Cavuto falsely claimed Bush "polls highly" on "likability"

Summary: On Your World, Neil Cavuto falsely claimed that "most Americans, when they're polled on the likability of this president, he polls highly in that regard." In fact, recent surveys demonstrate that more people -- over 50 percent in major October polls -- give Bush an unfavorable rating.

On the October 17 edition of Fox News' Your World, host Neil Cavuto, in a discussion with WorldNetDaily columnist and author David Limbaugh about President Bush's "likability," falsely claimed that he "polls highly in that regard." Responding to Limbaugh's assertion that Democrats "make their whole case" against Bush "on making him unlikable," Cavuto stated: "Yeah, but David ... I think most Americans, when they're polled on the likability of this president, he polls highly in that regard. It's just on the issues like the war and concerns about the economy ... that's what gets it -- it's not his personality." In fact, recent polling indicates that in addition to his poor job approval ratings, Bush also polls poorly on "likability."

Recent surveys demonstrate that more people have negative feelings about Bush, and that more people -- over 50 percent in major October polls -- give Bush an unfavorable rating. For example, a September 30-October 2 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, showed that a plurality -- 49 percent of respondents -- answered that they held "somewhat negative" or "very negative" feelings toward Bush, while 40 percent felt "very positive" or "somewhat positive." An October 10-11 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll found that 54 percent of respondents gave Bush an "unfavorable" rating, while 43 percent had a "favorable" opinion of him. An October 6-8 Gallup poll (subscription required) showed a 55-percent "unfavorable" rating for Bush, while 42 percent of respondents gave him a "favorable" rating. Additionally, an October 5-8 CBS News/New York Times poll showed Bush with a rating of 52 percent "not favorable" and 34 percent "favorable."

From the October 17 edition of Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto:

LIMBAUGH: I watched President Bush thoroughly the other day, read the transcript -- it was a 20-page transcript. He was engaged, as I said, he was very likable. You see, the Democrats have placed all their eggs in one basket, which is hating and discrediting President Bush. If -- when he appears publicly, unscripted, he is eminently likable. He is not contemptible, manifestly. He appears credible, and so, the Democrats appear petty, because they make their whole case on making him unlikable.

CAVUTO: Yeah, but David isn't the issue -- I think most Americans when they're polled on the likability of this president, he polls highly in that regard. It's just on the issues like the war and concerns about the economy and whether -- even though the latter part doesn't seem justified -- that's what gets it -- it's not his personality.

LIMBAUGH: Yeah.

—K.D.