Poll shows public split over Bush energy plan

From Keating Holland
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Most Americans disapprove of how George W. Bush is handling the energy situation and the public is split over the energy plan Bush unveiled last Thursday, according to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

Only 38 percent of Americans say Bush is doing enough to solve the country's energy problems and six in 10 say energy companies have too much influence over his administration. Nonetheless, a majority still approve of how Bush is handling his job as president overall, and his approval rating has held steady over the past two weeks.

One reason is that the public does not think the country is faced with an energy crisis -- although most say there are major problems.

More importantly, barely half the country blames the Bush administration for our current energy woes, and Bush gets less blame than any other group mentioned, including energy companies, foreign countries, environmental laws, Americans consumers or -- significantly -- the Clinton administration.

Overall, 44 percent favor the energy plan Bush announced last week; 42 percent oppose. Two-thirds say the Bush plan will help the country after several years, but only one in 12 foresees any immediate relief.

The public is also split over whether the Bush plan was designed to help the country as a whole or was just meant to help the energy companies.

As for Dick Cheney, who has been the administration's point man on energy, 60 percent approve of how he is handling his job as vice president. But although that puts his rating a tiny bit higher than Bush's, a plurality say Bush is more qualified than Cheney to be president, and few think the vice president has too much power.

The poll is based on interviews with 1,010 adult Americans. It was conducted Friday through Sunday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
May 18-20

How Bush is handling energy

Is Bush doing enough to solve energy problems?

Do you think energy companies have too much influence over the Bush administration's energy policies?

Bush approval rating

How Bush is handling his job as president

Energy situation today

Blame for energy problems

Blame for energy problems

Blame for energy problems

Based on what you have heard or read, do you favor or oppose President Bush's plan to deal with the country's current energy problems?

When will Bush plan help the country's energy problems?

Do you think the Bush energy plan is designed more to further the energy companies' interests, or further the country's interests?

Which comes closer to your view about increasing the number of nuclear power plants in the country -- nuclear power is necessary to help solve the country's current energy problems, or the dangers of nuclear power are too great, even if it would help solve the country's current energy problems?

If you had to choose, who do you think is more qualified to be president -- George W. Bush or Dick Cheney?

Do you think Dick Cheney has too much, too little, or about the right amount of power in the Bush administration?

Approve of how Bush is handling ...

Two-thirds of Americans think Congress should include a substantial tax cut in this year's budget, but only 37 percent think a tax cut will help them at all and just one in six think it will help them a lot. About half think a tax cut will help the economy; only 15 percent say it will hurt the economy and a third think it will make no difference. Half say that a tax cut would be a major accomplishment for Bush, with a third saying it would be a minor accomplishment and 15 percent saying it would not be an accomplishment at all.

Should Congress pass a tax cut?

If the tax cut is enacted, do you think it will mostly help you and your family, hurt you and your family, or do you think it will not make much difference? Will this [help/hurt] a lot or a little?

If the tax cut is enacted, do you think it will mostly help the economy, hurt the economy, or do you think it will not make much difference? Will this [help/hurt] a lot or a little?

If the tax cut is enacted, do you think this will be a major accomplishment for President Bush, a minor accomplishment, or a not an accomplishment at all?