AP/Ipsos Poll On Presidents Reagan, Clinton And George W. Bush

Washington, D.C. -- The Associated Press/Ipsos Public Affairs poll conducted a week after the funeral ceremonies for former President Ronald Reagan, but immediately prior to the book tour of former President Bill Clinton, show Americans remember the 40th President favorably, and think history will be kinder to The Gipper than to his two most recent successors. Clinton continues to appeal to working-class and poor Americans, non-whites and city-dwellers, and people living in the Northeast in the AP/Ipsos Poll. Reagan appears to carry more broadly-based favor than either Bill Clinton or current President George W. Bush. Indeed, Bush doesn't fare very well in the comparison to either predecessor, polling even with Clinton and running a distant second to Reagan. In a comparison with Reagan, Bush does better than average among Republican women (20%) and people under age 30 (18%). The public is about evenly split on whether Clinton or Bush will be remembered as the better president. Clinton has the edge among people under 30 (64%), minorities (68%), and people who live in urban areas (55%), and residents of the Northeast (54%) and West (48%). Bush is more highly regarded among people in the South (55%) and the Oil Patch region (64%) in particular, as well as rural residents (62%). By party, Republicans are placing their bets on Bush for the better president (84%; 13% Clinton), Democrats on Clinton (76%; 18% Bush), and Independents are split (41% Clinton, 40% Bush). Bill Clinton is back in the public eye with the release of his memoirs, but Americans' opinion of the 42nd President "as a person" in this poll conducted prior to his book tour is more unfavorable (53%) than favorable (41%). Clinton is especially unpopular among women over age 45 (61% unfavorable), whites (59%), and Republican voters (82%). Opinions toward Clinton are more positive among people under age 30 (61%), non-whites (66%), people with lower incomes (52%) and Democratic voters (72% Democratic men; 64% women). Views of Reagan as a person are solidly positive among Americans from all walks of life. Registered Republican voters (96%) nearly all have good impressions of Reagan, as do majorities of Democratic (72%) and Independent (76%) voters. Between June 18-20, 2004, Ipsos Public Affairs conducted a poll of 1,000 adults nationwide for The Associated Press. The margin of error is 1773.1 percentage points. For more information on this press release, please contact: Janice Bell Director, Ipsos Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 202.463.7300 About Ipsos Public Affairs Ipsos Public Affairs, headquartered in Washington D.C., is a non-partisan, objective, survey-based research company made up of campaign and political polling veterans as well as seasoned research professionals. The company conducts strategic research initiatives for a diverse number of American and international organizations, based not only on public opinion research but often elite stakeholder, corporate, and media opinion research. It has offices in New York City, Chicago, San Ramon (CA), and Washington, with affiliates around the world. Ipsos Public Affairs conducts national and international public opinion polling on behalf of The Associated Press, the world's oldest and largest news organization, and conducts the young voters poll for Newsweek.com. Ipsos Public Affairs is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group. To learn more, visit: www.ipsos-na.com/news/pa About Ipsos Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and reactions of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world. Member companies assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media. They measure public opinion around the globe. Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting and modeling and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999. In 2003, Ipsos generated global revenues of $644.2 million U.S. To learn more, visit: www.ipsos.com Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris Premier Marchй, and is part of the SBF 120 and Next Prime Indices as well as eligible to the Deferred Settlement System (SRD). Euroclear code 7329, Reuters ISOS.LN, Bloomberg IPS FP