President George W. Bush has slipped significantly in public approval ratings on both his foreign and domestic policies, according to a New York Times/CBS News Poll published on Thursday.
Despite his recent tour of Europe and Congressional approval of his tax cut proposals, Bush's approval rating had fallen seven percent since March to 53 percent, the poll said.
Bush's predecessor Bill Clinton also garnered 53-percent support at the same point in his tenure, the poll said.
Bush's handling of foreign policy is approved by 47 percent of Americans, his approach to the environment is approved by just 39 percent, and his handling of the nation's energy problems only pleases 33 percent of respondents -- a substantial decline from a month ago, the Times said.
People are suspicious of Bush's energy priorities, with more than 60 percent of the respondents believing the government is stressing a domestic energy shortage to give US oil companies an excuse to charge more money.
Seventy-two percent said immediate steps to counter the effects of global warming were needed. And more than half said the United States should abide by the Kyoto Protocol -- an international accord to curb climate change -- even if China and India were not obliged to cut greenhouse emissions as much as the industrialised nations.
The poll revealed a wide perception that Bush favours the rich over the middle class and the poor. Some 57 percent said government policies favour the rich, eight percent said they favour the middle class and only two percent said they favour the poor – WASHINGTON (AFP)
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