Poll: Bush sinks, voters angry and concerned

Judging by the results of a new ABC News/Washington Post poll gauging views on subjects from the popularity of President Bush to the direction of the country, the upcoming general election campaign will be full of Bush bashing (even from McCain) and attempts by the candidates to “feel the pain” of voters who feel that the U.s. has gone off the rails. May the toughest politician win, because that’s who voters are looking for. But is the toughest ‘08 candidate on the verge of leaving the race (Hillary)?

Lots of gloomy numbers, so let’s take a look:

Public disgruntlement neared a record high and President Bush slipped to his career low in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.

Eighty-two percent of Americans now say the country’s seriously off on the wrong track, up 10 points in the last year to a point from its record high in polls since 1973. And 31 percent approve of Bush’s job performance overall, while 66 percent disapprove.

Bush’s approval rating has been extraordinarily stable — before today’s 31 percent it had been 32 percent or 33 percent in nine ABC/Post polls from July through last month. In presidential approval polls by Gallup since 1934, just three presidents have gone lower: Jimmy Carter, who bottomed out at 28 percent approval in July 1979; Richard Nixon, 24 percent in July and August 1974; and Harry Truman, 22 percent in February 1952.

Bush now has gone 40 months without majority approval, beating Truman’s record (also during economic discontent and an unpopular war) of 38 months from 1949-52.

Beyond the president’s overall rating, intensity of sentiment is heavily against Bush. Fifty-two percent of Americans not only disapprove of his work but do so strongly, matching the high in ABC News/Washington Post polls set in July. Just 15 percent strongly approve.

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