Bush's approval rating hits 33%

Bush's post-election approval hovers near lowest of presidency - USATODAY.com Bush's post-election approval hovers near lowest of presidency Updated 11/13/2006 1:00 PM ET By USA TODAY staff WASHINGTON — President Bush's job approval ratings have slumped in the latest USA TODAY/Gallup poll, with the president's rating hovering near the lowest of his tenure. In the poll, taken Thursday through Sunday, 33% of Americans approve of Bush's job performance and 62% disapprove. That compares to 38% approval and 56% disapproval in a USA TODAY/Gallup poll taken Nov. 2-5, just before the Nov. 7 midterm elections. ON DEADLINE: 'Approval' lowest since May Bush, an asset for congressional candidates four years ago, was a liability for many this time. His approval rating was 42% in midterm exit polls. That's 10 percentage points lower than on Election Day in 2004 and 24 points lower than in 2002. Sixteen percent of those who said they voted for Bush in 2004 supported Democrats in the midterms, according to exit polling. Bush's lowest job approval rating came in a poll taken May 5-7, where 31% of Americans approved of his job performance. The same poll pegged Americans' disapproval of his job performance at 65%, the highest of his tenure. The president's approval ratings have hovered near or below 40% for most of this year in the poll. The president's highest approval ratings came in late September 2001, shortly after the 9/11 terror attacks. Ninety percent of Americans approved of Bush's job performance at that time. The poll was based on telephone interviews with 1,004 adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Contributing: Randy Lilleston, Susan Page.