Here’s why mainstream media’s desperation is beginning to show—their chosen candidate’s ratings are dropping fast: AP: Bush Leads, Widens Advantage With Men.

WASHINGTON - President Bush solidified his advantage among men during the last month and holds his highest ratings since January on job performance, the economy and Iraq, according to an Associated Press poll.

Bush has a 7-point lead over Sen. John Kerry — 52 percent to 45 percent among likely voters — in the AP-Ipsos survey less than six weeks before the Nov. 2 election. Independent Ralph Nader was backed by 1 percent.

The president held the advantage despite increasing violence in Iraq and a week of attacks on his Iraq policy by an increasingly combative Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee.

“We took a lead after our convention and the lead has held,” said Matthew Dowd, a senior Bush campaign strategist. Bush has a slight lead in some polls, and is running even in others.

Among registered voters, Bush leads Kerry 51 percent to 42 percent, while Nader had the backing of 2 percent.

Since the Republican convention, Bush’s job approval is up, 54 percent among likely voters, and just over half of them approve of his handling of the economy and Iraq. His approval in all three areas is as high as it’s been all year in the polling conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs.