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Ipsos-Public Affairs/Cook Political Report Poll: One Month after the End of the War in Iraq, Americans are Significantly Less Confident About the Direction of the Country, Paticularly Among Voters Age 18-29

Ipsos-Public Affairs/Cook Political Report Poll: One Month after the End of the War in Iraq, Americans are Significantly Less Confident About the Direction of the Country, Paticularly Among Voters Age 18-29

Presidential Approval, Presidential Reelection And Generic Congressional Vote Are All Down Significantly Since Highs Posted At The Conclusion Of The War In Iraq.

05.23.03

Between May 6-8, 2003, and May 20-22, 2003, Ipsos US Public Affairs interviewed for the Cook Political Report a representative sample of 2,003 adult Americans nationwide, including 1,548 registered voters. The margin of error for the combined surveys is 177 2.2% for all adults, 177 2.5% for registered voters.

Washington, D.C -- In interviews with 1,548 registered voters conducted May 6-8, 2003, and May 20-22, 2003, the Ipsos-Public Affairs/Cook Political Report Poll finds confidence in the country declining sharply since the conclusion of the war in Iraq, particularly among voters age 18-29.

The current Ipsos Public Affairs/Cook Political Report Poll finds a slim majority (51%) of adults believe the country is headed in the right direction, down 7 points since one month ago.
This concern is most evident among respondents age 18-29. A majority (52%) now feel the country is off on the wrong track, a net difference of 22 points since one month ago.

Overall presidential approval has dipped by four points since the end of the war in Iraq. However, overall approval still rests eight points higher than before the war.

All aspects of presidential approval have declined except handling of foreign policy.

Among 18-29 year-olds, overall presidential approval has dipped from 59% at the end of the war with Iraq to 52% currently, and disapproval has risen from 39% to 47%.
Attitudes toward reelection have generally stayed the same since the end of the war in Iraq, although attitudes toward reelecting George W. Bush have dropped significantly among voters age 18-29 over the past month.

With regard to generic Congressional vote, a significant decrease in the support for a Republican Congress is apparent in the period since the end of the war with Iraq, as is an increase in support for a Democratic Congress. The current poll shows Republicans and Democrats in a statistical dead heat regarding Americans' preference for control of the Congress.