Latest AP Poll--40%
The Chimp in Winter

President Bush's gains from the last polling period have eroded in the latest AP/IPSO poll (via the Seattle P-I). Here are the ones that jump out at me:

(Early December results are in parentheses)

2. Overall, do you approve, disapprove or have mixed feelings about the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?

-Approve, 40 percent (42)
-Disapprove, 59 percent (57)
-Mixed feelings, 1 percent (1)

4. And when it comes to domestic issues like health care, education and the environment, do you approve or disapprove or have mixed feelings about the way George W. Bush is handling that issue?

-Approve, 35 percent (39)
-Disapprove, 62 percent (59)
-Mixed feelings, 2 percent (1)
-Not sure, X percent (1)

7. When it comes to Social Security, do you approve, disapprove or have mixed feelings about the way George W. Bush is handling that issue?

-Approve, 35 percent (38)
-Disapprove, 60 percent (57)
-Mixed feelings, 2 percent (3)
-Not sure, 3 percent (2)

9. And if the election for Congress were held today, would you want to see the Republicans or Democrats win control of Congress?

-Republicans, 36 percent
-Democrats, 49 percent
-Neither (VOLUNTEERED), 12 percent
-Not sure, 3 percent

[UPDATE - 5:10pm PST] Speaking of polls, here's some good news for Washington's junior senator, Maria Cantwell, who faces reelection this fall:

For the third straight time in a Rasmussen Reports election poll, Democrat Maria Cantwell leads Republican Mike McGavick by fifteen percentage points.

A poll conducted January 2 found Cantwell with 51% of the vote while McGavick was at 36%. Our polls in December 2005 and November 2005 both found Cantwell leading 52%-37%.

Her prominence in the recent ANWR oil drilling blockage has probably helped her. And this gesture will certainly help:

Sen. Maria Cantwell responded to the growing scandal involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff by announcing Friday that she will donate nearly $18,000 in campaign contributions to an American Indian charity.

Cantwell, a Democrat who is seeking re-election this year, had said Wednesday that she would not return contributions from out-of-state Indian tribes represented by Abramoff, who pleaded guilty this week to fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion in a wide-ranging political corruption investigation.

But on Friday, Cantwell's campaign said she had decided to give money to the National Congress of American Indians Education Fund to clear up any confusion caused by media reports about donations related to Abramoff.

Cantwell "has never taken a penny from confessed criminal Jack Abramoff," her campaign said in a statement, but after reflection decided it was appropriate make the charitable contribution.