|
e-answers is a periodic publication of the latest trends in public opinion. For information please contact us at: Locations: 277 S. Washington
St. Suite 320 4134 Grove Street 1001 Hermosa Ave., Suite 200 Email: Website: |
| September 10 , 2002
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks one year ago, Americans turned to tradition - flags unfurled on front porches, religious attendance surged, and like in other crises past, they expressed overwhelming support for their President. One year later, the surge in support for President Bush has shattered a 60-year historic precedent and his job approval number did NOT drop down to its previous level with 51 weeks. As Public Opinion Strategies predicted in February, Bush has restructured three generations of previous trend data in American political history. As the chart outlines, while approval of past Presidents dissipated within one year of the crisis, Americans' support for President Bush is ten points higher than where it stood prior to the attacks on September 11th. In the latest Public Opinion Strategies national survey conducted immediately after Labor Day, two-thirds (66%) of American voters say they approve of the job he is doing as President.
"Some people
make headlines While this is certainly a decline from the historic high of 90% (the highest job approval EVER recorded by Gallup) and partisan distinctions have returned (only 42% of Democrats now approve compared to 92% of Republicans), President Bush continues to enjoy greater support now than prior to the attack among most key voter groups. Moreover, by nearly a three-to-one margin, American voters are more likely to say that their image of the President has improved since September 11th rather than gotten worse. Thirty-four percent (34%) of the electorate say their image of President Bush has improved, and this improved image of Bush has been most dramatic with women, including important subgroups of women such as Independent women (40% improved), women under 45 years of age (43%) and suburban women (39%). Perhaps the most fundamental reason for Bush shattering historic trends in job approval is that this increase in support is not based simply on the success of his policies. Just as six months ago, the voters themselves tell us that they have been most impressed by Bush's personal strength and leadership in the wake of the crisis:
|
