Despite much negative coverage of the war in Iraq from major liberal newspapers and some television networks, recent polling by Gallup shows that the war and President Bush have staunch and growing support in the country, while the standing of the media is falling.
In the first week of March, 59% supported a war to remove Saddam Hussein, while 37% opposed it. By the beginning of the third week of March, before President Bush delivered his ultimatum to Saddam, 64% supported a war to remove Saddam and only 33% opposed.
A massive poll of more than 2,000 adults conducted through the end of the first week of combat, showed support for the war stood at 72%. This support was as broad as it was deep, as the chart to the right illustrates. Ninety-three percent of Republicans and 84% of conservatives support the war. Fifty-three percent of Democrats support the war. Even 44% of the self-identified "liberals" support the war-but of the 2,028 people polled only 369 admitted belonging in this philosophical category.
Seventy percent of "moderates" support the war, and 66% of women.
Just before the war, President Bush's job approval rating was 58%. A week later it was at 71%, and it remained at that level at the end of the month.
Meanwhile, as the war continued, public's approval of the job the media was doing in covering the conflict eroded. In a March 22-23 poll, 52% said the media was doing an excellent job covering the war. In a March 29-30 poll, only 38% said the media was doing an excellent job.
Bush Up. . .
Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
|
Approve (%)
|
Disapprove (%)
|
No opinion (%)
|
|
| 2003 Mar 29-30 |
71
|
26
|
3
|
| 2003 Mar 24-25 |
69
|
27
|
4
|
| 2003 Mar 22-23 |
71
|
25
|
4
|
| 2003 Mar 14-15 |
58
|
38
|
4
|
| 2003 Mar 3-5 |
57
|
37
|
6
|
| 2003 Feb 24-26 |
57
|
37
|
6
|
| 2003 Feb 17-19 |
58
|
37
|
5
|
| 2003 Feb 7-9 |
61
|
34
|
5
|
| 2003 Feb 3-6 |
59
|
35
|
6
|
(Gallup, 1000 adults each, 3% Margin of error)
. . .War Up. . .
Would you favor or oppose invading Iraq with U.S. ground troops in an attempt to remove Saddam Hussein from power?
|
Favor (%)
|
Oppose (%)
|
No opinion (%)
|
|
| 2003 Mar 14-15^ |
64
|
33
|
3
|
| 2003 Mar 3-5 |
59
|
37
|
4
|
| 2003 Feb 24-26 |
59
|
37
|
4
|
| 2003 Feb 17-19 |
59
|
38
|
3
|
| 2003 Feb 7-9 |
63
|
34
|
3
|
| 2003 Jan 31-Feb 2 |
58
|
38
|
4
|
| 2003 Jan 23-25 |
52
|
43
|
5
|
(Gallup, 1000 adults each, 3% Margin of error)
Do you favor or oppose the U.S. war with Iraq?
|
Favor (%)
|
Oppose (%)
|
Sample Size
|
|
| Overall |
72
|
25
|
2,028
|
| Republican |
93
|
5
|
750
|
| Conservative |
84
|
13
|
892
|
| Income $30,000 to $49,999 |
79
|
19
|
455
|
| Men |
78
|
20
|
964
|
| White |
78
|
20
|
1,673
|
| Reside in West |
77
|
21
|
441
|
| Some college education |
77
|
21
|
587
|
| Income $50,000 or greater |
77
|
21
|
960
|
| Have children under 18 |
76
|
22
|
394
|
| 30-49 years old |
75
|
23
|
844
|
| Suburban |
75
|
22
|
1,030
|
| Rural |
75
|
22
|
452
|
| 65 years and older |
73
|
25
|
353
|
| Reside in Midwest |
73
|
24
|
474
|
| High school education or less |
72
|
26
|
644
|
| Reside in South |
71
|
26
|
656
|
| Moderate |
70
|
27
|
744
|
| No children under 18 |
70
|
26
|
619
|
| 50-64 years old |
69
|
27
|
517
|
| College graduate only |
69
|
28
|
367
|
| Women |
66
|
32
|
1,064
|
| 18-29 years old |
66
|
32
|
301
|
| Reside in East |
66
|
32
|
457
|
| Independent |
66
|
31
|
667
|
| Other race |
63
|
34
|
114
|
| Urban |
62
|
36
|
546
|
| Postgraduate education |
60
|
38
|
419
|
| Income less than $30,000 |
58
|
38
|
507
|
| Democrat |
53
|
44
|
584
|
| Liberal |
44
|
54
|
369
|
| Black |
29
|
68
|
141
|
(From two Gallup Polls conducted after the war began. 2,028 adults, March 22-23 and March 24-25, 2003.)
. . .and Media Down.
In general, how would you rate the job the news organizations in this country have done in covering the situation in the Mideast concerning the war with Iraq? Would you say it has been excellent, good, only fair or poor?
|
Excellent (%)
|
Good (%)
|
Only fair (%)
|
Poor (%)
|
|
| 2003 Mar 29-30 |
38
|
41
|
13
|
7
|
| 2003 Mar 22-23 |
52
|
32
|
10
|
5
|
(Gallup, 1000 adults each, 3% Margin of error.)
