Poll: Hoosiers think Bayh has what it takes to be president

Tom Walker/Washington Bureau Chief

Washington D.C., April 4 - Ask Senator Evan Bayh about Presidential ambitions and more likely than not you'll get some form of this answer, "I think that's premature speculation. We just had an election. We just had an inaugural.

"Let's put the politics aside. I think what we need to do is focus on solving the country's problems. And if we do that the politics will take care of itself."

But at this point in time Bayh seems to have as solid a base of support in his home state as any Presidential candidate could want.

By a large majority, Hoosiers think he's doing a good job; 70 percent approve, 19 percent disapprove and 11 percent are unsure.

President George W. Bush was up in the 80 percent range in Texas before he ran for President, but John Edwards was down in the 40s in North Carolina prior to his bid for Vice President.

And Bayh comes close to Dick Lugar's 72 percent rating.

Would he make a good President? Sixty-seven percent say yes, 19 percent say no and 14 percent are not sure.

Would you vote for him over someone else? Nearly half of Hoosiers say they'd be likely to, 33 percent say no and 18 percent are unsure.

Bayh's experience as governor may be a factor there, says Presidential scholar Lee Edwards. "It helps, people are more comfortable with somebody who has had that kind of managerial experience."

But after two narrow defeats, a Democrat able to pull Republican votes in a red state tends to get noticed.

Democratic consultant Tom King says, "It makes a difference, and he can appeal to the disaffected Democrats, the labor Democrats, the Reagan Democrats; that's the argument he's going to be making."

While Bayh says it's too early to talk about 2008, he has made moves with staffing and fundraising that make him look more like he's running, and these poll numbers are likely to add more fuel to that speculation.

Bayh declined to comment on our poll.

The WTHR/Indianapolis Star Issues Poll measures what Hoosiers think about leading topics of the day.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Evan Bayh is handling his job as a U.S. senator?

Approve
70%

Disapprove
19%

Not sure
11%



Senator Bayh has been mentioned as a possible candidate for president in 2008. If he were on the November 2008 general election ballot for president, would you likely vote for him, or likely vote for another candidate?

Likely vote for Bayh
49%

Likely vote for another candidate
33%

Not sure
18%


Regardless of whether you would vote for him or not, do you think Evan Bayh does or does not have the personal qualities needed to be a good President?

Does have the personal qualities needed
67%

Does not have the personal qualities needed
19%

Not sure
14%