Bush scores high in poll on honesty

WASHINGTON — President Bush has a relatively strong position in the polls after his first 100 days — a popularity pollsters believe is built largely on his personal appeal and perceptions of his honesty.

Analysts on both sides believe his standing in the polls could be moved significantly one direction or the other by big events.

"When you've got this divided an electorate and it's this early, it leaves you subject to a defining event either good or bad, which can tend to set your perception," said Republican pollster Bob Teeter, a partner in the NBC-Wall Street Journal poll.

"His strength with the public continues to be the perception that he is a nice guy and a person of honor," Democratic pollster Geoff Garin said. "But he has not gained much ground on the two subjects where the voters had the biggest concerns, presidential leadership and caring more about average families than about wealthy corporate interests."

Democrats have launched a television advertising campaign to drive a wedge between Bush and the public — using issues they think will anger Americans.

One ad shows children talking about arsenic in water and salmonella in meat — referring to recent Bush administration decisions rolling back regulations on the environment and health later modified under intense criticism. The other ad shows budget cuts tearing away at popular public programs.

"The American people would be better served if the misguided leadership of the Democratic Party were to lower the destructive rhetoric that drives people apart," said Ann Wagner, co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

Bush ran for president saying he wouldn't choose his policy positions on the issues based on polls. Bush is pushing many of the same initiatives he championed on the campaign trail and hasn't altered them to fit the public's preferences. Democrats claim that's because he's beholden to big business and corporate donors, while Republicans say it's because he has principles.

Republican strategists acknowledge they see plenty of internal polling information, but say it's used more to develop their message on preset goals than to determine what position to take.

They said the environmental decisions didn't necessarily cause specific poll problems, but they could have torn down the perception of Bush as "a different kind of Republican."

Bush ran for president successfully as "a compassionate conservative" — an image Democrats hope to damage.