Unhappy Campers

• The poll finds 36% of Americans satisfied with the way things are going in the United States...19 points lower than an early January reading.


• The poll shows that 49% of Americans approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president...The current reading ties with the lowest approval readings Gallup has measured in Bush's presidency.


• Overall, 41% of Americans approve...of the way Bush is handling the economy -- the worst reading Gallup has measured in this Bush administration.


• At 42%, Bush's job approval on foreign affairs is another record low for the president.


• Bush's rating on his handling of the situation in Iraq -- now at 42% -- has fallen 19 points since January and is three points below the previous low rating (last November).


• Barely a majority of Americans, 52%, approve of the way he is dealing with the terrorist threat...


• Bush is now in a dead heat with Kerry in Gallup's trial heat ballot. In the two-way ballot, Kerry receives 49% support among likely voters, Bush 48%.


• When independent Ralph Nader is included in the ballot, Bush and Kerry each receive 47%, while Nader receives 3%.


• [I]n the "purple" or battleground states, where Gore or Bush won in 2000 by five percentage points or less, Kerry leads Bush among likely voters by 48% to 44%.