Bush support slumps

A nationwide poll released today said that an estimated 44% of the US electorate plan to vote against President George Bush next year, while 38% would support his re-election.

The survey by Marist College’s Institute for Public Opinion put the president’s approval rating at 53%.

Voters were split on Bush’s handling of post-war Iraq and the economy.

Among Democratic voters, there was no clear choice about who should be the party’s candidate.

Howard Dean led the way with 16% of Democratic voters backing him followed by Joe Lieberman at 12% and Dick Gephardt at 10%.

The other Democratic contenders were all in single digits. One in three Democratic voters said they were undecided on who should be the party’s nominee.

In theoretical matchups against the Democrats, Bush led them all. Closest to the president – 48% to 43% – was Gephardt.