George W. Bush Poll Finds Americans Still See President In Unfavorable Light

Despite a string of recent public appearances, Americans still rank former President George W. Bush unfavorably, according to a recent poll conducted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal.

The 2013 survey, conducted from April 5-8, indicated that Bush ranked least favorably out of a group of six politicians that included New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and President Barack Obama (D).

The poll revealed that 35 percent of Americans view Bush in either a very positive or somewhat positive light, whereas 44 percent view him in a very negative or somewhat negative way.

The polling numbers arrive just a month ahead of the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library, which is set for May 1 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Time Magazine reported in mid-April that Bush raised more than $500 million for the library.

Earlier in April, Reuters reported that all five living presidents -- Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama -- will be attending an April 25 dedication ceremony.

An activist group named The People's Response has threatened to protest the opening, hoping to "warn the public" of "ideologues" behind Bush policies from the past trying to "write a script for our future."