Bush hits record low in new California poll

Even for Democrat-leaning “blue” California these numbers are shocking. The Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State University has just released a survey that shows President Bush has only a 23 percent approval rating and fully 72 percent of California voters disapprove of the job he is doing. While the Iraq War is a big part of the picture, the distrust of the President is much deeper and go to personal characteristics. A full 64% of Californians do not believe the President tells the truth versus only 28% who believe he does. Only 9% of Democrats and 15% of independents think he is telling the American public the truth. Governor Schwarzenegger, by contrast, remains relatively popular with approval ratings of 62% of California voters, slightly down from the last survey in January. The poll also found that Californians say the most important issue facing the state today is immigration (19%), followed by jobs and the economy (13%), and education (12%). Fewer mentioned health care (9%), gasoline prices (7%),or other issues. In addition, Californians have grown more pessimistic about the state’s economy for the coming year. Half of all adults (51%) now think bad economic times are to come. In January, only 39 percent of all adults expected bad economic times.