She’s quickly become Bermuda’s most popular Premier in recent polling history, and has probably already won more compliments from the Opposition than her predecessor got in his entire term.With an extremely tough Budget around the corner likely to test the nation to the limit, it might be just as well Paula Cox has built up a remarkably healthy supply of credit.On the three-month anniversary of her election as Progressive Labour Party leader, Ms Cox can reflect on poll results showing her favourability rating, at 62 percent, is better than anything Ewart Brown or Alex Scott ever managed in this newspaper’s surveys.Much of this, according to Mr Scott, is down to Ms Cox’s mellowed tone which many believe Bermuda desperately needed after four years of Dr Brown’s self-styled combative approach.“I think the recent polls support the view that she’s off to a good start,” said Mr Scott.“The honeymoon period seems to not only be confirming that there is a shift in tone in Government, but that she’s been received well by the community.“That’s certainly helpful to a new Premier because it allows them to focus on the job ahead rather than looking over their shoulder at criticism or dissatisfaction in the community.“She obviously has hit a responsive chord with the public, and now everyone is waiting to see how the Premier and Finance Minister will manage the very difficult task of charting the financial course ahead in what is, globally and locally speaking, a challenging time.”The United Bermuda Party, so often accused of being too keen to attack the PLP under Dr Brown, has been notably less ready to go after Ms Cox.Leader Kim Swan said yesterday: “I give Premier Cox pretty good marks for setting a friendlier, more civil and accepting tone than her predecessor.“This is important if Bermuda is to make progress against challenges that require broad support to succeed.”Mr Scott explained: “She is schooled in politics, has a background in political science and experience in matters of finance.“When she speaks, her thoughts are well expressed because they are well-thought out.“Her tone also reflects her personality. She doesn’t make idle comments. I think that the public seems to welcome her tone and her style at this time, and the fact that we do have her in charge at a time when we need to be very circumspect and not making reckless rhetoric.“The public draws comfort from her even-tempered approach.”But both Opposition parties as well as albeit quietly some PLP MPs are questioning what lies beneath the surface of Ms Cox’s agenda, including her plan to cut spending.Two backbenchers told The Royal Gazette people appreciate Ms Cox’s tone but are now asking: where’s your accomplishments?And with looming overtime cuts and the threat of Civil Service redundancies, the UBP and Bermuda Democratic Alliance have repeatedly asked her to make public how she’s going to make $150 million savings a year.“We have yet to be given any confidence or hope that the troubling economic challenges facing the Island will be constructively and honestly confronted,” said Mr Swan.“So many people are facing serious economic hardship made worse by the PLP Government’s own policies and decisions, which Ms Cox as Finance Minister signed off on.“She has an opportunity to start righting the situation with the Government’s Budget on February 11, but it will mean taking decisions to undo the way her Government has been doing business.“We hope for the sake of Bermuda she takes that opportunity.”BDA leader Craig Cannonier has said he’s puzzled that Ms Cox does so well in the polls despite growing concerns over Bermuda’s economic plight which has developed under her watch as Finance Minister.Critics argue Government shouldn’t be blaming Bermuda’s financial woes on the global downturn, and say Ms Cox’s cost-cutting promises are coming too late.But late or not, those pledges certainly found favour with the PLP delegates on October 28 last year, when Ms Cox claimed 75 percent of the votes despite challenger Terry Lister’s platform focused on getting the economy back on track.Her proposals had been kept out of the public domain for much of her campaign but, laying out her vision for the Island at Devonshire Recreation Club, Ms Cox announced a new drive to restore public confidence in Government’s financial record.After Dr Brown’s administration allowed debt to soar from $240 million to more than $1 billion in four years, Ms Cox revealed she would be instilling financial discipline and reorganising Ministries to make them more cohesive and cut down on overruns.The shake-up came quickly, when a host of new Ministries were unveiled as the Cabinet was sworn in, including a Business Development and Tourism Ministry headed by former backbencher Patrice Minors, and an Economy, Trade and Industries Ministry under Senator Kim Wilson.Changes included a return as Education Minister for former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith, while Senator David Burch was given a National Security Ministry to focus on the Island’s spiralling violence problems.Insiders say it’s too early to judge the effects of these changes as the new Ministries bed in.Potentially unpopular cash-saving measures have since come to light with a number of overtime cuts announced early this year. Union members have been warned they will have to choose between more cuts or redundancies.A year ago, Ms Cox’s popularity took its only serious dip when she delivered a Budget that upset businesses with a payroll tax rise, and she likened herself to a “cog in the wheel” unable to refuse Ministers’ requests for money.And when she reveals February 11’s Budget, which will inevitably not find favour with everyone, opponents will be quick to remind Ms Cox the buck now stops with her.Mr Scott said: “We will just have to wait and see. I think it’s for the public to appreciate the challenge that both the Premier and the Government face, as governments around the globe are currently facing.“The public looks at expenditure by governments with a very critical eye, and they generally feel that governments, like private citizens, should be conserving resources.“I’m not anticipating Premier Cox’s Budget statement, but governments have to be very careful how they cut back on occasions such as this. It’s government spending which keeps the industry and the employment figures in the best possible position.“If Government cuts back then jobs are lost, then construction slows down and you have the whole ripple effect.“She’s going to have to do a balancing act. She was Finance Minister when I was Premier and served both myself and Cabinet and the community extremely well. She still has a very able staff as her consultants and advisers.“It will be a tough period, but in the long-term I think we will be all right.”