31.   But the ruling party, facing parliamentary elections next April, fears that it will be viewed by voters as a den of corruption.

32.   Republicans say they will win the public relations war if voters view the budget fight that way.

33.   Since then, voters had viewed the presidency as a counterweight to government, electing a head of state of a different party than the dominant party in Parliament.

34.   State operatives say Bush is faring well because Tennessee is turning Republican, and many voters no longer view Gore as one of their own.

35.   That reflects increasing concern in the White House that voters view Bush and Republicans as more sympathetic to big business than to average Americans.