Bush's approval rating plunges to new low

US President Bush

　　US President George W. Bush's approval ratingplunged to a new low of 26 percent, making him the least popular US president since Richard Nixon, a poll released on Thursday found.

　　The Newsweek magazine poll showed that only 26 percent of Americans approve of the job Bush is doing, marking his lowest level of backing since taking office in January 2001.

　　"In fact, the only president in the last 35 years to score lower than Bush is Richard Nixon," the report said.

　　"Nixon's approval rating tumbled to 23 percent in January 1974, seven months before his resignation over the botched Watergate break-in."

　　The survey found that the public'sdisillusionment withBush spread from the Iraq war to domestic issues, with 73 percent of Americans disapproving of the job Bush has done with Iraq and a record-low 23 percent in favor.

　　Fifty percent said they disapproved of Bush's handling of homeland security and terrorism -- once a strong point for his administration following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

　　Sixty percent said they disapproved of his handling of the economy, 61 percent disapproved on health care and 63 percent disapproved on immigration.

　　A separate poll released one week ago by The Wall Street Journal and NBC news showed Bush's approval rate at 29 percent.

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