Latest poll puts Chen's approval rating at 52.3%

More than half of the respondents to a recent opinion poll approved of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) performance over the past two years on the eve of his second anniversary in office, a National Chengchi University (NCU) professor said yesterday.

Quoting the results of the telephone poll of 1,099 adult citizens randomly selected from around the nation, Professor Huang Teh-fu (黃德福) said 52.3 percent of those interviewed on May 4 gave a thumbs-up to the president's performance, while 36.5 percent said they are dissatisfied with his performance.

Huang's research team, composed of teachers and students from NCU's Social Science College, also conducted a cross analysis of the personal characteristics of Chen's supporters and detractors.

The analysis found that Chen's approval rating was relatively higher among those who are aged over 50, the less educated, farmers, blue-collar workers, students, housewives, native Taiwanese, Hakkas, or Aboriginal citizens.