"For the first time, just half of Americans approve of President Bush's handling of terrorism, which has been his most consistent strength since he scored 90 percent approval ratings in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks," according to a new New York Times/CBS News poll. With the Bush administration's slow response the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, 56% "said they were now less confident about the government's ability to respond to a terrorist attack or natural disaster."
The only good news for the White House: "The hurricane, alone, does not appear to have taken any significant toll on Mr. Bush's overall job approval rating, which remains stuck virtually where it has been since early summer." Over all, 41% approved of Bush's performance in office, while 53% disapproved.