I think the numbers have dropped into the mid 40 now.
You could hear it happening with every speech or press briefing. Bit of a surprise (at least for me) was the level of success. Case study stuff there. Common “workingperson's" PR trade. Never lie, just imply. Mention 9/11, terrorists and Saddam Hussein within 1-3 sentences of each other as often as you can when given the opportunity, and the listener's mind fills in the rest. Staying on message, with an appropriate message.
"The terror of 9/11 can never be allowed to happen again. If the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein is allowed to develop WMD..."
Charon