---
title: "The Saddam Jump in Bush’s Approval Rating"
description: "That's the number of percentage points that President Bush's approval rating jumped in the Gallup poll after Saddam Hussein was captured on December 13, 2003."
date: "2006-06-08"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2006/06/08/the-saddam-jump-in-bushs-approval-rating/"
---

# The Saddam Jump in Bush’s Approval Rating

In a Gallup survey taken Dec 5-7, 2004, President Bush was viewed favorably by 55% of the public while 43% disapproved. Shortly thereafter, on December 13, Iraq President Saddam was captured by U.S. forces. In a subsequent survey conducted on December 15-16, the president’s margin climbed to 63% approve, 34% disapprove. The bump in Bush’s ratings persisted until Jan 12-15, 2004, when he slipped back to a 53% approve-44% margin.