The American People and President Bush

Abstract

Professor Richard Brody explains the dynamics of public opinion about President George W. Bush during the so-called “honeymoon” phase and the period right before September 11. The Bush honeymoon period was short-lived relative to other presidents, with the president’s polls dropping once he submitted his budget to Congress in early March. But Bush’s approval ratings soared remarkably in the days subsequent to the terrorist attacks, a pattern Brody attributes to the high level of bipartisan support among opinion makers in Congress and the news media. The erosion of Bush’s approval ratings began about a month later, when opinion elites began to question the president’s policies, triggering changes in support among Democratic and Independent voters who rely on these elites for assessing the president’s job performance. If the “war on terrorism” continues to recede from public view, other issues will shape public opinion about the president. We should expect to see the president’s support become increasingly contingent on domestic issues, particularly the economy.

Recommended Citation

Brody, Richard A. (2002) "The American People and President Bush," The Forum: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1, Article 5.
DOI: 10.2202/1540-8884.1004
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/forum/vol1/iss1/art5