Mixed Messages for Bush (Newsweek poll - * gets slight bump up on Iraq) [View All]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/944507.asp?0cl=c1

Although attacks on American soldiers in Iraq have not stopped, George W. Bush’s approval ratings are up slightly following the killing of Saddam Hussein’s sons, according to the latest NEWSWEEK poll. Fifty-seven percent of respondents say they approve of how the president is doing his job—up 2 percent from two weeks ago—and 58 percent approve of the way he’s handling the situation in Iraq, up 5 percent.

SINCE THE DEATHS of Uday and Qusay Hussein on July 22, confidence in Washington’s ability to stabilize Iraq has risen. Twenty-one percent of Americans are now very confident and 40 percent are somewhat confident that the United States will be able to establish a stable democratic government in Iraq—up 6 points and 1 point, respectively, from two weeks ago. Still, 59 percent think recent events probably won’t affect the number of attacks on U.S. troops, and 69 percent believe it’s very important that Saddam Hussein is killed or captured.

Despite charges that the Bush administration exaggerated or deceived the nation to make its case for war in Iraq, the majority of Americans still trust the president. Sixty percent of them say that Bush impresses them as a trustworthy person—the same number who responded this way during his early months in office. A total of 56 percent think he did not purposely mislead the public about evidence that Iraq possessed banned weapons-a rise of three percent from mid-July.

Most Americans—72 percent—also see the president as someone who is able to get things done, up 12 percent since he first took office in 2001. Almost half of Americans—49 percent—would like to see him reelected.

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Only 43 percent of Americans approve of the way Bush is handling the economy, the lowest rating since he entered office. He also received his lowest approval ratings in how he is handling health care (39 percent) and the federal budget deficit (34 percent.)