WASHINGTON (CNN) – As President-elect Obama visits the White House, a new national poll suggests that the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the most unpopular president in the six decades since presidential approval ratings were first measured.
Seventy-six percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday disapprove of how George W. Bush is handling his job as President. That's an all-time high in CNN polling, or in Gallup polling dating back to World War II.
"No other president's disapproval rating has gone higher than 70 percent. Bush has managed to do that three times so far this year," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "That means that Bush is now more unpopular than Richard Nixon was when he resigned from office during Watergate with a 66 percent disapproval rating."
Prior to President Bush, the record holder for presidential disapproval was Harry Truman, with a 67 percent disapproval rating in January of 1952, his last full year in office.
As Obama visits the White House, 57 percent of those questioned think the transfer of presidential power will be relatively easy and free from tension, with 39 percent saying the transition will be difficult.
"A majority say that the transition from Bush to Obama will go smoothly, although nearly one in four predict a lot of tension between Bush aides and Obama aides in the next few weeks. That sentiment is highest among Democrats, but even among them, a majority believes that the transition will be relatively easy," Holland said.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll was conducted Thursday through Sunday with 1,246 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
From CNN Politics
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Bush = worst president ever!
hahaha Helene very true. I believe they just are not consciously awake to the realism of what Bush did to our country. He is obsessive compulsive in his decision making. Obama thinks analytically and will not be compulsive in his decisions. People also need to give him a chance to start to fix things, it will not be easy.
Ah and he continues to break records, all bad.
But do not blame that on me, I knew he was dump as a stump when he was our governor, didn't vote for him then and certainly didn't vote for him as president.
I am not one to look back. We need to move forward. Let bush go back to texas, he will have to deal with his God. I am looking forward to Obama taking this country BACK and giving it to us WE THE PEOPLE!
Bush is kinda like Midas, but everything he touches turns to something else. It's amazing that it has taken the public so long to reach this conclusion.
We haven't seen the lowest approval ratings yet.
In less then four years from now a President that only 14% of this nation agree with (Liberal left)
Will be in deep deep deep do do
Of course as a nation we will be as well!
I pray daily for a better result!
Why would this rating be such a surprise? As to the other 24% who seemingly support "W", some people will just never admit that mistakes have been made, come hell or high water. They will stubbornly support him to the very end. January 20th, 2009 cannot get here fast enough.
So who are those who still approve of Bush?
We dont want him back in Texas. Let another state take him. Florida or Ohio would be perfect.
Kich that guy out ...created enough of nuisance to America and the world.
I can't believe how many idiots live in the US. The only reason you are even allowed to share your disrespectful view are because we live in a free country. Gee, ya think that since 9/11 you have been pretty safe and secure? Does that mean absolutely nothing to you people. If you weren't safe and living in a free country you sure wouldn't be able to flap your lips like you do. Get a Clue.
A presidency full of shame and dishonor. Bloated government-(everything they accuse the dems of doing and rarely do), total disconnect with the people and the GOP. I hope when Bush walks out of the white house on his last day he will understand just how deeply he let down the American people. A buffoon, a charlatan, and the dimmist of wits. I doubt we will ever recover from his monumental blunders.
I NEVER voted for Bush. I KNEW that he was a moron.
I LOVE BUSH!!!!
4 more years!!!!
Helene November 10th, 2008 12:16 pm ET
What amazes me is that there are still 24 % of morons supporting this jerk.
----–you need to tell me why .....alot of people complain about Bush ...but never say why
hahaha Helene very true. I believe they just are not consciously awake to the realism of what Bush did to our country. He is obsessive compulsive in his decision making. Obama thinks analytically and will not be compulsive in his decisions. People also need to give him a chance to start to fix things, it will not be easy since he has to clean up a morons mess.
Thanks to George Bush for helping elect Barack Obama. I don't think Obama would have won if he were not running against the Bush legacy. 2000 and 2004 made 2008 possible. I thought I wanted him impeached, but, had he been impeached, Obama might not have been elected. Too late to impeach now as he is "sprinting to the finish line." I'll bet he is.
What this one man was allowed to do to this country...
His record is consistent. Everything he had his dirty hands on in the past failed too. This time, however, his daddy could not bail him out.
Record profits for Big Oil and a Shell office opening in Iraq, I suppose, could count on victories. Maybe that is what the 24% approve of.
The funny thing is he's twice as popular as our Dem Congress...
We should respect the Presidency and see Mr. Bush out of this with his dignity in tact. Believe me, he HAS eaten enough humble pie. America, let's let him keep his dignity.
Meanwhile, 55 years later, Truman is highly regarded. So history has yet to render judgement.
Ted O. I'd say Obama was elected on populism. Should we be worried?
I love all these folks who insist that history will be kinder to Bush. In effect, they are saying:
"You're still wrong, you just don't know it, yet."
Outside of Iraq turning into a rest home for old, white Republicans, I see nothing taking place that will reverse all of the poor decisions by this man. He is not "evil," just flat out incompetent.
it is impossible to be a worse president or even worse ex-president than Jimmy 'i hate America' Carter
Even rev. Wright approval rating is better than Bush
Someone mentioned on this board that it was Clinton fault for leaving a surplus when he left office. If that so, Bush had 8 years to fix it. You can have Bush, i take Clinton any day, anytime over Bush.
I can't wait for Bush to leave so Obama can help us and pave the path to a better country. And for those who think Obama will ruin us, give the man a chance before judging him!