Bush approval slumps as election looms

US public opinion of President George Bush’s handling of issues such as the economy and the war on terrorism is near the low point of his presidency, but rival John Kerry has been unable to capitalise on Bush’s slide, a poll found.

The AP-Ipsos poll found the race between Bush and Kerry remains close ahead of November elections, with Bush’s support at 46%, Kerry at 43% and independent candidate Ralph Nader at 7%.

Despite recent encouraging economic news on both jobs and growth of the economy, support for Bush’s handling of the economy was at 43%, the lowest number since Ipsos began tracking that question at the start of 2002.

Support for Bush’s handling of foreign policy and terrorism, usually his strongest area, was at 50%, down from 55% a month ago. The current level almost matched the 51% who approved last November, before the capture of Saddam Hussein.

Southerners and Republican women, two key Bush constituencies, have lost enthusiasm about his handling of foreign policy and terrorism, according to the poll.

The poll comes at a time of increasing violence in Iraq, the deadliest month yet for US troops and politically damaging allegations of prisoner abuse in Iraq that have Bush and his administration on the defensive. More in the poll disapprove of Bush’s handling of Iraq, 51%, than approve, 46%.