Time - Man of the Year/Time_Man_of_the_Year_Compact_Publishing_3YX-Disc-1_Compact_Publishing_1993.iso/moy/061592/06159925.000

Text File | 1992-10-19 | 3KB | 60 lines

                                                                                U.S. POLITICS, Page 32

Perot the Front Runner


    The voters' springtime flirtation with Ross Perot grew warmer
last week, while their feelings about George Bush entered the
frigid zone. Bill Clinton's wooing of the electorate still
received a tepid reaction, though there were hints that the
Democrat could ultimately elicit more passion.

    These were the main findings of a new TIME/CNN poll, which
showed Perot's position in a three-way race improving. When
asked whom they now support for President, 37% of registered
voters named Perot. Bush and Clinton tied at 24% each. The new
figures represent the largest lead Perot has enjoyed over the
major-party candidates in any national sampling.

    Yet the survey, conducted by Yankelovich Clancy Shulman,
indicates that Perot's surprisingly high standing may prove
ephemeral. Asked if they were certain about their choices, 72%
of the Clinton supporters and 65% of Bush voters said yes. For
Perot, that figure was only 57%. A majority (53%) said they know
little or nothing about Perot. One reason: he has not yet been
forced to take firm stands on controversial issues. When his
views become clear, Perot's popularity might well suffer.

    The new data left no doubt that Bush is suffering. Matched
against Clinton, Bush ran only slightly behind the Democrat. But
other trends were stark enough to set off alarms at the White
House. The President's job-approval rating fell to 30%, a dip
of seven points since May and the lowest score he has received
in any TIME/CNN survey. Just two months ago, 60% judged Bush a
"strong and decisive leader." That figure dropped to 45% last
week. Bush's advisers concede that his ambivalent response to
the Los Angeles riots damaged his image as a leader.

    Clinton, meanwhile, inched up in a number of categories --
perhaps because his primary victories last week reminded voters
that he will be the Democratic nominee. Asked which candidate
is "close to you on important issues," 38% named Clinton -- a
six-point increase since April. On that question, Bush fell 10
points, to 30%, while Perot got 36%. Clinton was also slightly
ahead when voters were asked which man "cares about the average
American."

    Still, Clinton can take only modest satisfaction from the
latest numbers. Though the Democrat depicts himself as an
outsider determined to overcome the "brain-dead politics" of
both parties, a huge majority, 82%, called him a "typical
politician." For Bush, the number was 81%. But only 31% applied
that label to Perot. At a time when politician is a dirty word,
that difference in perception is Perot's great strength. Whether
Perot can maintain that asset once he announces his candidacy
and comes under close, constant scrutiny is now Campaign '92's
biggest question.