Bush's approval rating hits new low of 32 per cent

WASHINGTON, Apr 24 (Reuters) US President George W Bush's public approval rating has fallen to 32 per cent, a new low for his presidency, a CNN poll showed today.

The survey also showed that 60 per cent of Americans disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job.

Bush's poll numbers have languished below 40 per cent in the last couple of months, hit by growing public opposition to the Iraq war, his support for a now-abandoned plan for a Dubai firm to take over major US port operations and American anger over gas prices now topping 3 dollar a gallon at the pump.

Continuing fallout from the Bush administration's mishandling of the initial response to Hurricane Katrina has also hurt his popularity.

Bush's approval rating as measured by CNN's poll dropped from 36 per cent in March. His lowest job performance measure has been 32 per cent, in a Fox News poll this month.

Bush has launched a shake-up of his White House staff in an effort to revive his popularity and stave off concerns of fellow Republicans that they could lose control of both houses of Congress in a November midterm election.

Bush's response to the gas crisis has been to warn Americans to expect a tough summer, vow that price gouging will not be tolerated and try to promote energy alternatives that will take years to get to consumers.

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