May 30, 2006 WASHINGTON - For the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, national security is no longer President Bush's trump card.
With violence grinding on in Iraq, a majority of Americans have been telling pollsters in recent weeks that they trust Democrats as much or more than Bush or his Republican allies in Congress to protect the country, combat terrorism and run a sound foreign policy.
"The advantage the president has had on national security is either much smaller now or is perhaps gone," said pollster Scott Rasmussen. "What has been new in the last few months is a decline in support among the Republican base. Republicans are beginning to have doubts about the connection between Iraq and the larger war on terror. And they are less confident that we are doing well in the war on terror."
Bush's problems with Iraq and other national security issues have contributed mightily to the drop in his overall approval ratings, which have fallen into the low 30s.
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: "Now, Americans are having second thoughts.
In a CBS News poll taken May 16 and 17, 46 percent of American adults said they approve of how Bush is handling the campaign against terrorism. That figure is down from 58 percent a year ago - and even further below the 62 percent average support Bush has enjoyed since Sept. 11 in regular CBS News polls on the same issue.
A National Public Radio survey in mid-March asked participants who they trusted more - 'George Bush or the Democrats' - to handle a range of issues.
On illegal immigration, Democrats led Bush by 52 percent to 39 percent. On 'foreign ownership of U.S. port operations and lack of attention to homeland security,' Democrats were ahead, 55 percent to 39 percent. On Iraq, Democrats led Bush by 52 percent to 43 percent.
Among major foreign policy issues, Bush bested Democrats only in handling Iran's bid to develop nuclear weapons, 48 percent to 44 percent.
In a separate, CNN head-to-head poll that might have been tinged by nostalgia, conducted May 5-7, 56 percent of Americans said President Clinton did a better job on foreign affairs, while only 32 percent chose Bush over Clinton.
Several other polls also showed Bush at low ebb on a range of issues tied to national security and foreign policy.
Perhaps the most frightening survey for Republicans was a state-by-state poll released May 15 by Survey USA.
Bush had a positive net rating - in which more people approved than disapproved of his performance - in only three states: Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.
Bush had a net negative rating in all 47 other states, including more than dozen solidly Republican states that he carried easily in 2004."
