WSJ: Bush shows erosion of support
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WSJ: Bush shows erosion of support
RAW STORY
President Bush has suffered an erosion in public regard for his policies and his credibility, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll showed Wednesday, the registration-restricted Journal reports. Excerpts follow.
Mr. Bush's overall job approval now stands at 46%, while 49% disapprove of his performance. More problematic for the White House, the public turns thumbs down on the president's handling of the economy by 54%-39%, and on his handling of Iraq by 55%-39%.
At a time when the administration's credibility is under attack amid an investigation of the leak of a CIA operative's name, Mr. Bush receives his lowest ratings as president for "being honest and straightforward." Just 41% rate him positively on that score, while 45% rate him negatively. The telephone survey of 1,009 adults, conducted July 8-11, has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
On another closely watched domestic matter, Mr. Bush faces powerful cross-currents of public sentiment as he considers a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has announced her retirement pending confirmation of her successor. By 63%-14%, Americans say it would be "a step in the right direction" for a successor to favor display of the 10 Commandments on government property – a stance favored by conservatives.
But by 55%-14%, Americans would also welcome a successor who would uphold affirmative action laws – a stance favored by liberals. The public splits evenly on a justice who would oppose legalizing gay marriage, with 36% calling that a step in the right direction, and 35% calling it a step in the wrong direction.
On whether Ms. O'Connor should be replaced with another female justice, fully 60% of Americans affirm the idea. That puts them in step with First Lady Laura Bush, who said publicly this week she hopes her husband will nominate a woman.
