to 47%

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Loudonville, NY –  President Bush’s overall approval rating went up 2 points in March to 37%, according to the latest Siena New York Poll from the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI). Congress’ approval rating dropped a point to 29% - a new low.

The President’s approval rating saw several 1 to 3 point increases among several demographic groups; his only significant increase was among lower income households, up 7 points to 37%.  The President’s approval dropped only among higher income households, down 3 points to 37%. Approval remained the same among Democrats: 17%.  

The President’s 37% overall approval rating is 11 points below his March 2003 approval of 48%; and 7 points below his 12-month approval rating average of 44%. The President’s approval remains highest among Republicans (76%) and lowest among Democrats (17%). His disapproval remained at 56% --19 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

– up two points to 53%, after dropping 8 points the previous month. 

·         His approval continued to fall for his handling of Iraq – down a point to 34%

·         His approval went up a point for handling of the economy –to 29%.

   Only a third of New Yorkers – 34% - say the economy is moving in the right direction, up a point. 

Congress’ approval saw several 1 to 3 point gains and losses.

·         Its most significant gain was among Republicans, up 6 points to 44%, and its most significant loss was among New Yorkers age 55 and older, down 6 points to 20%.

·         Its highest approval remains among Republicans (44%); its lowest is among those age 55 and older (20%).

Congress’ 29% overall approval rating is 14 points below its March 2003 approval of 43% and 6 points below its 12-month average of 35%. Its disapproval went down a point to 47% --18 points higher than its approval.

“Just when you thought it couldn’t go any lower, Congress’s approval dips again,” notes Joe Caruso, Director of Polling for the Siena Research Institute. “The one point drop isn’t significant by itself, other than to show a continuing downward trend.  The President’s approval saw minor improvement, both overall and in response to his handling of the war on terrorism and his handling of the economy.  Small improvements, all, but when you’re approval is that low, a small increase is much better than the alternative. His response to the increasing attacks on Americans in Iraq is bound to have a significant effect on next month’s approval rating report.”

This SRI survey was conducted during the month of March 2004 by random telephone calls to 622 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 March 2004:

Approval Ratings, President and Congress