Elon Poll: Bush at 45 in NC

The new Elon Poll is out and the president’s numbers are at 45 percent overall, 42 for the economy and a huge bounce on his handling of the war from 36 in February to 38 as of this week.

Link to the Data

From the press release:

Forty-five percent of those polled approve or strongly approve of the job Bush is doing as president, while 49 percent disapprove or strongly disapprove. Forty-two percent approve or strongly approve of Bush’s handling of the economy, up from 38 percent in the February poll, while 50 percent disapprove or strongly disapprove.

Approval of Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq increased slightly from the February poll. Thirty-eight percent approve or strongly approve of Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq, compared with 36 percent in February. Fifty-seven percent disapprove or strongly disapprove.

“Bush’s approval ratings appear to mirror that of the rest of the country,” said Hunter Bacot, director of the Elon University Poll. “Given the slight increase in Bush’s approval ratings on Iraq, it appears that the administration’s efforts to counter criticism of the war effort are working, even though a solid majority of citizens still disapprove of his handling of the war.”

North Carolinians were also polled about November’s Congressional elections and the issues that will influence their votes. The economy was the top issue at 79 percent, followed by terrorism (76 percent), Iraq (75 percent), immigration (75 percent) and health care (75 percent).