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Public Opinion:

Public Opinion:. Presidential Approval Ratings and The “Rally ‘Round the Flag” Effect. Presidential Approval. Today, presidential approval is gauged in very regular intervals “ Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? “

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Public Opinion:

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  1. Public Opinion: Presidential Approval Ratings and The “Rally ‘Round the Flag” Effect

  2. Presidential Approval • Today, presidential approval is gauged in very regular intervals • “Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? “ • In addition to this general assessment of presidential job performance, polling companies also ask a variety of more specific questions on the economy, foreign affairs, taxes, etc.

  3. Presidential Approval • A President’s public approval ratings will give him leverage: • In Washington • Increases bargaining ability • Increases his ability to “go public” • Some believe that it increases his success rate on roll-call votes in Congress • Nationally • Can serve as an early barometer for upcoming elections

  4. Determinants of Presidential Approval Rating • Best predictor: • Consumer expectations • What leads to deviations from this? • Honeymoon effects • Presidents enjoy higher levels of approval at the beginning of a term • Rally ‘round the flag effect • Presidents get a large bump in approval during times of national crisis

  5. Rally Events • What defines a “rally event”? • International event • Event directly involves the United States and particularly the president • Specific, dramatic, and sharply focused • Salient to the public • These events confront the nation as a whole • Gain enormous public event and attention

  6. Why do people “rally around the flag”? • People will increase their support for the president (at least in the short-run) because he is the symbol of the country and the primary focus during times of crisis • People do not want to hurt nation’s chance at success by opposing the president

  7. George H.W. Bush

  8. George W. Bush

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