WASHINGTON, Oct 28: During nearly four years in office, President George Bush's policies, with an emphasis on the invasion of Iraq, have made him one of the most unpopular American presidents ever in the eyes of the international community.

They have also deeply polarized the American electorate, which up until a week before November 2 elections remained nearly evenly split between Mr Bush and Senator John Kerry.

Such an intense international reaction is ironic for a president who entered office with a heavy focus on a domestic agenda, such as tax cuts, and the intention of reducing the U.S. footprint abroad. But the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks transformed all of that.

Talking to reporters in the oval office just two days after the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, Mr Bush left no doubt about his new priority.

"This is now the focus of my administration," said an emotional Bush.

At the same time, the attacks and ensuing war on terrorism helped Bush bury the outcome of the 2000 campaign that narrowly edged him into the White House, with a demonstration of leadership to an America reeling from the attacks.

In an image that will forever remain in the history books, regardless of who wins the White House, Mr Bush grabbed a megaphone and stood atop the rubble of the World Trade Centre surrounded by rescue workers.

"I can hear you," Mr Bush shouted. "The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."

Mr Bush and his team garnered broad international support for the military assault in Afghanistan, which toppled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and sent Al Qaeda remnants and their leader, Osama bin Laden, scrambling into the mountains.

If Mr Bush is re-elected, he will have to fend off a tough and growing insurgency that has claimed more than 1,000 lives of American soldiers.

Mr Bush was born on July 6, 1946, the son of George Herbert Walker Bush, who served as the 41st president. The family is one of the most powerful political dynasties in the world and includes the president's brother, who is the governor of Florida.

Mr Bush grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas, and owns a ranch in Crawford. He earned a bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1968, and served as an F-102 fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard, but did not serve in Vietnam.

He later earned a Master's degree of Business Administration from Harvard University, and then started a career in the energy business. .

He was elected governor of Texas with 53.3 per cent of the vote, and was re-elected in 1998 with 68.6 per cent. He is married to Laura Welch Bush, a former teacher and librarian. The couple has fraternal twin daughter Barbara and Jenna.-dpa