Support for Bush hits lowest level

US PRESIDENT George Bush’s public support has eroded to its lowest level yet, with the Iraq war dragging on, a top White House aide facing felony charges and the administration rushing to replace a failed Supreme Court nominee.

Concerned that the president has lost his footing, some Republicans have suggested Mr Bush should shake up his staff.

A new AP-Ipsos poll found the president’s approval rating was at 37%, compared with 39% a month ago. About 59% of those surveyed said they disapproved.

The intensity of disapproval is the strongest to date, with 42% now saying they “strongly disapprove” of how Mr Bush is handling his job - twice as many as the 20% who said they “strongly approve”.

Nearly one-in-five Republicans disapproved of Bush’s handling of his job, compared with nearly nine-in-10 Democrats. Nearly seven-in-10 independents disapproved.

However, four-in-five Republicans still back the president.

The president has lost support from some key groups of constituents over the past year.

He’s dropped 16 points in his approval rating with men in that time, 18 points with people who have a high school education or less, 16 points among southerners and 13 points among Republicans.