Despite a record in office comprised of one abysmal failure after another, the fact that George Bush still has the support of 60 percent of Republicans strains credulity. There is a glimmer of hope in this new Gallup number, however, because it represents a slight drop in support for Bush among GOP dead-enders:

Bush’s approval rating in his party has fallen, with 6-in-10 Republicans approving of the job he’s doing, a Gallup poll indicates.

Throughout his presidency, Bush averaged 85 percent approval among Republicans, including 92 percent during his first term and 77 percent in his second term until the 60 percent registered in the latest survey, the Gallup poll released Thursday indicated…

Pollsters at the Princeton, N.J., company said lower support among Republicans is the main reason behind the drop in Bush’s overall rating. His approval ratings among Democrats and independents were low already.

The culprit for the decline in Bush’s overall job approval rating could be rising gas prices, which historically weigh down presidential approval ratings, pollsters said.

Last month, Bush — whose overall approval rating hovers around 28 percent — added two more metrics to his record as the Worst President Ever: He became the most disliked president in the history of the Gallup poll. And, after accruing 39 months without the approval of a majority of Americans, he became the president with the longest disapproval record.