WASHINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush's overall approval rating hit a new low, adding to the worries of his Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections, The USA Today said Tuesday.

    According to the April 28-30 USA Today/Gallup poll, Bush's overall approval rating plunged to 34 percent, down two percentage points from the previous poll released on March 12, it said.

    The rating was 43 percent at the beginning of the year.

    The poll also shows that approval ratings for Bush's handling of economy, energy policy and foreign affairs also hit their all-time lows of 34 percent, 22 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

    Democrats said voters will identify Bush's problems with his party in the midterm elections six months away.

    But Carl Forti, a spokesman for Republicans, was quoted by the newspaper as saying that such a link is "irrelevant." Enditem