President George W. Bush continues to enjoy high job approval ratings in New Hampshire. While his ratings have slipped slightly since October, Bush‚Äôs job performance is near historic highs in New Hampshire

Survey Center, UNH

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UNH Scholars' Repository

BUSH APPROVAL REMAINS HIGHBy: Andrew E. Smith, Ph.D. 603/862-2226 FOR RELEASEUNH Survey Center February 18, 2002www.unh.edu/survey-centerDURHAM, NH -  President George W. Bush continues to enjoy high job approval ratings in New Hampshire.While his ratings have slipped slightly since October, Bush’s job performance is near historic highs in New Hampshire.These findings are based on the latest Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New HampshireSurvey Center.  The Granite State Poll is sponsored by the University of New Hampshire.  Seven-hundred thirty (730)adults were interviewed between January 25 and February 5, 2002. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/-3.6percent.  (For more detailed results, visit the Survey Center web site at www.unh.edu/survey-center and click on PressReleases.)Presidential ApprovalDespite an economy that is struggling to get out of recession, President George W. Bush continues to enjoyextremely high approval among New Hampshire residents for his performance as president.  In the most recent GraniteState Poll, 87 percent of New Hampshire adults say they approve of the job Bush is doing as president, only 9 percentdisapprove, and 4 percent are neutral.  Bush’s approval ratings have slipped somewhat since the October 2001 GraniteState Poll when 92% of New Hampshire adults approved of his performance as president, 6 percent disapproved, and 2percent were neutral.  “People in New Hampshire think that Bush is doing a good job handling the war on terrorism,” saidAndrew Smith, Director of the UNH Survey Center.  “The success of the operation in Afghanistan has so far helped theBush administration avoid being hurt by the recession or even problems with Enron.”Another indicator of support for Bush in New Hampshire is that his personal favorability ratings are very high.Currently, 84 percent of New Hampshire adults say they have a favorable opinion of Bush, 11 percent have anunfavorable opinion of him, and 5 percent are neutral.  In October, 88 percent of New Hampshire adults said they had afavorable opinion of Bush, 8 percent had an unfavorable opinion, and 4 percent were neutral.  Bush’s net favorabilityrating, the percentage having a favorable opinion minus the percentage having an unfavorable opinion, is  +73, down from+80 in October.Foreign AffairsBush has reached these high levels of personal popularity and job approval largely because of his response to theSeptember 11 attacks.  When asked about the job Bush is doing handling foreign affairs, 86 percent of New Hampshi it ssay they approve, 10 percent disapprove, and 4 percent are neutral.  These figures are almost unchanged since the OctoberGranite State Poll when 88 percent said they approved of the job Bush was doing handling foreign affairs, 7 percentdisapproved, and 4 percent were neutral.Economic Approval RatingWhile the New Hampshire economy has shown signs of improvement, recent job layoffs at Tyco and Enterasysare indicators that the New Hampshire is not back to the dynamic growth it showed in the late 1990s.  Typically,Presidents get blamed for bad economies, even during times of war, as President George Herbert Walker Bush discoveredin 1991 and 1992.  But President George W. Bush has been able to do something his father was unable to do, maintainhigh job approval ratings in the face of an economic recession.  In the most recent Granite State Poll, 69 percent of NewHampshire residents say they approve of the job President Bush is doing handling the economy, 25 percent disapprove,and 6 percent are neutral.  In October, 75 percent approved of Bush’s handling of the economy, 18 percent disapproved,and 8 percent were neutral.  By comparison, at the height of the economic boom in September, 1999, only 72 percent ofNew Hampshire adults approved of President Clinton’s handling of the economy.SUB-GROUP ANALYSISBush enjoys high job approval ratings from all groups of New Hampshire adults but his highest ratings comefrom Republicans and conservatives.  While somewhat less supportive, groups that usually give low ratings to Republicanpresidents -- Democrats, liberals, people with post graduate degrees, and resident of western New Hampshire -- also giveBush high job performance ratings.Similarly, Bush enjoys high approval rating for his handling of foreign affairs from all groups of New Hampshireadults.Granite Staters are more divided over Bush’s handling of the economy.  Republicans and conservatives stronglyapprove of his performance.  However, Democrats, liberals, and people with post-graduate educations re split overBush’s handling of the economy.Presidential ApprovalOct. 2001 Feb. 2002Approve 92% 87%Neutral, don’t know 2 4Disapprove 6 9(N=687) (N=724)Presidential Approval - EconomyOct. 2001 Feb. 2002Approve 75% 69%Neutral, don’t know 8 6Disapprove 18 25(N=684) (N=725)Presidential Approval - Foreign AffairsOct. 2001 Feb. 2002Approve 88% 86%Neutral, don’t know 4 4Disapprove 7 10(N=685) (N=722)Favorability Rating - President George W. BushOct. 2001 Feb. 2002Favorable 88% 84%Neutral, don’t know 4 5Unfavorable 8 11(N=678) (N=726)Granite State Poll MethodologyThese findings are based on the most recent Granite State Poll conducted by the University of New HampshireSurvey Center from January 25 to February 5, 2002.  A random sample of 730 New Hampshire adults was interviewed bytelephone.  In 95 of 100 cases, the statewide estimates will be accurate to plus or minus 3.6 percent. Results reported forother subgroups have potential for somewhat larger variation than those for the entire population.The data have been weighted to adjust for numbers of adults and telephone lines within households, respondentsex, and region of the state.  In addition to potential sampling error, all surveys have other potential sources of non-sampling error including question order effects, question wording effects, and non-response.Respondents to the Granite State Poll were asked:· “GENERALLY SPEAKING, do you approve or disapprove of the way President Bush is handling his job aspresident?”  (IF APPROVE):  “Would you say that you STRONGLY approve of the way he is handling his job aspresident, or that you approve only SOMEWHAT?”   (IF DISAPPROVE):  “Would you say that you STRONGLYdisapprove of the way he is handling his job as president, or that you disapprove only SOMEWHAT?”  (IFNEITHER, NOT SURE, DK):  “Would you say that you lean a little more toward APPROVING orDISAPPROVING of the way he is handling his job as president?”· "GENERALLY SPEAKING, do you approve or disapprove of the way President Bush is handling FOREIGNAFFAIRS?" (IF APPROVE):  "Would you say you STRONGLY approve of the way he is handling foreign affairs, orthat you approve only SOMEWHAT?” (IF DISAPPROVE):  "Would you say you STRONGLY disapprove of theway he is handling foreign affairs, or that you disapprove only SOMEWHAT?" (IF NEITHER, NOT SURE, DK):"Would you say you lean a little more toward APPROVING or DISAPPROVING of the way he is handling foreignaffairs?"· "GENERALLY SPEAKING, do you approve or disapprove of the way President Bush is handling THEECONOMY?"  (IF APPROVE):  "Would you say you STRONGLY approve of the way he is handling the economy,or that you approve only SOMEWHAT?"  (IF DISAPPROVE):  "Would you say you STRONGLY disapprove of theway he is handling the economy, or that you disapprove only SOMEWHAT?"  (IF NEITHER, NOT SURE, DK):"Would you say you lean a little more toward APPROVING or DISAPPROVING of the way he is handling theeconomy?"· "Next, I'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news.  As I read each name, please say if you have afavorable or unfavorable opinion of this person - or if you have never heard of him or her.  President George W.Bush."Presidential Approval Rating - George W. BushApprove Neutral  Disapprove (N=)STATEWIDE 87% 4% 9% 724Registered Democrat 73 8 18 134Undeclared 87 4 9 254Registered Republican 98 0 1 160Not registered 85 4 11 169Democrat 73 7 19 288Independent 88 4 9 131Republican 99 1 0 278Liberal 72 5 23 140Moderate 86 5 9 329Conservative 98 1 1 2032 Years or less in NH 84 4 12 523 to 5 years 86 2 11 556 to 10 years 91 0 9 7011 to 20 years 90 2 8 166More than 20 years 85 5 9 37618 to 29 85 6 9 11730 to 39 91 1 8 15440 to 49 86 5 10 16850 to 59 89 1 10 13160 to 69 86 4 10 6970 and over 80 11 10 68Male 88 3 9 351Female 86 5 9 373High school or less 89 4 6 213Some college 88 4 8 165College graduate 91 3 6 232Post-graduate 72 5 23 112Less than $30K 77 5 18 88$30K to $60K 88 3 9 228$60K to $75K 86 4 10 77$75K to $100K 90 1 8 91More than $100K 91 2 7 91Married 88 3 8 490Divorced/separated 85 4 10 111Never married 80 6 13 116Northern NH 90 4 7 94Western NH 71 7 22 68Central/Lakes 89 3 8 114Hillsborough County 89 4 7 220Seacoast 86 4 10 2271st District 88 4 8 3692nd District 85 4 11 355Economic Approval Rating - George W. BushApprove Neutral  Disapprove (N=)STATEWIDE 69% 6% 25% 725Registered Democrat 44 8 48 136Undeclared 67 4 29 254Registered Republican 90 4 7 160Not registered 71 9 20 168Democrat 46 6 47 288Independent 72 7 21 130Republican 91 3 6 278Liberal 50 7 43 140Moderate 68 4 28 327Conservative 86 5 9 2032 Years or less in NH 68 1 31 523 to 5 years 72 7 21 556 to 10 years 72 6 22 7011 to 20 years 77 7 16 166More than 20 years 65 6 29 37718 to 29 72 7 21 11630 to 39 76 5 20 15540 to 49 69 7 23 16850 to 59 67 2 31 13260 to 69 60 8 32 6970 and over 61 10 30 68Male 69 5 26 352Female 69 6 25 372High school or less 71 12 16 213Some college 77 3 20 166College graduate 72 3 25 233Post-graduate 47 4 50 112Less than $30K 66 6 27 88$30K to $60K 66 7 27 228$60K to $75K 74 2 23 77$75K to $100K 68 4 28 92More than $100K 72 7 21 91Married 70 5 24 490Divorced/separated 68 5 27 111Never married 64 9 28 117Northern NH 74 4 22 96Western NH 56 8 37 68Central/Lakes 73 6 21 114Hillsborough County 70 6 25 218Seacoast 68 6 26 2281st District 71 7 22 3702nd District 66 5 29 354Foreign Affairs Approval Rating - George W. BushApprove Neutral  Disapprove (N=)STATEWIDE 86% 4% 10% 722Registered Democrat 72 3 25 136Undeclared 87 3 10 253Registered Republican 97 0 3 159Not registered 85 8 7 168Democrat 75 5 21 289Independent 89 6 5 130Republican 95 2 3 277Liberal 74 6 20 140Moderate 85 3 12 327Conservative 94 2 4 2032 Years or less in NH 88 0 12 523 to 5 years 81 5 14 556 to 10 years 87 0 13 7011 to 20 years 86 5 10 164More than 20 years 86 4 10 37618 to 29 82 5 13 11630 to 39 90 3 7 15440 to 49 86 4 10 16850 to 59 86 2 12 13160 to 69 85 1 14 6870 and over 83 7 10 68Male 87 3 10 350Female 84 4 11 372High school or less 87 6 8 211Some college 87 3 9 165College graduate 90 2 8 234Post-graduate 74 3 23 112Less than $30K 73 8 19 88$30K to $60K 89 3 8 226$60K to $75K 83 3 14 76$75K to $100K 91 1 8 92More than $100K 92 1 7 91Married 88 3 10 489Divorced/separated 80 7 12 111Never married 85 4 12 115Northern NH 83 4 13 96Western NH 66 8 26 68Central/Lakes 88 4 8 114Hillsborough County 89 2 9 217Seacoast 89 3 8 2271st District 90 4 6 3682nd District 82 4 15 354

Bush Approval Remains High 2/18/2002

University of New Hampshire

BUSH APPROVAL REMAINS HIGH
By: Andrew E. Smith, Ph.D. 603/862-2226 FOR RELEASE
UNH Survey Center February 18, 2002
www.unh.edu/survey-center
DURHAM, NH --  President George W. Bush continues to enjoy high job approval ratings in New Hampshire.
While his ratings have slipped slightly since October, Bush’s job performance is near historic highs in New Hampshire.
These findings are based on the latest Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire
Survey Center.  The Granite State Poll is sponsored by the University of New Hampshire.  Seven-hundred thirty (730)
adults were interviewed between January 25 and February 5, 2002. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/-3.6
percent.  (For more detailed results, visit the Survey Center web site at www.unh.edu/survey-center and click on Press
Releases.)
Presidential Approval
Despite an economy that is struggling to get out of recession, President George W. Bush continues to enjoy
extremely high approval among New Hampshire residents for his performance as president.  In the most recent Granite
State Poll, 87 percent of New Hampshire adults say they approve of the job Bush is doing as president, only 9 percent
disapprove, and 4 percent are neutral.  Bush’s approval ratings have slipped somewhat since the October 2001 Granite
State Poll when 92% of New Hampshire adults approved of his performance as president, 6 percent disapproved, and 2
percent were neutral.  “People in New Hampshire think that Bush is doing a good job handling the war on terrorism,” said
Andrew Smith, Director of the UNH Survey Center.  “The success of the operation in Afghanistan has so far helped the
Bush administration avoid being hurt by the recession or even problems with Enron.”
Another indicator of support for Bush in New Hampshire is that his personal favorability ratings are very high.
Currently, 84 percent of New Hampshire adults say they have a favorable opinion of Bush, 11 percent have an
unfavorable opinion of him, and 5 percent are neutral.  In October, 88 percent of New Hampshire adults said they had a
favorable opinion of Bush, 8 percent had an unfavorable opinion, and 4 percent were neutral.  Bush’s net favorability
rating, the percentage having a favorable opinion minus the percentage having an unfavorable opinion, is  +73, down from
+80 in October.
Foreign Affairs
Bush has reached these high levels of personal popularity and job approval largely because of his response to the
September 11 attacks.  When asked about the job Bush is doing handling foreign affairs, 86 percent of New Hampshirites
say they approve, 10 percent disapprove, and 4 percent are neutral.  These figures are almost unchanged since the October
Granite State Poll when 88 percent said they approved of the job Bush was doing handling foreign affairs, 7 percent
disapproved, and 4 percent were neutral.
Economic Approval Rating
While the New Hampshire economy has shown signs of improvement, recent job layoffs at Tyco and Enterasys
are indicators that the New Hampshire is not back to the dynamic growth it showed in the late 1990s.  Typically,
Presidents get blamed for bad economies, even during times of war, as President George Herbert Walker Bush discovered
in 1991 and 1992.  But President George W. Bush has been able to do something his father was unable to do, maintain
high job approval ratings in the face of an economic recession.  In the most recent Granite State Poll, 69 percent of New
Hampshire residents say they approve of the job President Bush is doing handling the economy, 25 percent disapprove,
and 6 percent are neutral.  In October, 75 percent approved of Bush’s handling of the economy, 18 percent disapproved,
and 8 percent were neutral.  By comparison, at the height of the economic boom in September, 1999, only 72 percent of
New Hampshire adults approved of President Clinton’s handling of the economy.
SUB-GROUP ANALYSIS
Bush enjoys high job approval ratings from all groups of New Hampshire adults but his highest ratings come
from Republicans and conservatives.  While somewhat less supportive, groups that usually give low ratings to Republican
presidents -- Democrats, liberals, people with post graduate degrees, and resident of western New Hampshire -- also give
Bush high job performance ratings.
Similarly, Bush enjoys high approval rating for his handling of foreign affairs from all groups of New Hampshire
adults.
Granite Staters are more divided over Bush’s handling of the economy.  Republicans and conservatives strongly
approve of his performance.  However, Democrats, liberals, and people with post-graduate educations are split over
Bush’s handling of the economy.
Presidential Approval
Oct. 2001 Feb. 2002
Approve 92% 87%
Neutral, don’t know 2 4
Disapprove 6 9
(N=687) (N=724)
Presidential Approval - Economy
Oct. 2001 Feb. 2002
Approve 75% 69%
Neutral, don’t know 8 6
Disapprove 18 25
(N=684) (N=725)
Presidential Approval - Foreign Affairs
Oct. 2001 Feb. 2002
Approve 88% 86%
Neutral, don’t know 4 4
Disapprove 7 10
(N=685) (N=722)
Favorability Rating - President George W. Bush
Oct. 2001 Feb. 2002
Favorable 88% 84%
Neutral, don’t know 4 5
Unfavorable 8 11
(N=678) (N=726)
Granite State Poll Methodology
These findings are based on the most recent Granite State Poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire
Survey Center from January 25 to February 5, 2002.  A random sample of 730 New Hampshire adults was interviewed by
telephone.  In 95 of 100 cases, the statewide estimates will be accurate to plus or minus 3.6 percent. Results reported for
other subgroups have potential for somewhat larger variation than those for the entire population.
The data have been weighted to adjust for numbers of adults and telephone lines within households, respondent
sex, and region of the state.  In addition to potential sampling error, all surveys have other potential sources of non-
sampling error including question order effects, question wording effects, and non-response.
Respondents to the Granite State Poll were asked:
• “GENERALLY SPEAKING, do you approve or disapprove of the way President Bush is handling his job as
president?”  (IF APPROVE):  “Would you say that you STRONGLY approve of the way he is handling his job as
president, or that you approve only SOMEWHAT?”   (IF DISAPPROVE):  “Would you say that you STRONGLY
disapprove of the way he is handling his job as president, or that you disapprove only SOMEWHAT?”  (IF
NEITHER, NOT SURE, DK):  “Would you say that you lean a little more toward APPROVING or
DISAPPROVING of the way he is handling his job as president?”
• "GENERALLY SPEAKING, do you approve or disapprove of the way President Bush is handling FOREIGN
AFFAIRS?" (IF APPROVE):  "Would you say you STRONGLY approve of the way he is handling foreign affairs, or
that you approve only SOMEWHAT?” (IF DISAPPROVE):  "Would you say you STRONGLY disapprove of the
way he is handling foreign affairs, or that you disapprove only SOMEWHAT?" (IF NEITHER, NOT SURE, DK):
"Would you say you lean a little more toward APPROVING or DISAPPROVING of the way he is handling foreign
affairs?"
• "GENERALLY SPEAKING, do you approve or disapprove of the way President Bush is handling THE
ECONOMY?"  (IF APPROVE):  "Would you say you STRONGLY approve of the way he is handling the economy,
or that you approve only SOMEWHAT?"  (IF DISAPPROVE):  "Would you say you STRONGLY disapprove of the
way he is handling the economy, or that you disapprove only SOMEWHAT?"  (IF NEITHER, NOT SURE, DK):
"Would you say you lean a little more toward APPROVING or DISAPPROVING of the way he is handling the
economy?"
• "Next, I'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news.  As I read each name, please say if you have a
favorable or unfavorable opinion of this person - or if you have never heard of him or her.  President George W.
Bush."
Presidential Approval Rating - George W. Bush
Approve Neutral  Disapprove (N=)
STATEWIDE 87% 4% 9% 724
Registered Democrat 73 8 18 134
Undeclared 87 4 9 254
Registered Republican 98 0 1 160
Not registered 85 4 11 169
Democrat 73 7 19 288
Independent 88 4 9 131
Republican 99 1 0 278
Liberal 72 5 23 140
Moderate 86 5 9 329
Conservative 98 1 1 203
2 Years or less in NH 84 4 12 52
3 to 5 years 86 2 11 55
6 to 10 years 91 0 9 70
11 to 20 years 90 2 8 166
More than 20 years 85 5 9 376
18 to 29 85 6 9 117
30 to 39 91 1 8 154
40 to 49 86 5 10 168
50 to 59 89 1 10 131
60 to 69 86 4 10 69
70 and over 80 11 10 68
Male 88 3 9 351
Female 86 5 9 373
High school or less 89 4 6 213
Some college 88 4 8 165
College graduate 91 3 6 232
Post-graduate 72 5 23 112
Less than $30K 77 5 18 88
$30K to $60K 88 3 9 228
$60K to $75K 86 4 10 77
$75K to $100K 90 1 8 91
More than $100K 91 2 7 91
Married 88 3 8 490
Divorced/separated 85 4 10 111
Never married 80 6 13 116
Northern NH 90 4 7 94
Western NH 71 7 22 68
Central/Lakes 89 3 8 114
Hillsborough County 89 4 7 220
Seacoast 86 4 10 227
1st District 88 4 8 369
2nd District 85 4 11 355
Economic Approval Rating - George W. Bush
Approve Neutral  Disapprove (N=)
STATEWIDE 69% 6% 25% 725
Registered Democrat 44 8 48 136
Undeclared 67 4 29 254
Registered Republican 90 4 7 160
Not registered 71 9 20 168
Democrat 46 6 47 288
Independent 72 7 21 130
Republican 91 3 6 278
Liberal 50 7 43 140
Moderate 68 4 28 327
Conservative 86 5 9 203
2 Years or less in NH 68 1 31 52
3 to 5 years 72 7 21 55
6 to 10 years 72 6 22 70
11 to 20 years 77 7 16 166
More than 20 years 65 6 29 377
18 to 29 72 7 21 116
30 to 39 76 5 20 155
40 to 49 69 7 23 168
50 to 59 67 2 31 132
60 to 69 60 8 32 69
70 and over 61 10 30 68
Male 69 5 26 352
Female 69 6 25 372
High school or less 71 12 16 213
Some college 77 3 20 166
College graduate 72 3 25 233
Post-graduate 47 4 50 112
Less than $30K 66 6 27 88
$30K to $60K 66 7 27 228
$60K to $75K 74 2 23 77
$75K to $100K 68 4 28 92
More than $100K 72 7 21 91
Married 70 5 24 490
Divorced/separated 68 5 27 111
Never married 64 9 28 117
Northern NH 74 4 22 96
Western NH 56 8 37 68
Central/Lakes 73 6 21 114
Hillsborough County 70 6 25 218
Seacoast 68 6 26 228
1st District 71 7 22 370
2nd District 66 5 29 354
Foreign Affairs Approval Rating - George W. Bush
Approve Neutral  Disapprove (N=)
STATEWIDE 86% 4% 10% 722
Registered Democrat 72 3 25 136
Undeclared 87 3 10 253
Registered Republican 97 0 3 159
Not registered 85 8 7 168
Democrat 75 5 21 289
Independent 89 6 5 130
Republican 95 2 3 277
Liberal 74 6 20 140
Moderate 85 3 12 327
Conservative 94 2 4 203
2 Years or less in NH 88 0 12 52
3 to 5 years 81 5 14 55
6 to 10 years 87 0 13 70
11 to 20 years 86 5 10 164
More than 20 years 86 4 10 376
18 to 29 82 5 13 116
30 to 39 90 3 7 154
40 to 49 86 4 10 168
50 to 59 86 2 12 131
60 to 69 85 1 14 68
70 and over 83 7 10 68
Male 87 3 10 350
Female 84 4 11 372
High school or less 87 6 8 211
Some college 87 3 9 165
College graduate 90 2 8 234
Post-graduate 74 3 23 112
Less than $30K 73 8 19 88
$30K to $60K 89 3 8 226
$60K to $75K 83 3 14 76
$75K to $100K 91 1 8 92
More than $100K 92 1 7 91
Married 88 3 10 489
Divorced/separated 80 7 12 111
Never married 85 4 12 115
Northern NH 83 4 13 96
Western NH 66 8 26 68
Central/Lakes 88 4 8 114
Hillsborough County 89 2 9 217
Seacoast 89 3 8 227
1st District 90 4 6 368
2nd District 82 4 15 354


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Bush Approval Remains High 2/18/2002

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