Washington, D.C.

Poll: Kerry leading Bush

President Bush, after months of criticism during the Democratic primary season, has seen public support fall to the lowest level of his presidency for his performance on the economy and the situation in Iraq, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll has found.

A majority of Americans — 57 percent — say they want their next president to steer the country away from the course set by Bush, according to the survey. Bush’s standing hit new lows in crucial areas such as the economy (39 percent support him), Iraq (46 percent) and the budget deficit (30 percent).

As a result of these doubts, Bush narrowly trails likely Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry by 4 percentage points, 48 to 44 percent, among registered voters in a hypothetical presidential matchup.

Bush’s overall support, 50 percent, was unchanged from February and equal to the lowest of his presidency.

Washington, D.C.

Ashcroft still hospitalized, cancels week’s schedule

Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft’s schedule for the week was canceled Monday so he can continue treatment in a hospital intensive care unit for a severe case of gallstone pancreatitis.

Ashcroft, 61, is being treated with antibiotics and painkillers and is unable to do any work, Justice Department spokesman Mark Corallo said.

Ashcroft had been scheduled to appear Wednesday before a House Appropriations Committee panel to testify about the Justice Department’s budget request. That hearing will now be postponed indefinitely, and it was unclear Monday when Ashcroft might return to duty.

Washington, D.C.

Gasoline prices a penny short of historic high

The average retail price of gasoline climbed 2 cents last week to $1.74 per gallon, the Energy Department said Monday, about a penny shy of the highest price since the department began collecting data in 1990.

Together, the high prices for crude oil, strong demand and low commercial inventories made gasoline expensive this winter. Analysts expect those same trends to be in place this summer, the peak driving season.

The average nationwide price of regular unleaded gasoline was $1.738 for the week ending March 8 — 2.1 cents higher than the previous week. The price was 2.6 cents per gallon higher than last year.