Bush's approval rating sinks as gas prices soar

WASHINGTON — Rising gas prices and continuing bloodshed in Iraq continue to take their toll on President Bush, whose standing with the public has sunk to an all-time low, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey found Bush's overall job approval at 45 percent, down seven points since January and the lowest ever recorded in Post-ABC surveys. Fifty-three percent disapprove of the job Bush is doing.

The war has been a drag on Bush's presidency for many months, but his Iraq approval ratings in the new poll were little changed from two months ago, despite widespread violence, a rash of U.S. casualties, anti-war protests outside the president's Texas ranch and a growing debate about reducing U.S. troop levels.

What may have pushed Bush's overall ratings down is pervasive dissatisfaction over soaring gas prices. Two-thirds of those surveyed said gas prices are causing financial hardship.

More ominously for the president, six in 10 Americans said there were steps the administration could take to reduce gas prices.

"I supported him last year," said Gina Coleman, 29, a homemaker living in Camden County, N.J. "I wouldn't vote for him again. It's gas prices, the war, just the way he has been handling things."

Bush also received negative marks for his handling of immigration, the economy and Social Security, although his ratings on the latter two were not as low as two months ago. A majority of Americans support his handling of the campaign against terrorism.

The poll numbers paint a portrait of national frustration with the direction and leadership of the country, which if not reversed in coming months, is likely to color the environment for next year's midterm elections.

Dissatisfaction is not limited to the president. Fewer than four in 10 Americans — 37 percent — approve of the way the Republican-controlled Congress is doing its job, the lowest rating for lawmakers in nearly eight years.

The survey also provided bad news for Democratic leaders, who are judged as offering Bush only tepid opposition. Slightly more than half of those surveyed expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of congressional Democrats to oppose Bush more aggressively.

Independents were similarly dissatisfied with Democratic leaders for failing to challenge the president, with six in 10 saying Democrats have been too meek in opposing Bush.

Public attitudes toward the war have not changed significantly since the first of the year, the poll found.

Slightly more than four in 10 — 42 percent — approve of the job Bush is handling the situation in Iraq while 57 percent disapprove, unchanged in recent months.

Slightly more than half — 53 percent — say the war was not worth it, while 46 percent say it was, identical to the results of a Post-ABC poll two months ago. A total of 1,006 randomly selected adults were interviewed Aug. 25-28. Margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.