Suddenly, He's Vulnerable Can Bush reverse the slide in his approval ratings?

• Published in: Bloomberg businessweek (Online) no. 3825; p. 36
• Main Author: Richard S. Dunham, Alexandra Starr, and Lee Walczak in Washington
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Bloomberg Finance LP 24.03.2003
• Subjects: Economic conditions; Political parties; Presidents; Public opinion; Public opinion surveys; Scandals; War; United States > US
• ISSN: 0007-7135; 2162-657X

For months, George W. Bush has stirred passions around the world but managed to remain relatively popular at home. However, several new public opinion surveys show that amid the runup to possible war with Iraq, the President's job-approval rating has dipped, exposing a vulnerability that has put a glint back in Democrats' eyes after 2 years of losing encounters with the White House. Even as patriotic support for the President's Iraq position builds in advance of a war - a March 7-9 New York Times/CBS News Poll found that 55% of Americans favor an invasion, despite UN objections - growing concern about his handling of the economy has led to a fundamental reshuffling of his support base. According to a Mar. 4-6 Ipsos-Reid Poll, Bush is losing ground with crucial swing voters and has all but lost the moderate and conservative Democrats who rallied to his side after the 2001 terrorist attacks. This polarized electorate makes the President potentially vulnerable in 2004.