Poll: Springtime PoliticsDoubts About GOP Leadership Include Bush, Judges and DeLay
Analysis By GARY LANGER

April 25, 2005 — In a triple hit to the Republicans in Washington, Americans express growing discontent with some of George W. Bush's policies, weak support for Tom DeLay as House majority leader and broad opposition to a change in Senate rules on judicial nominations.

Sampling, data collection and tabulation for this poll were done by TNS.

Views in this ABC News/Washington Post poll are most lopsided on judges: Sixty-six percent of Americans oppose changing Senate rules to make it easier for the Republicans to approve Bush's judicial nominees, with 26 percent in favor. That would be the effect of the so-called "nuclear option" being dangled by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

On DeLay, views on one level are divided: He gets an even split in job approval, 35 percent-38 percent, with many having no opinion. But given the ethics complaints against him, the public by 41 percent-32 percent says he should step down as majority leader. And among those who are closely following the ethics issue (just over a third of the public), many more — 63 percent — say he should quit his leadership post.

Springtime Politics 

Bush on Social Security 

Approve........31%
Disapprove.....64 %

Senate Rules on Judicial Nominations
Change...........26%
Don't Change...66%

Tom DeLay 
Step Down...41%
Remain ...... 32 %

Thanks for both the polls, I hope moderate Republicans take a look at how many Americans don't want the nuclear option. Democrats give the Republicans hell in the Senate if they dare change the fillibuster rule.