Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius takes high numbers into State of the Union response

By Diane Silver

Chosen to give the Democratic response to Dubya's State of the Union speech, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will coast into that appearance with a 64 percent approval rating in her home state. That's the word today from a SurveyUSA poll taken Jan. 16 and 17.

Sebelius's approval numbers have tumbled some since reaching a high of 70 percent just three days before her administration blocked construction of two coal plants. Since that announcement, her approval rating has taken a hit in Western Kansas. That's where the two plants would have been located.

In what is the most conservative part of the state, though, Sebelius reached a staggering height of 76 percent approval on Oct. 15 just before the coal plant announcement. She dropped to 43 percent in the month after the announcement, bounced up again in December and then dropped a bit to 58 percent approval in Western Kansas in this newest poll.

Sebelius will speak immediately after George W. Bush finishes. The State of the Union is scheduled for 8 pm Central, 9 pm Eastern, on Monday.

I'll say this for Sebelius. She's finally giving me a reason to tune into a Dubya State of the Union.

George Bush's approval ratings tank -- nationally & in red state Kansas

By Diane Silver

Nationally, George W. Bush is beloved by 33 percent. I believe that's up a whopping 1 percent from last month in this poll released today.

In the heart of RepublicanLand -- Kansas -- Bush is loved (approved? tolerated) by a "huge" 37 percent in a survey conducted April 13 - 15. He's getting love from:

• 59 percent of the Kansas GOP
• 10 percent of Kansas Democrats
• 33 percent of Kansas independents

It can't be good news when that's the best you can do in the heartland.