Bush Pleased by Opinion Polls Showing Support for Thomas

President Bush on Monday cited weekend public opinion surveys that show that far more Americans believe Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas’ denials of sexual harassment than believe law professor Anita Faye Hill, his accuser.

“I’m very pleased with the way the support all across the country is holding strong for Judge Thomas,” President Bush said as he arrived at the White House after a weekend at Camp David, Md.

“It’s important to note that among Afro-Americans, black Americans, that the support is very, very strong,” Bush said as he walked from his helicopter to the Oval Office. He took no questions.

Bush said support for Thomas among blacks was “significant and, I think, highly important.”

The President said support for Thomas “appears to be holding. A vote will take place. And I think that’s all I care to say about it right now.”

Deputy Press Secretary Judy Smith said Bush called Sens. J. Bennett Johnston (D-La.) and Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.) Monday afternoon to “thank them for their support” of Thomas.

She said Bush “will be working the phones tomorrow.”

“Among the senators that are pledged, most of them are firm but there are some that have to be checked with and you have to work on the undecideds,” a senior Administration official said.

The official said that “no minds were changed apparently” among members of the Judiciary Committee, based on statements made over the weekend.

“If that holds in the entire Senate, he will be confirmed,” the official said.

“There doesn’t appear to be much, if any, deterioration from the pledged vote count,” the official said.

One official said that White House operatives, and probably the President himself, would step up the lobbying campaign today as Senate members begin arriving back in town after the long Columbus Day weekend.