There is good news and bad news in this poll for President George W. Bush. Americans have become more positive about the economy; more than half think the economy is in good shape, an 8-point increase since October.
The President�s overall approval rating has risen from 35 percent in October to 40 percent now, and his ratings on handling the economy and the war in Iraq have also improved.
But while this poll shows some improvement in Americans� views about how the war in Iraq is going, most continue to say it is going badly. Americans remain firm in their desire for U.S. troops to at least start coming home, and would like to see a timetable for that process.
Although President Bush has said he will not do this, 58 percent of Americans want the United States to set a timetable for troop withdrawal.
But many are leery about the impact of removing U.S. troops; just under half think that would bring more violence to Iraq, and 40 percent -- an increase of eight points since August -- think the likelihood of terrorism against the United States could increase.
Americans overwhelmingly say they are still waiting to hear the Bush Administration clearly articulate U.S. goals in Iraq and a strategy for victory, and it is the war that motivates most Americans who disapprove of how the President is doing his job. Fifty-three percent of them say the war is the single biggest reason why they disapprove.
Most Americans continue to want the number of U.S. troops to be decreased or withdrawn altogether, although only 28 percent want troops completely withdrawn now. Those figures have not changed much in the last few months.
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