BUSH APPROVAL YET TO HIT BOTTOM
&
KERRY WIDENS LEAD, SO STOP SPAZZING

New CBS/NYT poll:

Bush’s overall job approval rating has continued to decline. 41 percent approve of the job he is doing as President, while 52 percent disapprove -- the lowest overall job rating of his presidency. Two weeks ago, 44 percent approved. A year ago, nearly two-thirds did.

61 percent of Americans now disapprove of the way Bush is handling the situation in Iraq, while just 34 percent approve. This is also the lowest rating of his presidency.

As concern about the situation in Iraq grows, 65 percent now say the country is on the wrong track -- matching the highest number ever recorded in CBS News Polls since the question was first asked in the mid-1980’s. Only 30 percent currently say things in this country are headed in the right direction. One year ago, in April 2003, 56 percent of Americans said the country was headed in the right direction.

Lots of other goodies in the internals of the poll. Only on terrorism does Bush receive positive marks, albeit not by a wide margin (51-42).

On page 2 of the poll, we see that John Kerry has opened up an 8-point lead over Bush among registered voters (49-41). CBS/NYT's April poll had Kerry leading by just 2 points (46-44). Independents are breaking for Kerry by a 51-36 margin. Kerry's favorables are up while his unfavorables are down, and the reverse is true for Bush.

With Ralph Nader in the race, Kerry still leads, but by 6 points (47-41-5)

Bush's greatest character asset -- the perception that he "says what he believes", or is honest -- is hanging by a thread, at 50-45.