Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll, said the results reflected a "really dismal" loss of confidence in Bush, saying that "what is driving (his numbers) down now is that the Republicans seem to have greater reservations and are more critical of the president than they have ever been.

"That's the only way an elected official can get into the 20s,'' DiCamillo said. "You have to start losing your rank and file."

Then there's this interpretation:

The Field Poll showed that "majorities of Californians now hold positions diametrically opposed" to those of the president on the Iraq war. Two-thirds opposed the president's decision to increase American troops by 20,000 in Iraq, nearly 60 percent echoed Democratic efforts in Congress by favoring a timetable for troop withdrawal, and half said the U.S. presence in Iraq "decreases the chances of bringing peace and stability" to that nation, the poll showed.

By the numbers:

The institute's poll showed that the president has suffered a devastating loss in credibility among state residents -- just 28 percent of Californians answered "yes" to the question: "Generally speaking, do you believe what President Bush tells the American people is true?"

The San Jose institute's survey found that the president's positive rating on his handling of the war was a mere 21 percent, with just 1 in 5 people saying the Iraq war has made the United States safer and 24 percent saying the war has been "worth it."

Since Bush isn't running again, one question that comes to mind is the value of his support to Republicans who are running. Who would want Bush's support in the face of these numbers?

Any other meanings?