In addition to Bush’s dismal approval numbers recently reported by Gallup (46%) and CBS (44%), those numbers have been mirrored by a new CNN/Time poll which has Bush at 46%, and a Pew Poll that has him at 44%. That leaves no doubt that Bush’s popularity has taken a real hit, and leaves open the possibility that his numbers could continue to drop.

The New York Times has a good article on Bush’s recent drop. It quotes even conservatives as saying that Kerry’s new lines of attack are hitting home and worrying the Bush administration. “And it should,” the right-wing commentator added.

Kerry has become somewhat more vocal in his criticisms of Bush’s handling of Iraq, partly due to his viewing of the prisoner abuse photos in Congress. He notes how badly Bush has handled the war, and insists that a true international effort in Iraq is the only real hope for succeeding there. With Bush’s history of insulting our allies, both traditional and new, suddenly Kerry’s noted internationalism–until now scoffed at and ridiculed by Bush and the GOP–is looking better and better.

But Kerry is still not speaking too much about Iraq, not nearly as much as he could be; obviously, he does not want to appear like he is taking advantage of the war for political reasons. Instead, he is highlighting health care on a swing through the south, and has just picked up the endorsement of a police union that supported Bush in 2000, but now feels let down by Bush.

In the meantime, Bush is trying yet again to pretend that only a few malcontents are against him. “We’re being tested,” he said. “People are testing our mettle. And I will not yield to the whims of the few.”

How about yielding to the whims of 49% of the American people?