Washington, Sep 20 (DPA) US President George W. Bush's approval rating has rebounded to its highest in about a year as voters warm to his election-year strategy centred on the fight against terrorism, a poll showed Tuesday.

The Gallup poll suggests that Bush's campaign focus on security issues is helping his Republican Party, which is battling to keep its majority in both houses of Congress in Nov 7 mid-term elections.

In a critical shift, the poll found that US voters increasingly accept Bush's argument that the war in Iraq is part of his war on terror, sparked by the Sep 11, 2001 Al Qaeda attacks on the US.

And more Americans believe the fight against terrorism is going well than a year ago, the survey said.

"Americans are more positive about the war on terror and voters are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports Bush on terrorism rather then one who opposes him," Gallup pollsters said.

At 44 percent, Bush's approval rating was well above the low 30-percent range of a few months ago - a sign that his series of high-profile speeches in the run-up to last week's emotional Sep 11 anniversary has helped sway voters.

The fight against terrorism is the centrepiece of Bush's campaign, which seeks to suggest that the US would be less safe if the opposition Democrats got control of Congress.

By a 31-21 percent margin, voters believe the nation is safer with a Republican majority, while 44 percent said it made no difference which party has legislative control, the poll said.

The telephone poll of 1,003 adults aged 18 and older was conducted Sep 15-17. The margin of error was plus or minus three percentage points.