Poll: Bush Approval Drops on Sour Economy

President Bush's approval rating has dropped to 57% from 73% since April as voters soured on his handling of the economy, a poll published on Wednesday showed.

The Quinnipiac University survey revealed that nearly twice as many American voters were more concerned about the sagging economy than about the possibility of terrorist attacks in the United States.

But the Hamden, Connecticut, university poll found that Republican Bush would still be elected with 53% of the vote against potential Democratic nominees Sen. Joe Lieberman, who polled 40%, and Sen. John Kerry, with 37%.

"'Like father, like son' must be a phrase they hate to hear in the White House", said polling director Maurice Carroll. "Bush scores in the stratosphere on the fight against bad guys abroad and at home. But like his father after Gulf War I, his numbers on the economy are low."

Bush's father, George H.W. Bush, President from 1989 to 1993, saw his approval ratings soar after the 1991 Gulf War in Iraq. But doubts over the faltering economy and high deficit spending contributed to his losing a reelection bid to Democrat Bill Clinton.

45% of voters polled approved of Republican Bush's handling of the economy and 50% disapproved. Two-thirds described the economy as "not so good" or "poor".

An April 16 survey by the same pollster showed Bush with an overall approval rating of 73% compared with 57% in its June 4 to 9 poll of 865 registered voters nationwide. It said the poll's margin of error was plus or minus 3.3%.

Asked whether they were more concerned about the U.S. economy than terrorist attacks, 61% of respondents said the economy and 32% replied terrorism.

A May nationwide poll by Stony Brook University showed nearly two-thirds of Americans would rather have had Bush extend health care to 41 million uninsured people than cut taxes. Bush signed a $350 billion tax cut package last month.

U.S. government analysts predict the budget deficit could hit a new record of more than $400 billion this year.