Poll suggests Bush’s free-fall appears to be over (39% @ NBC/WSJ Poll)

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http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10469950/

Poll suggests Bush’s free-fall appears to be over
But majority still down on his performance, NBC-Wall St. Journal poll finds

Since his second inauguration in January, President Bush has seen a steady decline in his overall job performance, the economy, and Iraq. But the free-fall appears to be over, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

For the first time in months, Bush’s job approval has increased, albeit by one point. In addition, as elections take place Thursday in Iraq, Americans are more confident about success there than they were a month ago. And an overwhelming majority backs Bush’s stance that the United States should not immediately withdraw all of its troops from Iraq.

That’s the good news for the administration. The bad news is that strong majorities still disapprove of Bush and his handling of key issues. “Clearly, the president is better off,” said Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted this survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. “He’s not really in good health, but he is no longer hemorrhaging.”

McInturff compares Bush’s standing to someone who has been sliding down a mountain, but who finally gained a foothold to stop the fall. And he says that alone is a positive development for the president. “You can’t get better until you stop the bad numbers,” McInturff said.