This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Americans at large are not pleased with their president. But Utahns still love him more than any other state.
The Iraq war, the unstable economy, the much-criticized federal response to Hurricane Katrina and the ongoing probe into White House leaks that may have unmasked a CIA agent all have contributed to President Bush's image problems.
Only 38 percent of Americans give Bush the thumbs up, the lowest approval ratings of his presidency, according to a SurveyUSA report released Tuesday
Utah is the only state to provide Bush with an approval rating above 60 percent. While 18 states give Bush a disapproval rating of at least 60 percent.
"The people of Utah have a long-term vision of what this president stands for," said Ron Fox, who was the vice chairman of Bush's 2004 campaign effort in Utah. "The people of Utah understand the president's agenda and his focus, the necessity of a war on terror."
But Democratic state Rep. Pat Jones, of Holladay, said a lengthy examination of Bush's agenda should result in negative opinion polls.
"In looking at the long-term, I can say that most people's lives are not better today than they were before his administration."
She attributed Utah's high marks for Bush to the state's heavy Republican tilt and the relatively low number of minority residents.
"But to be very honest, I'm stunned," she said. "I can't explain, after all of the things that have gone on in the White House, some of the policies of the current administration. I'm stunned to see him receive this kind of support.
"The people of Utah may not understand the harmful effects that deficit spending will have on our future and our children."
During the past five months, Utah's approval rating for the president hit its low in mid-August when it dipped down to 57 percent. A little more than a week later, Bush briefly visited Utah for only the second time as president.
He spoke at a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention to rally support for the Iraq war after anti-war protesters camped outside his Texas ranch, where he had been vacationing.
The next poll showed his Utah approval rating back up to 63 percent.
The SurveyUSA poll questioned 600 adults in each state. Conducted Friday through Sunday, it has a margin of error in Utah of plus or minus 4 percent.