Sarkozy's Swoon

French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently wed supermodel Carla Bruni, following a whirlwind courtship that lasted just three months. But if poll numbers are any indication, the French public is not nearly as enamored with the romance—or their president. After reaching a high of 69 percent in August 2007, Sarkozy’s job approval ratings have declined steadily. In November, before his relationship with Bruni became public, 55 percent of the French public said they approved of the job he was doing. In January, only 47 percent said they did. Source: IFOP, latest that of January 2008.

Love and Politics
According to a new Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll, a majority (58 percent) of registered voters think Hillary Clinton should be responsible for what her husband Bill Clinton “says and does on the campaign trail.” Republicans are especially convinced: 75 percent of them, compared to 56 percent of independents and 44 percent of Democrats, say Hillary should be responsible for her husband’s campaign trail behavior. Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, January 2008.

Mortgage Malaise
In an effort to stem the deepening housing crisis, six of the country’s top mortgage lenders announced this week that they would allow borrowers to delay payment on all types of mortgages, not merely subprime ones. The plan is supported by the U.S. Treasury Department—but should the government be doing more? According to a recent WSJ.com/Harris Interactive poll, a strong plurality (42 percent) of Americans do not think “the government should provide financial help to borrowers who can no longer afford to pay their mortgages to keep them out of foreclosure.” Only 25 percent said the government should. Source: WSJ.com/Harris Interactive online poll, December 2007.  

Love is in the Air

Fifty-four percent of Americans believe in love at first sight, a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll reports. Men are slightly more likely to believe in it than women (57 percent compared to 52 percent), as are married people compared to singles (56 percent compared to 51 percent). More than six in ten Americans, including similar percentages of men and women, say they look forward to Valentine’s Day. Only 7 percent nationally say they “dread” it. Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, February 2005.

Laura's Laurels
President Bush’s low approval rating has now spilled over to his wife Laura, who has long been one of the most popular figures in his administration. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, just 54 percent of Americans say they have a favorable opinion of Laura Bush, down from 70 percent in August 2004. The First Lady has lost significant ground among many different groups, including men and women, independents, people with lower levels of formal education, and middle-to-upper-income households. Still, her approval rating remains much higher than her husband’s—just 33 percent reported having a favorable opinion of the president. Source: Pew Research Center.