That
WaPo-ABC News poll that came out today on Bush's approval ratings - it's just been
updated with polling statistics on how Congress is faring. And it's not good news for Republicans.
The recap: Bush's numbers have dipped further to a new ...well, what's the opposite of zenith? .. ditch, sinkhole, mineshaft? In the "worst showing in Post-ABC polling since he became president", Bush has dropped another 3 points in the past month to an approval rating of 38%, with 47% registering strong disapproval of Bush's handling of the presidency -- more than double the 20% who strongly approve.
But what kind of corollary effect is this having on his elected party-mates? If it's not a coat-tail, is it a pair of concrete wingtips yet?
Here's a clue
With less than seven months remaining before the midterm elections, Bush's political troubles already appear to be casting a long shadow over them. Barely a third of registered voters, 35 percent, approve of the way the Republican-held Congress is doing its job -- the lowest level of support in nine years.
According to the updated poll report: 55% of registered voters say they plan to vote for the Democratic candidate in their House district vs. 40% planning to vote Republican. That's the largest share of the electorate favoring Democrats in Post-ABC polls since the mid-1980s.
Here's how the poll went on the issues. Respondents favored Democrats over Republicans by these measures.
- Iraq: Dems 49 to 42.
- The economy: Dems 49 to 43.
- Immigration: Dems lead by 12 points (no breakdown provided).
- Prescription drug benefits for elderly: Dems lead by 28 points.
- Healthcare: Dems lead by 32 points.
- Dealing with corruption in Washington: Dems lead by 25 points.
And what about terrorism, assumed to be the Republican forte? It's the only issue where the public is evenly divided: 46% have higher confidence in the Democrats vs. 45% for Republicans.
The money quote:
This grim news for the GOP is offset somewhat by the finding that 59 percent of voters still say they approve of their own representative. But even these numbers are weaker than in recent off-year election cycles and identical to support of congressional incumbents in June 1994 -- five months before Democrats lost control of Congress to Republicans.
And, dammit, I still can't think of a good antonym for 'halo effect'...