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Another poll on Uribe

Same people (Gallup). Same old methodology. Thus, same old problem. Yet, somewhat different results.

http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?idArt=104994

Favorability went slightly down and disfavorability (?) went up, since the last poll (got to give credit where credit is due: The crappy methodology at least is consistent, which allows for somewhat meaningful comparisons). The change is pretty small, but it is significant that this is the highest negative perception of the president since Gallup is doing this survey.

More interesting are the winners in favorability: The media (!), NGOs, oversight institutions like procuraduría... seems like Colombians (at least those interviewed) really like to keep their president on their toes, despite how much they like him. I can support that.

In the lowest end of favorability are the illegal armed groups, then Congress, then the US. I don't think this is traditionally where the US falls in favorability (had they asked for Bush, it would've been a different story). The whole deal with the FTA may have something to do with this.

Another interesting result: In terms of favorability, Lucho Garzón is second only to Uribe. His disfavorability, in fact, is lower. Combined with recent polls showing Moreno Rojas running pretty close to Peñalosa in vote intention for Bogotá, I think the PDA is doing a pretty good job.

There seems to be a general increase in dissaproval of government policies, particularly in international relations (never been its forte, really). And, for the first time, I see a poll where people put national security over economics as the main problem of the country. This may be just the after-effect of the assassination of the diputados--something similar might have happened after Caguán was closed for dialogues with FARC.

By Sr Tertius on Jul 18, 2007, 18:22 in Politics & the war.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Jul 19, 2007, 08:34:

Do you remember if perceptions of the police and the Catholic Church have fallen recently? I thought those two institutions ranked as high as the military (70% plus) in the last couple of years.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juancegomez says on Jul 19, 2007, 22:04:

Despite its limitations, it does show that even Uribe isn't immune to dissent and discontent, regardless what some people tend to think. He's still popular enough, but his advantage is lower than it's been before, at least according to Gallup.

It's not just the U.S. that has low, perhaps FTA-related rankings here though...unions are only one place higher on the list, below the CChurch.

As for Garzón and Moreno...they seem to be doing pretty well indeed, so a win for the PDA in the capital isn't too difficult to imagine. Earlier tonight there was a CityTV debate with the Bogotá candidates and, although the other main contender Peñalosa himself didn't show up, Moreno did relatively well, at least from what I could see.

Tinto: Other than some Church scandals several months back (the whole thing with the "improper" behavior of certain priests and its cover-up), plus its opposition to changes in abortion and gay rights legislation, I couldn't really tell you anything else right now.

0 funny, 0 helpful.