WSJ/NBC News Poll: Bush’s Approval Rating Falls to 36%

Spiking gas prices have intensified discontent with Washington and handed Congress a frightening mid-term election backdrop: a deeply pessimistic electorate despite a robust economy.

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll underscores a striking gap between Americans’ mood and the nation’s economic performance. Fully 77% call themselves uneasy about the state of the economy — even as new data showed that new home sales and factory orders have remained strong. Two-thirds of Americans say the nation is “off on the wrong track,” President Bush’s approval rating has fallen to 36% and Congress fares even worse at 22% approval.

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