Laura Bush's Approval Ratings Reflect Consistent Popularity and Public Perception

Laura Bush's approval ratings have consistently ranked very high. In January 2006, a USA Today/CBS/Gallup poll recorded her approval rating at 82 percent and disapproval at 13 percent. This places Bush as one of the most popular first ladies. Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said, 'She is more popular, and more welcome, in many parts of the country than the president ... In races where the moderates are in the most trouble, Laura Bush is the one who can do the most good.' Laura's husband, President George W. Bush, was sworn into a second term on January 20, 2005, by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, as Laura and daughters Barbara and Jenna looked on. Jude Ellison Sady Doyle reasoned that Bush was hard to dislike due to her adopting 'the least partisan causes' such as literacy and breast cancer, which would attract the support of most Americans and her coming off as a 'mild, polite, ordinary woman who might go to church with your mother, or organize suburban potlucks'. Doyle furthered that her statements were never enough to offend others and the harshest criticism that could be bestowed upon her was that she was boring. She disagreed with Fox News' Chris Wallace in 2006 when Wallace asked why the American people were beginning to lose confidence in President Bush, saying, 'Well, I don't think they are. And I don't really believe those polls. I travel around the country, I see people, I see their response to my husband, I see their response to me. There are a lot of difficult challenges right now in the United States ... All of those decisions that the President has to make surrounding each one of these very difficult challenges are hard. They're hard decisions to make. And of course some people are unhappy about what some of those decisions are. But I think people know that he is doing what he thinks is right for the United States, that the United States, and that is to protect them ... When his polls were really high they weren't on the front page.' During the January 2005 second inauguration ceremonies for her husband, Laura Bush was looked highly upon by People magazine, The Washington Post, and others for her elegance and fashion sense. At the inauguration she wore a winter white cashmere dress and matching coat designed by Oscar de la Renta. Following the inauguration were the inaugural galas, to which Bush wore a pale, aqua lace gown, sprinkled with crystals, with long sleeves in a silver blue mist. The tulle gown was also designed for her by de la Renta. According to The Washington Post, '[I]t made her look radiant and glamorous.'