New York, May 15: Incidents of abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers and rising casualties of US forces in the war-ravaged country are having an adverse affect on President George W Bush`s ratings, according to a new poll. In a setback for Bush`s image, more than 51 per cent voters would vote for Democratic nominee John Kerry and only 46 per cent for Bush if presidential elections were held today, a poll survey declared.
If Ralph Nader, who is in the fray as an independent, is also included in the picture, 49 per cent would vote for Kerry, 44 per cent for Bush and six per cent for Nader, it said. Almost 50 per cent of Americans surveyed think US authorities have been trying to cover up the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, 42 per cent do not think so, while eight per cent are not sure.
While 41 per cent disapprove of the way Donald Rumsfeld is handling his job as Secretary of Defence, only 32 per cent think he should resign, it said. About 49 per cent of Americans surveyed either strongly or somewhat disapprove of the current US policy in Iraq and around 41 per cent, sharply down from 59 per cent in December, approve of it, the poll found. Only 39 per cent think President Bush is doing a good job handling the situation in Iraq, down from 52 per cent in February 2004. Bush`s overall approval rating on his handling of foreign policy has also dropped to 42 per cent from 50 per cent in February.
Bureau Report