Despite poll results showing the Premier's approval rating had plummeted since his honeymoon days ? and puzzling comments from the ruling party's spin doctor, Government supporters Rolfe Commissiong and Senator Walter Roban see good news on the horizon.

Asked to comment on a Bermuda Sun-commissioned poll which showed that the Premier's approval rating had slipped from 80 percent in November to just 47.5 percent this month, Sen. Roban said that the poll taken in context was probably a reflection that people ranked politics lower on their list of priorities than they did in the aftermath of last year's General Election.

"I would argue this is not a reflection of the popularity of the Premier, but perhaps the priority of politics in people's lives at the moment. And perhaps that residents are more focused on their activities in general this summer. Last year we were in the midst of a political season ? that's not the case this year, so people's minds are on different things."

PLP spokesman Scott Simmons told the Sun that the numbers reflected residents concerns that Government is planning legislation on "morality issues."

"The direct reason for this plummet in numbers is that the Bermudian public are concerned about their personal rights and whether the Government is planning on creating legislation based on morality issues ? people don't want that," the newspaper reported him as saying on Wednesday. Mr. Simmons had suggested that the Premier's handling of the taxi dispute and anti-gaming legislation had cost him dearly.

Sen. Roban declined to comment directly on Mr. Simmons' remarks which have raised some eyebrows in PLP circles.

But he went on to note that Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons also lost ground in the approval stakes, buttressing his point that people were less interested in politics.

"If you look at the whole picture of how they saw the Government, there was a generally good opinion of the Government doing its job. People are pleased with the Government's performance."

He added the Premier had sought public support on gaming and the GPS initiative for the taxi industry.

"All the indications are that the public has a desire for not only for the Government to take a strong opinion on gaming, which it has done, but also a pro-active approach toward the taxi issue which in general is indicative of the Government's whole approach to tourism and others. I think the results of that poll indicates satisfaction with performance."

The poll reported that just 17.7 percent of respondents rated the PLP's management abilities as "poor" ? while more than 30 percent said it was good and close to 50 percent said it was fair.

The Premier's personal appeal had not suffered, Mr. Roban added. "They like him as a person and they like the job his Government is doing, so that tells me that people overall do have a positive view of this government right now."

PLP supporter Rolfe Commissiong said that last year's 80 percent approval rating was "extremely high and unsustainable".

"Now we're going to see the poll numbers go back to more normal levels. And I think the Premier's numbers are only going to go higher once the long awaited social agenda is unveiled along with other initiatives to address some of the core concerns of working people such as housing, etc."

Mr. Scott rode a strong wave of popularity soon after he became the PLP's leader following a revolt against Jennifer Smith's leadership.

"I suspect that his numbers will firm up," Mr. Commissiong continued.

"People shouldn't forget that the administration preceding this was one which on many of these core issues didn't get much achieved. Consequently the Premier and this administration has almost had to start from scratch to begin to in a real way address critical issues."

Opposition leader Grant Gibbons, who has also seen a drop in his approval rating could not comment on what the numbers mean.

"I'm not sure what it means. I usually don't comment on poll results because polls can go up and polls can go down," he said.