Rasmussen: Bush surges to 47%

[MODU]

Well, the bounce seems to have begun on 9/11, so maybe the memorials and Bush's speech later that evening stirred something in those being polled, and it has carried forward till last night.  By Monday next week, we should be able to tell if it is a lasting trend, or merely an emotional bump.

Edit:  And, just for discussion purposes, we should focus more on the percentage change, and not the 47% level itself.  A 6% change (if it is truly a national event) since 9/11 should be visible on other polls taken during the same period.  A quick glance at RCP doesn't show any other polls yet for that period.

[MODU]

I doubt it's really that high. Rasmussen has always polled Bush's approval rating rather high...this is no different. It's probably closer to 43.

.... which is why I said we should be looking at the percentage change, not the actual 47%. 

[MODU]

Ok, RCP has posted a new Opinion Dynamics poll for 9/12-9/13 (similar period as the Rasmussen poll), and they are showing a 2% increase in the approval rating.  Not as much as the 6% which Rasmussen is showing.  However, OD is showing a 7% decrease in the disapproval rating, so it's still possible that there is a large 9/11 bump in the polls for this week in Bush's favor.