The Fix parses the polls to evaluate public reaction to Bush’s handling of Katrina. The data is there for those who care to see the specifics, but the conclusion is no surprise:
While it’s important to remember that the impact of a single event cannot be analyzed in a vacuum (the hardening of opposition to Bush surely also has something to do with the ongoing conflict in Iraq, among other factors), but it is at least worth pondering the possibility that Katrina played a central role in both consolidating and energizing those who already disapproved of the Bush. While they may have passively disapproved of the chief executive prior to Katrina, they became ardent opponents following the disaster and the administration’s handling of it. And, remember that in midterm elections only the most passionate (or most angry) of voters tend to turn out — a factor that could lead to major Democratic gains this November.
While other factors were certainly at play, the perception of Bush is primarily based upon two events. Skilled public relations made up for incompetent handling of the 9/11 attacks and rescued what was looking like a one term Presidency as of August 2001. PR couldn’t cover up the incompetence of the Bush Administration a second time when Katrina hit.
