The Republicans also turned up the heatyesterday. Bush spent the evening givinginterviews, which were broadcast live in Southernstates, while Quayle visited several locations inMassachusetts.

Quayle made minimal mention of the president'sRepublican opponents, conservative columnistPatrick J. Buchanan and former Ku Klux Klanofficial David Duke. Instead, the vice presidentdirected most of his remarks against theDemocratic-controlled Congress.

Elsewhere, Buchanan did not argue with thepresident's prediction of a Super Tuesday sweep,but continued to criticize Bush's record.

"[Bush] has walked away from the principles andphilosophy of the Republican party," Buchanancharged.

Bush remained confident despite anABC-Washington Post poll late yesterday whichshowed him at a popularity rating of 39 percent,his lowest ever. The same poll, which questioned1030 adults nationally, gave the president a 90percent approval rating one year ago after theGulf War.

Perhaps more disturbing to the White House werefigures showing that a hypothetical Bush-Tsongasgeneral election in November would result in a44-44 dead heat and that Bush would edge outClinton by a slim 45-43 margin. Both results aretoo close to call, considering the poll's 3.5percent margin of error.

The poll also said 73 percent of Americansdisapprove of the way Congress is doing its job.Bush's "disapproval rating" was 58 percent