March 4, 2006

Analysis: Bush Buffeted by Political Storms
Election-year mood of Republicans darkens

Scott Shepard
The Austin American-Statesman


"Instead, the Bush presidency's popularity is spiraling downward, according to the polls, raising concerns about his ability to manage the government and his willingness to be candid with the American people — all of which are stirring the anxieties of Republicans as never before.

'It's been a tough week. It's been a tough month. It's been a tough year,' veteran GOP pollster and strategist Whit Ayres said Friday. 'In the world of politics, things can change in a flash, and right now I would really welcome a change.' ...

... And though Bush's approval among Republicans remains relatively high, a poll by Opinion Dynamics for Fox News found that 77 percent of Republicans approve of his job performance today, compared with 82 percent less than a month ago.

'The Republican base is the only thing sustaining the president,' Ayers said of the polling data. 'If you're in the White House, that's the most encouraging sign right now,' he said. On the other hand, 'any sign of erosion of that base is going to be discouraging,' he added."


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