HELENA -- In another sign that President Bush is losing support even in his "red state" strongholds, a majority of Montanans, 51 percent, now disapprove of the president's job performance, a new poll shows.

Democrats are seizing on the latest results as they gear up for key 2006 midterm elections, pointing to them as a sign that Republicans Sen. Conrad Burns and Rep. Denny Rehberg could be vulnerable.

"Montana was Bush-Cheney country not that long ago," said Jim Farrell, executive director of Montana Democrats. "The scandal plagued Republican leadership has made the wrong choices and taken our country in the wrong direction. And that's reflected in the numbers today."

Just over 42 percent of Montanans now say they approve of Bush's job performance, according to a poll released Wednesday by Montana State University-Billings. His approval rating was 56 percent in the same poll a year ago and was as high as 87 percent in 2001.

Bush easily carried Montana in 2000 and in his re-election bid last year, but the poll suggests his handling of domestic and foreign affairs, including the war in Iraq and the response to Hurricane Katrina, have dramatically affected his popularity.

The random telephone poll was conducted Nov. 1-5 by sociology and political science students at MSU-Billings. The survey questioned 401 adult Montanans. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points.

The poll found fewer Montanans, 44 percent, liked the president's handling of domestic issues than in 2003 when 51 percent approved. Foreign policy approval ratings dipped from 51 percent in 2003 to 38 percent this year.

And 46 percent disapproved of the way Bush dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, while 39 percent approved, the poll found.

Only 31 percent said they thought the country was moving "in the right direction." Only among those making more than $100,000 did a majority think the country was moving in the right direction.

Support for the war in Iraq also has waned.

Roughly 46 percent said they supported the country's decision to go to war in Iraq, down from 53 percent last year.

"I think he will not recover and he will pull Burns and Rehberg down with him," Farrell said.

Republicans said they believe Bush is doing the right things.

"He's doing what he believes to be the right thing for America," said Karl Ohs, chairman of the Montana GOP. "What's right isn't often what's the most popular thing, but you don't govern by reading polls. You govern by leading and that's what this president is doing."

Burns campaign spokesman John Brueggeman said the senator still enjoys support among Montanans.

"The president has had many difficult issues to deal with in recent months, but as we all know a lot can change over a year in political time," Brueggeman said. "For now, Conrad is focused on his job as Montana's senator."

The poll results in Montana follow big wins for Democrats across the country Tuesday night in off-year elections that saw them win gubernatorial campaigns in Virginia and New Jersey.

Last week, an AP-Ipsos poll found Bush's public support nationally had dwindled to a new low, with Bush holding an approval rating of 37 percent.