Remember when George W. Bush had a "mandate" and "political capital" he could spend? If it was ever true, it isn't anymore. There's a new USAToday/CNN/Gallup Poll out today, and the results aren't pretty for the president: His approval rating has dropped seven points in just a week, hitting an all time low of 45 percent.
The biggest part of the slide may be coming from Bush's base: USA Today says Bush's approval ratings dropped most sharply "among men, self-described conservatives and churchgoers." Has the right's intervention in the Terri Schiavo case finally scratched some of the Teflon off of the president? The Republican National Committee says that's not it. RNC spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt tells USA Today that a dip in the president's approval ratings isn't surprising because he's taking on "tough issues, whether it's to reform Social Security, promoting the spread of democracy or making a renewed pitch to Congress to pass comprehensive energy reform."
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