CNN/Time poll: Bush's favorable ratings drop slightlyBy Keating Holland/CNN
January 17, 2000
Web posted at: 4:07 p.m. EST (2107 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Although George W. Bush's favorable ratings are the envy of any other presidential candidate, the number of Americans who have a positive view of the Texas governor has dropped six points since autumn, according to a CNN/Time poll.
Fifty-seven percent have a favorable view of the Republican front-runner, down from 63 percent in September. That's still significantly better than Vice President Al Gore's 50 percent approval rating, and far higher than Republican candidate John McCain or Democratic candidate Bill Bradley register.
Bush's approval rating also is higher than the first couple. President Bill Clinton's favorable rating is at 54 percent while first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is at 50 percent.
Republicans give Bush high marks on most personal characteristics -- nine in 10 Republicans say he is likeable, for example, and eight in 10 say he is a strong and decisive leader -- but he scores much lower on inspiration and having new ideas.
Since McCain, an Arizona senator, is not well-known to most Republicans, it is misleading to make comparisons between Bush and McCain on personal qualities.But it is possible to compare the Bush and McCain approaches to cutting taxes. Twenty-nine percent of all registered Republicans say that they prefer a large cut with a smaller amount of money going to Social Security and the federal debt; 63 percent prefer a smaller tax cut.
The poll is based on interviews with 1,564 adult Americans, including 1,276 registered voters. It was conducted January 12 and 13.
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Q: I'm going to read you the names of some people in the news today. Please tell me whether you have
generally favorable or generally unfavorable impressions of each, or whether you are not familiar
enough to say one way or another.
| Opinion of George W. Bush |
| | Favorable | Unfavorable |
| Now | 57% | 24% |
| September | 63% | 23% |
| Sampling error: +/-3 percentage points |
| Opinion of presidential candidates |
| | Favorable | Unfavorable |
| Bush | 57% | 24% |
| Gore | 50% | 35% |
| Bradley | 41% | 17% |
| McCain | 40% | 14% |
| Sampling error: +/-3 percentage points |
| Opinion of the Clintons |
| | Favorable | Unfavorable |
| Bill Clinton | 54% | 40% |
| Hillary Clinton | 50% | 39% |
| Sampling error: +/-3 percentage points |
| Registered Republicans' opinion of Bush |
| Likeable | 91% |
| Strong leader | 80% |
| Has new ideas | 66% |
| Inspiring | 66% |
| Sampling error: +/-4 percentage points |
Q: (Asked of registered Republicans) As you know, the Republican candidates for president are
debating how to use future federal budget surpluses -- for tax cuts, to pay down the federal debt, or for Social Security. If you had to choose, which of these alternatives do you favor: A larger tax cut and a smaller amount of
money for Social Security and the federal debt, or a smaller tax cut and a larger amount of money for Social Security and the federal debt?
| Smaller tax cut, larger
amount for debt | 63% |
| Larger tax cut, smaller
amount for debt | 29% |
| Sampling error: +/-4 percentage points |
|
