WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's mounting political woes extend far beyond Hurricane Katrina's fallout, with high gas prices, low public confidence and growing opposition to the Iraq war rivaling the storm controversy as long-term threats. Bush's approval rating, battered in the last few weeks by criticism over a slow and ineffectual early response to the storm, was slumping well before the hurricane ravaged the U.S. Gulf Coast, pollsters said.
"It's a mistake to assume that somehow this is a short-term problem caused by Katrina. This is just a continuation of the track he's been on since January," said Frank Newport, editor in chief of the Gallup poll. Bush's slide in the polls has been driven by deepening doubts about the Iraq war and pessimism about the economy, the two issues consistently chosen by voters as the most important to them, he said.
Bush's political problems could be compounded by powerful Hurricane Rita, which is bearing down on the Texas coast and expected to send gas prices soaring again, and another vacancy on the Supreme Court that could spark a nasty political fight. Given his weakened position, some Republicans say, Bush needs a quick turnaround to save legislative priorities like the overhaul of
Social Security, tax cut extensions and repeal of the estate tax.
"In terms of defining this presidency, the next several months are critical," said Republican pollster David Winston, adding that
Bush needs to show real progress on the economy, the Iraq War and the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. "All three represent significant challenges. All three could go the wrong way for him, or all three could go the right way," Winston said.http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050922/pl_nm/bush_politics_dc