A just-released political survey by George Washington University contains bad news for Democrats and Republicans because it lays bare a public seemingly disenfranchised with both major parties.

The Battleground poll – unique for its inclusion of top Democrat and Republican pollsters – shows a definite slide in support for President Bush and the GOP. But the survey contains little good news for Democrats as a viable alternative.

The poll found just 44 percent of the public is satisfied with President Bush's job performance – a figure well below his two-term average but still slightly higher than other recent polls showing his approval at all-time lows.

"The mounting casualties of American troops in Iraq, the higher gas prices certainly put a dampening on any of the good news about the economy, and you had the surfacing scandals with Republicans in the House, the Senate and the White House, potential scandals," said GOP pollster Ed Goeas.

While a Republican retreat in the polls normally means good news for Democrats, there is little evidence Americans are enamored with the opposition party, survey results indicate. On a host of issues – Iraq, homeland security, the economy – Democrats don't fare much better, the poll indicated.

"There is a real void right now in terms of what the alternative is. And right now, Democrats suffer from the fact that Americans are disillusioned and distrustful of government in general," Democratic pollster Celinda Lake told Voice Of America. "They tend to be feeling more negative about the Republicans, but not particularly positive about the Democrats."

Goeas believes Democrats' inability to capitalize on Republican weakness is actually encouraging.

"But the Democrats, whether you look at the image of the Democratic Party, whether you look at Democrats in Congress, not only did not gain anything, they actually had their negatives go up some during this period of time," he told VOA.

And, the survey noted, Republicans continue to hold an edge in the public's eye on issues related to taxes and terrorism. Democrats, meanwhile, fare better with health care, jobs and education.

The mid-October poll surveyed 1,000 registered likely voters nationwide. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.