NEW YORK  —  Sixty-one percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of George W. Bush, about 20 points higher than his predecessor Bill Clinton's current rating (40 percent favorable). Bush also receives high marks on his job performance so far, with a 61 percent approval rating. For the president to have equally high personal and job ratings is something the country hasn't seen in a while. It was typical for former President Clinton to receive a high job approval rating at the same time as he received a much lower personal rating.

One cloud on the Bush horizon is the economy. Just in the last six weeks, those who rate current economic conditions as "excellent" or "good" has dropped from 59 percent to 46 percent. However, perhaps hinting at expectations for a short recession, people are actually more positive about the future of the economy, with 46 percent now saying it will be in better
shape a year from now compared to 36 percent who thought so in mid-January.

"One reason Bill Clinton's job approval stayed up despite the negative stories was the strength of his economy," commented Opinion Dynamics President John Gorman. "Bush has to balance the desire of some his staff to use the weaker economy as an argument for his tax cuts with the danger of actually talking the economy into a recession by scaring consumers and business into cutbacks that aren't warranted by economic circumstances. Instant communication has created an instant economy and the danger of instant recession."

On the foreign policy front, a majority (63 percent) supports Bush's decision last week to authorize bombing Iraqi air defense sites. Iraq now ranks second when respondents are asked which country poses the greatest military threat to the United States, moving ahead of Russia for the first time. China is considered the greatest military threat by 30 percent of Americans (Iraq 24 percent, Russia 13 percent).

Fully 73 percent think Saddam Hussein is likely to retaliate for the air strikes by organizing terrorist attacks on the U.S. Even with the perceived military and terrorist threats Iraq and Saddam pose, only about one-third think the U.S. should try to assassinate Saddam. In December 1998, when U.S. warplanes bombed Baghdad after learning Iraq was not cooperating with United Nation's weapons inspectors, 51 percent said "yes" to the assassination question.

More on Presidential Pardons

By now almost everyone has heard about former President Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich (88 percent), and a majority believes the pardon was granted in return for favors Clinton received from Rich's family and friends.

The pardon controversy has convinced about one-third of the public that the Constitution should be changed to limit future presidents' right to grant pardons; 50 percent oppose a change. Perhaps not understanding that it would require a Constitutional change, by almost two-to-one Americans think Congress should have the right to investigate and revoke presidential pardons (62 percent to 32 percent).

Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll Results

Polling was conducted by telephone February 21-22, 2001 in the evenings. The sample is 906 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points. LV = likely voters

1. Considering how things are today, would you say that the U.S. is generally headed in the right direction, or is it off on the wrong track?

2. Considering just the moral climate of the U.S. today, would you say that the U.S. is generally headed in the right direction, or is it off on the wrong track?

3. I'm going to read the names of some prominent people. Please tell me whether you have a generally favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one. If you've never heard of someone, please just say so. (Randomize) SCALE: 1. Favorable 2. Unfavorable 3. (Can't say) 4. (Never heard of)

George W. Bush:

4. Dick Cheney:

5. Bill Clinton:

6. Hillary Clinton:

7. Laura Bush:

8. Bill Gates:

9. Microsoft Corporation:

10. Do you approve or disapprove of the job George W. Bush is doing as president?

11. Which country in the world do you think is the greatest military threat to the U.S. today?

Which country in the world do you think is the greatest economic threat to the U.S. today?

13. President Bush authorized U.S. and British aircraft to bomb Iraqi air defense sites near Baghdad last Friday. Do you support or oppose the president's decision to authorize the bombing?

14. How likely do you think it is that Saddam Hussein will organize terrorist attacks on United States targets to retaliate for the air strikes?

15. Do you think the United States should attempt to assassinate Saddam Hussein?

16. Have you heard or read about former President Clinton granting a presidential pardon to Mark Rich, a businessman who has been in exile in Switzerland since being accused of rigging oil prices and avoiding taxes?

17. In the case of the pardon granted to Marc Rich, do you think this represents justice done or justice denied?

18. Which of the following do you think is more likely to be the reason former President Clinton pardoned Marc Rich:

19. Would you favor or oppose changing the Constitution to limit future presidents' right to grant pardons?

20. In general, do you think Congress should have the right to investigate and revoke presidential pardons?

21. On a scale of excellent, good, only fair and poor, how would you rate economic conditions today?

22. A year from now, do you think the economy will be better or worse? Is that a lot (better/worse) or only a little (better/worse)? 

23. Do you use a computer on a regular basis, either at home or at work? SCALE: 1. Yes 2. No 3. (Not sure)

24. Do you think software buyers have a real choice of which computer software products they buy or do you think that Microsoft produces most of the products that are available?

25. Do you think it would be good or bad for computer users: SCALE: 1. Good 2. Bad 3. (Not sure)

26. If Microsoft is broken up into several smaller companies:

27. If Microsoft is mostly left alone:

28. Convicted Oklahoma City Bomber Timothy McVeigh has asked to have his execution televised. Do you think that the execution should be televised or not?

29. What if it was televised on pay TV and the revenue went to a fund for the victims and their families, then do you think it should be televised or not?

30. Do you regularly watch reality TV shows such as Temptation Island, Survivor, or The Mole?

31. Which do you think is most realistic?

32. Would you rather be: