President George W Bush's approval rating in the fight against terrorism dropped below 50 per cent this month for the first time since the September 11th, 2001, attacks.
Mr Bush's approval rating on that question was 62 per cent last month, 58 per cent in August and 56 per cent in June.
With less than two weeks to the November 2nd election, the Pew Research Centre poll of 1,307 registers voters showed Mr Bush and Democratic challenger Mr John Kerry tied at 45 per cent among registered voters and at 47 per cent among likely voters.
Those numbers were a net gain for the Massachusetts senator, who had trailed in both groups earlier in the month.
Pew director Mr Andrew Kohut estimated that Kerry's gains were linked more to "an improving personal image than to growing strength on the issues.
"In particular, the Democratic challenger has virtually erased Bush's advantage for honesty and having good judgment in a crisis."