GOP governors worried about Bush stumbles

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'Bound to play some role in the elections'
In Taft’s state, where manufacturing job losses have left much of the Midwest lagging behind the improved economies that much of the rest of the country has seen in the past two years, the economy plays a bigger role. “There’s a sense it’s more wrong direction than right track. That affects how they feel about the president, it affects how they feel about anybody in power. It’s bound to play some role in the elections” for Congress and the governors race.

Other Republican governors said that while constituents back home were paying attention, much could change for the better before elections nine months off.

The Medicare program left several governors shaking their heads, though they said efforts to improve it were helping. “Probably the design of the plan could’ve been better,” said Republican Don Carcieri of Rhode Island. Bush has called for steps to limit the confusion. Still, Carcieri was sure voters would forgive, both on the drugs and on the hurricane response. “They’re more understanding of that kind of thing. They understand they’re only human.”

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The bigger problem, as he and several others saw it, is Iraq. “The biggest cumulative effect weighing on everybody is the war,” Carcieri said.

Chance to win support
Stephen Wayne, a professor of government at Georgetown University, said many of Bush’s woes are self-inflicted, but that there’s still time to revive his presidency and for him to avoid premature lame duck labels.

“But he’s got to establish his priorities slowly and carefully in conjunction with Republicans in Congress, then work with them,” Wayne said. “He can’t just pronounce from his podium and expect people to dutifully march behind him.”

Even governors from parts of the country where support remains rock solid said they’ve seen a change as the months, and the deaths, piled up.

“What was ebullient before has now — it’s a more muted response. (Support for the war) still may be past the 51 percent mark, but it’s a quieter level,” Sanford said.

For Republican Mitch Daniels of Indiana, who served in the administration as budget director and left to run for governor, the stumbles are undeniable but must be seen in context. “There’s a lot of lousy luck involved,” he said. “I’m not saying the White House hasn’t had better days, but I’m probably not nearly so hard on them as most.”

His return to a Washington weathering a barrage of criticism reminded him of the benefits of leaving. “I’m proud to have been associated with this administration. But second terms are tough. I think they’ve caught some bad breaks. I’m not yearning to be more than a tourist here.”

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