Poll Lists George W. Bush As Worst President In Last 61 Years

Posted on June 1, 2006

In a recent Quinnepac poll American voters named George W. Bush as the worst president in the last 61 years, with a negative rating that is twice that of Richard M. Nixon.

Bush is named by 34 percent of voters, followed by Richard Nixon at 17 percent and Bill Clinton at 16 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. Leading the list for best President since 1945 is Ronald Reagan with 28 percent, and Clinton with 25 percent.
President Bush is ranked worst by 56 percent of Democrats, 35 percent of independent voters and 7 percent of Republicans, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Best ranking for Reagan comes from 56 percent of Republicans, 7 percent of Democrats and 25 percent of independent voters. Among American voters 18 - 29 years old, Clinton leads the "best" list with 40 percent.
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A total of 38 percent of voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the way things are going in the nation today, while 62 percent are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied," matching the previous satisfaction low point from March 2.
In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, 16 percent of voters say the war in Iraq is the most important problem facing the U.S. today, down from 23 percent in March. Another 12 percent list economic issues and 11 percent list immigration, the first time this issued has hit double digits in a national poll. American voters say 56 - 39 percent that going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do.

Will these numbers turn to the Democrats' advantage in the November midterms? It's still too early to tell, but one interesting indicator is the number of Republican incumbents in Congress who are carefully distancing themselves from the White House as they begin their campaigns.