Gallup's new numbers look really bad for the President. A 37% approval rating certainly isn't something to celebrate. But what does it really mean in the big picture? Consider these stats for historical low marks:
Truman: 22% mid-February, 1952
-Eisenhower: 49% mid-July, 1960
-Kennedy: 56% mid-September, 1963
-Johnson: 35% early August, 1968
-Nixon: 24% mid-July, 1974, and early August, 1974
-Ford: 37% early January, 1975, and late March, 1975
-Carter: 28% late June, 1979
-Reagan: 35% late January, 1983
-George H.W. Bush: 29% late July, 1992
-Clinton: 37% early June, 1993
-George W. Bush: 37% mid-November, 2005
The Democrats will continue to make much ado about the President's numbers. And again, there is not much good news in the poll. However, his approval rating is still only matching Bill Clinton's lowest rating. So, despite what the Democrats say, President Bush is no less popular than President Clinton was at one point in his career. And President Carter, who the Dems are busy trotting out to bad-mouth everything about this administration, hardly appears in any position to talk.
No doubt, this administration has been awful at combating their enemies' claims and needs to do more to convey their message. But ultimately, the numbers really don't have to mean all that much. At least, not if history is any indication.
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