Bush's impact on campaigns in Mo. questioned
By JASON ROSENBAUM
of the Columbia Missourian
April 12, 2006

JEFFERSON CITY - Shielded from protesters gathered for his arrival at Columbia Regional Airport and surrounded by supporters at two events in Jefferson City, President Bush found a receptive audience in mid-Missouri on Tuesday.

However, the state's political observers are questioning whether Bush is becoming a liability to the Republican Party.

The deepening turmoil in Iraq, dissension and scandal among congressional Republicans and a growing controversy over his role in leaking previously classified information to rebut a war critic have pushed Bush's poll numbers to the lowest of his presidency. Only 36 percent of Missourians approved of Bush's job performance, down nearly 8 percentage points from a year ago, according to a Survey USA poll of 600 adults conducted March 10-12, while 60 percent disapproved. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

"His popularity is way down, and being closely associated with the president isn't as beneficial as it once was," said Steve Smith, a professor of social sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

The downward trend in Bush's popularity comes at an inopportune time, with crucial mid-term elections looming in November. Smith said there is a possibility that the president's woes might harm Republican candidates in Missouri, especially Sen. Jim Talent, who is engaged in a tight re-election battle with State Auditor Claire McCaskill, a Democrat.

Democrat Duane Burghard is hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Missouri, in the fall and said he is already trying to capitalize on Bush's decreasing support by linking the president with his opponent.

"Congressman Hulshof has been the most ardent, most strident supporter of the administration through all of its failures," Burghard said.

Burghard said voters will punish Hulshof for supporting Bush initiatives. He pointed out that the deficit continues to mount and that Hulshof voted for the administration's energy bill with "tax breaks for Big Oil."

"Voters are waking up and saying this isn't what we've voted for," Burghard said...

Read the rest of this story online at The Columbia Missourian