MSNBC analyst: Bush approval jump (4% in 3 weeks) is 'too little, too late'

[Human Torch]

Democrats lead as poll shows bump for Bush, GOP



RAW STORY
Published: Saturday October 28, 2006

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Democrats_lead_as_poll_shows_bump_1028.html

A video report by MSNBC features Newsweek analyst Marcus Marby on a new poll by the magazine which shows a small bump in approval for President Bush. Marby described the lift as "too little, too late" in terms of how it might affect the midterm election. Following the video report, below, are excerpts from the MSNBC.com story about the poll. The story was written by Marby and is available in full here.

EXCERPTS:

As the race for Congress enters the homestretch, the Republicans find themselves limping to the finish line, according to the new NEWSWEEK Poll. President Bush’s approval rating continues a slow but steady climb—from an all-time NEWSWEEK-poll low of 33 percent three weeks ago to 37 percent today. But it may be too little, too late: if the midterm elections were held today, 53 percent of those likely to go to the polls would vote for the Democratic candidate in their Congressional district versus just 39 percent who would vote for the Republican.

But the poll is not all bad news for the GOP. President Bush declared this week that the administration was putting the Baghdad government on notice that it had to make progress in stemming sectarian violence and rebuilding the country. Otherwise, Washington would consider changes to its Iraq policy. And it worked—at the margins. Almost half of all Americans still believe taking military action in Iraq was a mistake, but the gap between those who say it was and those who say it was the right decision has narrowed: from 54 to 39 last week to 49 to 43 this week—from a 15-point margin to just six points.

Faith that the United States is making progress in Iraq is up slightly, too: from 25 percent of Americans last week to 29 percent this week. A solid majority still believes the United States is losing ground, but their ranks have decreased from 65 percent to 60 percent. The biggest change is among Republicans. Last week, 50 percent of Republicans said America was making progress in Iraq (35 percent said we were losing ground). This week 65 percent of Republicans say we’re making progress and only 22 percent say we’re losing ground.

[Captain Hilts]

1. It also barely exceeds the margin for error. Zilch! nt

[babylonsister]

2. I wish someone would tell me how he supposedly got a bump. What

has he done for anyone lately? I find him less and less believeable, not more.

[Ignacio Upton]

4. Foley is not in the news as much

n/t.

[Human Torch]

5. My GUESS is...

...that some of the disgruntled in the "base" responded favorably to Bush's focal shift in the last few weeks toward the "strong economy." That's the only thing that's really changed. The Iraq situation has gotten worse. The Foley scandal has gotten worse. Maybe the "happy talk" turned the tide for Junior.

:patriot:

[babylonsister]

11. Or maybe it's who is reading the polls, or who is being polled. nt

[stepnw1f]

3. Why Would He Even get a Bounce?

Where is this shit coming from... the RNC maybe?

[LiberalEsto]

6. Gas prices, methinks

I strongly doubt it's due to his charming personality or penchant for torture.

[bigdarryl]

10. GAS has gone up in the last week here in Jersey it was..

1.83 last week and now its 1.98

[LiberalEsto]

16. $2.25 in Maryland

but it's still lower than it was two months ago.

[applegrove]

7. I wish the election was today.

[greeneyedboy]

8. oh, is he in the high 30% range now?

[bigdarryl]

12. No but i guarantee the media will work hard to get those number up..

in the mid forties. it dosn't matter though what the media doesn't tell you is Reagan lost the house when he had a 56 approval.

[nevergiveup]

9. Republicans

are coming home. His numbers are still abysmal.

[leesa]

13. Pure fantasy. Bush has had no approval bounce whatsoever.

They will never allow his numbers to fall below a certain percentage point for fear it will cause a revolution and people will demand trials and prison terms.

[Greybnk48]

14. I agree 100% leesa

I think *'s numbers are pure fabrication.

[mrdmk]

15. And off to the Horse Races weeeeee goooooo!

No body has the time to talk about issues, just who is ahead a.k.a. vote for the winner!

[Arugula Latte]

17. OMG! He's moved from "Very, Very, Very, Very, Very Crappy" to

"Very, Very, Very, Very Crappy" ratings! :wow: