WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush has hit a new public approval low in the Pew poll, with just 33 percent of adults saying they approve of his performance in office.
The poll -- conducted March 8-12 by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press -- showed strong public support for Congress' handling of the Dubai ports deal. Fifty-eight percent said they think Congress acted appropriately in opposing the deal while just 24 percent said Congress made too much of the situation.
The president's 33 percent approval rating -- down from 40 percent in February -- compares with a 34 percent positive rating for Democratic leaders in Congress, and 32 percent for Republican leaders.
The new Pew survey found that just 42 percent approve of Bush's handling of terrorist threats -- an 11-point drop since February, and a 20-point drop since January 2005. Just 40 percent of those surveyed said they thought Bush is trustworthy, and 38 percent said he is well informed.
