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Bush’s Approval Rating Hits 82 Percent
One White House resident is enjoying remarkable and consistently high job approval ratings, while another is hoping for resurgence in the polls. First Lady Laura Bush, according to a recent poll, remains one of the most popular first ladies in U.S. history, and now she has the statistics to prove it. A January 20-22 poll by CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup, reveals Laura Bush’s 82 percent approval rating is among the most positive ratings ever recorded for a first lady. And her numbers are consistent. The present rating is down three percentage points from the 85 percent rating she received in a 2004 poll, which was up from a solid 74 percent in 2003, the first time she was rated.
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Past Gallup polls reveal that most Americans traditionally give higher marks to first ladies than they do to their commander in chief husbands, likely because the president’s role is more political, while the first lady’s is largely ceremonial and supportive. Case in point, George W. Bush. While Laura Bush finds fans wherever she goes, the current president’s rating remains at an underwhelming 43 percent. By comparison, Laura Bush’s predecessor, Hillary Clinton, averaged a 64 percent approval rating during her tenure as first lady, regardless of whether her husband, Bill Clinton, was being lauded or impeached. Hillary Clinton is generally seen as a politically polarizing figure, whereas Laura Bush is popular regardless of politics. When asked if Laura Bush should run for U.S. Senate, like her predecessor did, a majority – 53 percent – said she should not, though 40 percent liked the idea.
The first lady has never expressed any interest in a political career of her own and that seems to suit her husband, President Bush, just fine. He has said recently, when asked about Laura’s political ambitions, that his wife is not interested in running for any political office. However, Laura Bush has tipped her hand on her hopes for another woman she'd like to see take up residence in the White House. Laura Bush is on record as saying she'd love to cast a ballot for U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the first female President of the United States, though Rice has denied any interest in the position. "I'd love to see her run," the first lady said of Rice. "She's terrific."
Editor's note:
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics: Inside Cover Stories
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