WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- A latest poll released Thursday showed that the job approval rate of US President George W. Bush has reached a low point, dogged by failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, continued economic frustration and increased public interest in his leading Democratic rival.

    The ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll finds Bush's overall job approval rating has fallen to 50 percent, the lowest point since he took office in 2001. His rating for honesty and trust-worthiness has declined from 70 percent before the Iraq war to 52 percent, a new low.

    For the first time, fewer than half of Americans, 47 percent, now say the war with Iraq was worth fighting. That compared with over 70 percent during the war. Fifty-seven percent disapprove of Bush's performance in terms of job creation.

    The poll also finds that Bush trailed John Kerry, Democratic front-runner in the presidential race, by 43 percent to 51 percent,in a hypothetical match-up. Kerry leads Bush in trust to handle fourof six tested issues - health costs, jobs, the economy, and education - leaving Bush the lead on Iraq and the war on terrorism.

    While most Americans believe Bush administration intentionally exaggerated evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, only 21 percent think it outright lied.

    On controversy about Bush's National Guard duty during the Vietnam War, 66 percent say it's not a legitimate issue in the election campaign. Democrats have accused him of going missing during part of his service time. Enditem