THE TIMES ORANGE COUNTY POLL : Most Republicans Want to Dump Quayle : President still popular, but just 40% of GOP voters support the vice president.

Although President Bush’s popularity continues to soar in Orange County, most voters in this Republican stronghold believe that Dan Quayle should be dropped from the 1992 GOP presidential ticket, a new poll has found.

More than half of the voters here--56%--oppose Quayle’s place on next year’s Republican ballot, according to The Times Orange County Poll, with less than a third of the respondents saying he should remain. Only two out of five Orange County Republicans supported the vice president as Bush’s running mate, according to the poll.

“A majority of men and women voters in all income brackets think that George Bush should pick a different running mate,” said Mark Baldassare, who conducted the poll for The Times last week. “Apparently, local voters still have not warmed up to Quayle.”

Quayle’s support was highest among upper-income and older voters. He was most strongly opposed by middle-income and younger voters.

The results are similar to a national poll published last month by the Gallup organization, which found 52% of American voters opposed to Quayle’s selection as the GOP running mate. The Gallup Poll also found, however, that 57% of the respondents described Quayle as “likeable” and few said the choice of a running mate is a major factor in their selection of a president.

The Times Orange County Poll contacted 513 registered voters using computer-generated random telephone numbers between Sept. 3 and 5. The overall survey has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.5%.

Indeed, as the 1992 presidential campaign gains steam, The Times Orange County Poll shows that Bush continues to enjoy a robust image in California’s most Republican county. His favorability rating is 76%, down slightly from the 83% rating in the days immediately after the Gulf War, and about the same level of support he received at this time last year.

Even two out of three Democrats said they have a favorable image of the President and just 16% of all voters in the county had an unfavorable opinion.

“George Bush’s sky-high popularity ratings have come down to Earth since the Kuwait-Iraq war days,” Baldassare said. “However, his popularity scores today are still well above the marks he received when he entered office in 1989.”

In a national survey conducted by The Times in July, Bush had a 74% approval rating and a 23% disapproval rating. The same survey found voters were less sympathetic to the President on the economy, with 45% saying they approved of his policies and 46% saying they disapproved.

In Orange County, the early September poll of residents found that most voters were not enthusiastic about the President’s performance on the economy, but few said they thought he is doing a poor job overall.

In fact, even though 70% of the respondents in a recent Times Poll covering all of Southern California described the economy as “shaky,” only one in four Orange County voters said the President is doing a poor job in handling the issue.

Half of the Republicans surveyed in the September Times Orange County Poll said they believe Bush is actually doing a good or excellent job in managing the economy. Another 37% said his performance has been fair.

Democrats, whose party leaders are planning to attack Bush’s economic programs in next year’s election, were much less supportive. Two in five of the Democratic respondents said Bush is doing a poor job on the economy, compared to only 11% of county Republicans.

Among all voters, nearly two out of five in Orange County said the President is doing a fair job of handling the economy.

The Times Orange County Poll found Bush’s rating for managing the economy increased among upper-income voters.

The poll also showed that 63% of the county’s voters would be inclined to vote for Bush if the presidential election were held today. Only 24% said they would not be so inclined.

“This means that Bush holds a 39-point edge before a serious Democratic challenger emerges,” Baldassare said. “In the 1988 presidential election, Bush beat Dukakis by 37 points (in Orange County), polling 68% to Dukakis’ 31%.”

Not surprisingly, the poll found Bush supported by 82% of Orange County Republican voters. He was also supported by more than a third of the county’s Democrats.

How the Poll Was Conducted

The Times Orange County Poll was conducted by Mark Baldassare & Associates. The telephone survey of 513 Orange County registered voters was conducted Sept. 3 through 5 using a computer-generated random sample of telephone numbers. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5%. For subgroups, such as Democrats or Republicans, the margin of error is higher.

1992 Presidential Election

“If the 1992 presidential election were held today, would you be inclined or not inclined to vote for the reelection of George Bush?” All Voters: Inclined: 63% Not Inclined: 24% Don’t Know: 13%

Republican: Inclined: 82% Not Inclined: 10% Don’t Know: 8%

Democrat: Inclined: 35% Not Inclined: 44% Don’t Know: 21%

“If President Bush runs for reelection, do you think he should select Dan Quayle as his vice presidential running mate again?” All Voters: Yes: 30% No: 56% Don’t Know: 14%

Republican: Yes: 39% No: 47% Don’t Know: 14%

Democrat: Yes: 21% No: 70% Don’t Know: 9%

Source: Times Orange County Poll

Bush’s Popularity

Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of George Bush?

Favorable Unfavorable Don’t Know All voters 76% 16% 8% Republican 86% 8% 6% Democrat 63% 25% 12% Under $35K 74% 16% 10% $35K to $49K 76% 12% 12% $50K to $75K 72% 18% 10% Over $75K 82% 13% 5%

Trends Over Time Jan. ‘89: 70% Oct. ‘90: 77% Feb. ‘91: 83% Sept. ‘91: 76%

Ratings on Jobs and the Economy

How would you rate the performance of President George Bush in handling jobs and the economy?

Excellent Good Fair Poor Don’t Know All voters 6% 31% 38% 23% 2% Republican 9% 41% 37% 11% 2% Democrat 3% 19% 37% 40% 1% Under $35K 5% 30% 34% 28% 3% $35K to $49K 4% 31% 42% 22% 1% $50K to $75K 3% 32% 37% 26% 2% Over $75K 11% 34% 36% 18% 1%

Oct. ‘90: Fair: 43% Poor: 18% Excellent: 4% Don’t Know: 4% Good: 31% Sept. ‘91: Fair: 38% Poor: 23% Excellent: 2% Don’t Know: 6% Good: 31% Source: Times Orange County Poll