Majority Of Americans Feel Country Is On The Wrong Track; But "Right Direction" Makes Gains After Election

Washington, DC - The latest Ipsos/McClatchy poll of Americans indicates that a strong majority (64%) feel that things in the country are off on the wrong track. However, in this first poll after the Presidential election, the percentage of Americans who feel the country is heading in the right direction has increased to 32%, compared to only 21% who reported the country was headed in the right direction in October.

Bush Approval on Handling the Economy Drops...

In the wake of the financial crisis on Wall Street, Americans on Main Street have a dim view of President Bush's handling of the economy. Currently, only one in five Americans (22%) approve of Bush's job performance regarding the economy; conversely, three quarters (74%) disapprove. This represents a decline of five percentage points from polling in early August (27% approve; 71% disapprove), and is the lowest level of approval on the economy in the past 12 months.

Overall Presidential Approval Down As Well

Similar to job approval on the economy, overall Bush job approval is down as well. Overall approval is at a 12-month low, with only one quarter of Americans (24%) approving of President Bush's job performance, and nearly three quarters (72%) disapproving. This represents a seven point decline from polling in early August (31% approve; 66% disapprove).

Other Elements of Job Approval Mixed

On other elements of job approval, Americans report mixed levels of approval. On domestic issues like heath care and education, 30% of Americans approve of Bush's job performance, while 65% disapprove (unchanged compared to polling from early August, 31% approve; 64% disapprove). And on Iraq, approval levels are similar to early August results; currently 32% approve and 65% disapprove (compared to 35% approve, 62% disapprove in August). However, on the broader issue of foreign policy and the war on terror, approval of Bush's performance have dropped to 37% approving and 60% disapproving (compared to 41% approve, 56% disapprove in early August).

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted November 6-9. For the survey, a nationally representative, randomly selected sample of exactly 1,000 adults aged 18 and older across the United States was interviewed by Ipsos. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate within 177 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population in the U.S. been polled. We interviewed 913 registered voters. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate within 177 3.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population in the U.S. been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error. These data were weighted to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the actual U.S. population according to U.S. Census figures. Interviews were conducted with respondents on land-line telephones and cellular phones. Respondents had the option to be interviewed in English or Spanish.

For more information on this news release, please contact: Clifford Young, PhD Senior Vice President Ipsos Public Affairs (312) 375-3328 [email protected]

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