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John Daley ReportingPresident George W. Bush's approval ratings in Utah remain strong, but they have slipped even here, according to the latest exclusive KSL-TV Deseret News poll by Dan Jones and Associates.
Our poll finds, unlike elsewhere in the U.S where his poll numbers have fallen through the floor, most Utahns polled are still loyal to President Bush. The poll conducted over the weekend of 400 Utahns, finds 61% polled approve of the president's job performance, while 36% disapprove; that's almost directly opposite his numbers nationally. But we should note, President Bush's numbers have dropped here in Utah from 69% support just two months ago.
Utahns too are giving President Bush the benefit of the doubt regarding the Iraq War; 57% approve of the Bush Administration's handling of the war, 39% disapprove.
The poll finds all of Utah's elected officials are by and large pretty popular, but topping the list is Democrat Jim Matheson, he gets a 78% approval rating. Governor Huntsman is in a similar range with 76%, followed by Senators Hatch and Bennett, then Congressmen Bishop and Cannon, and Chris Cannon has the highest disapproval with 34%.
Dan Jones, Pollster: "Who would have ever guessed in this state a democrat would have the highest approval rating. But it's the second district, which is the most democratic of the districts. It's still 2-1 republican, but Matheson is liked from St. George to Salt Lake in 16 counties."
Also, the President's approval numbers with Utahns are better than those of Congress as a whole, which gets a 54% approval with 28% disapproving.
Senator Hatch looks strong going into reelection next year. Fellow Republican Steve Urquhart, a state lawmaker, recently dropped out of the race against Hatch. But when asked if given the choice between re-electing Hatch or giving someone else a chance, it's a tossup with 45% supporting a Hatch reelection and 48% saying it's time to give someone else a shot.
