7 in 10 Americans disapprove of Bush's economic policies

Washington, Apr.15 : Seven in 10 Americans now give negative ratings to the president's stewardship of the sinking U.S. economy.

According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll, only 28 percent approve of his performance in this area, a double-digit decline from a year ago.

Among Republicans, 59 percent approve of the way he is handling the economy, down from 70 percent at the beginning of February and well off his career average of about 80 percent from his party's base.

Only a quarter of independents and six percent of Democrats approve of Bush's performance on the economy.

Republicans have been more steadfast in their overall support for Bush and in their assessments of his handling of the situation in Iraq, with about three-quarters approving of Bush's job performance generally and 68 percent backing him on his war policies.

But most Democrats and independents remain equally settled in their low opinion of the president's performance. Bush's overall rating stands at 33 percent, a percentage point above his all-time low in Post-ABC polling, a level he touched on most recently about six weeks ago.

The poll was conducted by telephone April 10 to 13 among a random national sample of 1,197 adults. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

ANI