For Immediate Release: Friday, May 7, 2004

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

Bush Approval Falls to New Low: Down 4 Points to 33%

Disapproval up a point to 57%

Approval drops 9 points for Handling War on Terrorism (44%) – still his Highest Approval

Lowest rating is for Handling the Situation in Iraq (30%)  

Congress’ Approval Up 3 Points to 32%; Disapproval Up 2 Points to 49%

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Loudonville, NY –  President Bush’s overall approval rating went down 4 points in April to 33% - a new low, according to the latest Siena New York Poll from the Siena (College) Research Institute (SRI). Congress’ approval rating went up 3 points to 32%.

The President’s approval rating fell among most demographic groups, most significantly in New York City – down 8 points to 24% - and lower income households  - down 9 points to 28%. His only increase was among Democrats, up a point to 18%.  The President’s approval remained the same outside New York City (41%) and among older New Yorkers (34%).  

The President’s 33% overall approval rating is 21 points below his April 2003 approval of 54%; and 9 points below his 12-month approval rating average of 42%. The President’s approval remains highest among Republicans (72%) and lowest among Democrats (18%). His disapproval went up a point to 57% --24 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, although it dropped 9 points to 44%

·         His approval continued to fall for his handling of Iraq – down 4 points to 30%

·         His approval went up 2 points for his handling of the economy –to 31%.

   37% of New Yorkers say the economy is moving in the right direction, up 3 points from last month. 

Congress’ approval increased among several Demographic groups.

·         Its most significant gains were among New Yorkers ages 55 and older, up 8 points to 28%; men, up 7 points to 32%; and Democrats, up 6 points to 30%.

·         Its highest approval remains among Republicans (42%); its lowest is among New Yorkers ages 55 and older (28%).

Congress’ 32% overall approval rating is 13 points below its April 2003 approval of 45% and 2 points below its 12-month average of 34%. Its disapproval went up 2 points to 49% --17 points higher than its approval.

“The President’s approval rating hit a new low,” notes Joe Caruso, Director of Polling for the Siena Research Institute. “He took a big hit on his handling of the war on terrorism – down 9 points to 44%, and that’s his highest approval. That figure coincides with a drop in approval of 8 points in New York City and 9 points among lower income households. Approval for his handling of Iraq went down 4 points to 30%. Interestingly, approval went up 2 points, to 31%, for his handling of the economy. Congress is up slightly, but still has the lowest approval of any elected official or governing body polled by SRI.”  

This SRI survey was conducted during the month of April 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 April 2004:

Approval Ratings, President and Congress