Report Summary

As the debate about the federal budget rages and the prospect of higher gasoline taxes looms, George Bush’s standing with the public has fallen dramatically. The latest nationwide poll by the Times Mirror Center for The People & The Press finds the President’s approval ratings down 13 percentage points in less than one month. In a survey completed this past weekend 55% approved of the way Bush is handling his job as President and 28% disapproved. In September, the President’s approval rating stood at 68% and in August it was 76% in Times Mirror opinion surveys.