But you wouldn't know that from the headline.
Public Likes Edwards, but Race Is Still Close
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/17/politics/campaign/17poll.html?hpHighlights from way down in the article:
--snip--
The poll found that 45 percent of those surveyed approved of the job Mr. Bush is doing. That was up slightly from a May poll by CBS News, when it stood at 41 percent, but it was still below where it stood at the beginning of the year
and below the level generally considered safe for an incumbent seeking re-election. Forty-eight percent disapproved of the job Mr. Bush is doing.
Mr. Bush's approval rating on foreign policy stood at 39 percent, about where it has been for the last three months. Fifty-five percent of respondents disapproved of the way he is handling foreign policy.My comment: This number is beyond abyssmal.
On Mr. Bush's handling of Iraq, 37 percent approved and 58 percent disapproved,:wow: figures that were little changed from polls in May and June, before the Iraqis were granted self-governance on June 28. But the president got higher marks for the effort to combat terrorism, with 51 percent expressing approval of the job he is doing. And a sharp increase this year in the number of people who said things were going badly in Iraq appears to have leveled off, with 56 percent saying things are going somewhat or very badly, down from 60 percent this spring.
Signs that the economy has strengthened have helped Mr. Bush's standing somewhat since the winter,
but his approval ratings on his handling of the economy still remain relatively low. Forty-two percent of those surveyed approved of his handling of the economy, and 51 percent disapproved.--snip--
His only positive was terrorism and let me say this about that number. 51% is not too good, especially when you consider the hope factor. People serious want him to succeed at this fighting terror thing, and since there hasn't been an attack here since 9/11 they are still giving him that benefit and HOPING he is doing a good job. 51% blows for this number considering the emotional headstart he's getting from people.