TIMBERRRRR

The new Gallup numbers are, shall we say, encouraging.

Bush's job rating:
Approve - 49% (60% in December)
Disapprove - 48% (35% in December)

On the issues, Bush receives over 50% disapproval for his handling of the economy, foreign affairs, Iraq and health care.

Meanwhile, Kerry is hammering his opponents in the marginally-useful national polls, leading Dean and Edwards by more than 30 percent. He's also leading Bush in a one-on-one hypothetical, 53-46. Certainly this is a product of the high level of attention (and curious amount of good press) Kerry has received in the last couple of weeks, botox notwithstanding. Going back to 1999 and early 2000, Dubya led Gore by a substantial margin, sometimes in the high-teens, throughout that period, and we know how that turned out. It's good to see the Dems ahead of that pace at this point. (Edwards also tops Bush in a hypothetical matchup, and Dean trails Dubya by seven, not a large amount at all)