More bad polls for Bush

The new Pew Poll is out, and while the numbers haven't changed much over the past month, they do confirm that the President is in deep doodoo.

President Bush's image has eroded along with the Republican Party's. Just 40% express a favorable opinion of the president, compared with 57% who have a negative impression. This is the lowest favorable rating in Bush's presidency and below former President Clinton's low point of 48% in May 2000. Since last March 2005, positive opinions of Bush have declined by 13 percentage points (from 53% to 40%).

Bush's job approval stands at 35%, close to his 33% rating of last month. On the issue that has dominated Congress in recent weeks - immigration - Bush's rating is even lower (25%). And Congress fares no better than the president in views of its handling of the issue; just 21% approve, while roughly three times that number (64%) disapproves. Democrats now hold a significant advantage as the party better able to deal with immigration (by 43%-27%). Just two months ago, prior to the inconclusive Senate debate on the matter, the two parties were seen about evenly on this issue (38% Democrat/34% Republican).