Wampum

A new Elon University poll of five Southeastern states (North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida) puts President Bush with 43% job approval and 52% disapproval.

Some of the findings:

--- A new Elon University Poll shows support for President George W. Bush stands at 43 percent in five Southeastern states, while 52 percent of citizens disapprove or strongly disapprove of the job Bush is doing

---- Fifty-seven percent of respondents disapprove or strongly disapprove of the way Bush is handling the war in Iraq, while 39 percent approve or strongly approve. On the economy, Bush’s approval rating stands at 40 percent, while 54 percent disapprove or strongly disapprove. The economy (26 percent) and the war in Iraq (26 percent) are the two most important issues facing the country, according those polled.

---- Among current military members, reservists, retired military and military veterans, 50 percent approve or strongly approve of the job Bush is doing as president, while 46 percent disapprove. When asked about Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, 49 percent of those with a military affiliation disapprove or strongly disapprove, while 47 percent approve or strongly approve.

--- Forty-eight percent said the U.S. should not be in Iraq, while 47 percent said the U.S. should be in Iraq. Fifty-one percent said the war in Iraq was not worth fighting, while 44 percent said the war was worth fighting.

--- Fifty-two percent said the U.S. is now more at risk of future terrorist attacks, while 31 percent said the U.S. is at less risk. Fourteen percent said the risk is about the same.

---- The poll compared party support between the last presidential election and the upcoming congressional election. Forty-two percent of respondents supported Democrats in the 2004 presidential election, while 46 percent supported Republicans. When asked which party they will support in the next congressional election, 33 percent said they will support Democrats and 28 percent said they will support Republicans. Twenty-nine percent said they did not know.

The result that jumped out at me was the intensity of the disapproval of the President’s job performance. Almost twice as many southeasterners "strongly disapprove" of the President's job performance (36%) as "strongly approve" (19%).

If my eyes do not deceive me, that great southeastern swath of red is beginning to look a bit purple.