Poll: Most Americans like Bush, fewer agree with his politics

From CNN's Keating Holland

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Nearly three-quarters of the public approves of George W. Bush as a person and more than six in 10 say he is honest and trustworthy, a strong and decisive leader and can manage the government effectively, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released Monday.

But Americans are split on whether he is a person they admire, and only a bare majority say he agrees with them on issues they care about. As a result, the number of people who approve of how Bush is handling his job as president is lower than the number who approve of him as a person.

That's the opposite of the public's view of Bill Clinton in the last year of his presidency, when Clinton's job approval ratings remained high even though only about a third approved of him as a person. That is due in part to two key differences between Bush and Clinton.

First, 64 percent say Bush is honest and trustworthy; only 21 percent felt that way about Clinton his final year in office. Second, 57 percent say that Bush shares their values; only a third felt that way about Clinton last year.

It's important to bear in mind that most Americans felt that Clinton was honest and trustworthy and shared their values at the beginning of his presidency in 1993. So the good grades the public gives Bush during his honeymoon period may not forecast any success or failure in the years to come.

Bush has managed to win an advantage over the Democrats on Capitol Hill. By a 48 percent-41 percent margin, Americans say they want the new president to have more influence over the direction the nation takes in the next year than the Democrats in Congress.

The poll is based on interviews with 1,016 adult Americans conducted Friday through Sunday. The questions had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?

Apart from whether you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president, what do you think of Bush as a person? Would you say you approve or disapprove of him?

Who do you want to have more influence over the direction the nation takes in the next year -- George W. Bush or the Democrats in Congress?

Is Bush someone you admire?

Does Bush agree with you on issues you care about?

What is your opinion of Bush as a leader and manager?

Do you think Bush shares your views, inspires confidence, cares about people and understands issues?

Do you consider Bush honest and trustworthy?

Does Bush share your values?

Does Bush care about people like you?

Is Bush tough enough for the job of president?

Some 55 percent of all Americans are glad Bill Clinton has left the White House, but the public is split over the controversies surrounding his last-minute pardons and the gifts he took with him.

Of the latest respondents, 49 percent agree with the people who criticize Clinton for his actions in his last week in office, while 47 percent attribute this mainly to Clinton's enemies trying to get him one more time.

Some 45 percent say that Clinton's actions in his last week in office were worse than what most presidents have done, and 50 percent say other presidents have done similar or worse things when leaving office. Only 38 percent say they miss Clinton now that he is gone, a slight change from early January, when 45 percent said they would miss him at the end of his term.

Which comes closer to your view of Bill Clinton after leaving the White House -- I'm glad he has left, or I'll miss him now that he is gone?

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