Polling Conundrum

BrooklynDodger continues to wonder about the motivation for polling answers. Bush has dropped below 40% in approval. He won the election on acceptance of his effectiveness in the war on terrorism. He still has 50% approval on that. How does that compute with 40% approval on Iraq? How does he get 44% approval on handling Katrina?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll091205.pdf

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling (ITEM)?
9/11/05 - Summary Table
Approve Disapprove No op.
a. The situation with gasoline prices 25 72 3
b. The situation caused by Hurricane
Katrina 44 54 2
c. The situation in Iraq 38 62 1
d. The US campaign against terrorism 50 47 3
e. The economy 40 58 2