European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 11, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday january 11, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 7bush approval rating slides under 50% Washington a two thirds of surveyed americans disapprove of the Way president Bush is handling the Economy according to a new lbs new York times poll. But nearly half the total surveyed a 48 percent a said they approve of Bush a performance As president with 39 percent disapproving. Bush a Overall approval rating dropped from 51 percent in a similar poll conducted in november while his disapproval rating on the Economy Rose a percentage Point from 66 percent to 67 percent. Only 23 percent said they approved of Bush a economic policy Down from 25 percent in november. Among republicans the approval rating was 40 percent while his disapproval rating was 47 percent. The poll was conducted monday through wednesday with Telephone interviews of 1,376 adults selected randomly across the country. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage Points. Fifty eight percent named the Economy or an economic Issue such As unemployment or the budget deficit As the most important problem facing the coun try. That was the highest number during the Bush administration and up from 39 percent in october. But respondents were split equally on who would better solve economic problems with 32 percent saying Bush would do a better Job and 32 percent saying an unnamed Democrat would do better. Bush fared much better on foreign policy with 59 percent saying they approved of Bush a performance up from 57 percent in november. Among democratic voters Arkansas gov. Bill Clinton had the highest favourable and lowest unfavourable rating 17 percent and 5 percent respectively although he is still not widely known. Former California gov. Jerry Brown had the second highest approval rating 12 percent but also the highest disapproval rating 21 percent. Respective approval and disapproval ratings were 8 percent and 8 percent for Iowa sen. Tom Markin 10 percent and 8 percent for Nebraska sen. Bob Kerrey and 7 percent and 11 percent for former Massachusetts sen. Paul  budget woes Drew Wilder Back to Virginia Richmond a. Apr former presidential hopeful l. Douglas Wilder said thursday that he realized his Campaign carried political drawbacks when spectators at a Christmas Parade pretended Shock at seeing him in Richmond. A coming Down the Street people were saying a he a Home he a Here what do you think Good lord he a around a a the governor said laughing As he recalled the grumbling Over his out of state Campaign travel. A these weren to mean Nasty vicious people. But they were just saying a look spend time with us. Be with  and ill be  Wilder said he was obviously wrong in thinking he could run for president and manage Virginia during a recession. A you can to do both things Well a he said. Wilder announced wednesday night that he would abandon his 4-month-old, Long shot race for the democratic presidential nomination. His fund raising had been lacklustre and his standing in new Hampshire polls negligible. But the nations first elected Black governor said it was state budget problems that finally persuaded him to say Good Bye to the Campaign Trail. Chatting with reporters thursday Wilder scoffed at the notion that the slow Start in his Campaign was responsible for his decision. A i done to know Why you would say that when you see the polls showing what i would do in two states leading in two states a he said. Surveys showed him ahead of his five major rivals in South Carolina and Maryland. Wilder a withdrawal came after unveiling a $28 billion two year state budget that would raise Hospital taxes to pay health costs Force about 900 layoffs and authorize Nefty tuition increases at Public colleges and universities. A this is a time of sacrifice a time for each of us to give More than we have a he told a statewide television audience. Virginia would face a $567 million budget shortfall Over the next two years without spending cuts and higher taxes he said. Wilder had resisted raising taxes since he took office in 1990 and touted his fiscal responsibility in his presidential Campaign. He vowed to balance the budget in Washington the Way he had in Virginia. But virginians became increasingly unhappy with Wilder a preoccupation with National politics and frequent out of state travel. Polls showed two thirds opposed his presidential bid and Only 23 percent liked his Jeremy Wiley left and Scott Bates thumb through papers thursday at Campaign Headquarters in Oakton va., after their candidate Virginia gov. L. Douglas Wilder announced he would withdraw from the presidential race. Performance As governor. A it will be better for the state that he dropped out a said Rick Farrar who was delivering produce to Roanoke restaurants thursday. A not that Many people i know were going to vote for  a it was quite a Good move a said Diane Embry of Richmond who is unemployed. A this will make the people of Virginia feel much better about  Larry Sabato a University of Virginia political analyst said Wilder May be positioning himself to Challenge his longtime democratic rival sen. Charles s. Robb in 1994. The withdrawal gives Wilder a Chance to restore his reputation before his term ends in 1994, but a the Economy has got to turn around before he has the Opportunity to become popular a Jain Quot Sabato said. Meanwhile Wilder will find it easier to gel out of the presidential race than to get his name off of new Hampshire a democratic ballot in the feb. 18 primary. The Only Way to get off the ballot is to die far enough in Advance of the election for ballots to be changed the Secretary of states office said thursday. Kerrey manager charges Clinton falsely advertises health Olan on to Washington a democratic presidential hopefuls Bill Clinton and Bob Kerrey clashed again thursday this time Over a Clinton television commercial that promises National health insurance As part of his economic plan. Clinton the Arkansas governor on thursday began airing the 60-second and in new Hampshire saying his economic plan a includes National health insurance a a Middle class tax Cut new education and training programs and Tough Trade Laws. Kerrey the Nebraska senator who has made Universal health care the Centrepiece of his Campaign immediately disputed the ads veracity saying Clinton had offered no specific health care plan. A a he a got a vague and general proposal on health care that is a Long Long Way from being National health insurance a Kerrey said at a Campaign Stop in new Hampshire. Kerrey a new Hampshire Campaign manager Paul Johnson called Clintonjr first Campaign spot a false advertising and demanded that the Clinton Campaign pull it. Kerrey called Clinton a Overall plan a More revolting than it is revolutionary a even though it contains several ideas that both democratic candidates espouse. These include Middle class tax Relief increased Domestic research and development and targeted tax credits to help new and expanding businesses. The Clinton Campaign said Kerrey a criticism was inaccurate and accused the opponent of shifting gears following Clinton a Challenge to provide More details on candidates economic plans. A i think Bob Kerrey is trying to change the subject a Clinton spokeswoman dec Dee Myers said. A every Democrat in this race is for National health insurance and Bob Kerrey knows that. Given that he does no to have a Trade plan or a plan for Middle class tax cuts or an education plan he had to come after us on  the Kerrey Campaign sensing Clinton a momentum has attacked Clinton in the past week at one Point saying Kerrey accepted a Clinton debate a Challenge that Clinton never made. Kerrey has proposed a detailed single payer health care plan administered by the government that would be financed by payroll a a sin and other taxes. It is modelled after the Canadian system. Clinton has not offered a plan As detailed As Kerrey a. Instead he has endorsed the goal of Universal health  considering run As Independent Washington a David Duke is threatening to run for president As an Independent if the Republican party continues its attempts to keep him off state primary ballots. A a they be been knocking me around for quite a while and in a not going to sit Back and take it a Duke a former Kun flux klan Leader said in an interview published Friday in the Washington Post. The gop has denounced Duke and party officials in several states including Florida Georgia Rhode Island and Wisconsin have tried to keep him off their primary ballots. Final decisions in those states Likely will rest with the courts. The american civil liberties Union has sued in Rhode Island seeking to put Duke on the ballot