Support shrinking for Bush's anti-terrorism policies: poll

So this is why Bush is sounding more and more desperate.

Support shrinking for Bush's anti-terrorism policies: poll

President George W. Bush's approval rating in the fight against terrorism dropped below 50 percent this month for the first time since the September 11, 2001 attacks, according to new poll.



Bush's approval rating on that question was 62 percent last month, 58 percent in August and 56 percent in June. With less than two weeks to the November 2 election, the Pew Research Center poll of 1,307 registers voters showed Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry tied at 45 percent among registered voters and at 47 percent among likely voters. Those numbers were a net gain for the Massachusetts senator, who had trailed in both groups earlier in the month.

Pew director Andrew Kohut estimated that Kerry's gains were linked more to "an improving personal image than to growing strength on the issues. "In particular," he said, "the Democratic challenger has virtually erased Bush's advantage for honesty and having good judgment in a crisis. Bush continues to lead by significant but narrowing margins as the stronger leader and as the candidate more willing to take an unpopular stand on the issues," he added. The poll, taken October 15-19, had a margin for error of three to 4.5 percentage points.