Most Kansans give President Bush and Gov. Bill Graves high marks, but Graves’ job approval rating is falling, according to The World Company Poll.

And more Kansans are more concerned about the state of the national economy than terrorism, the poll showed.

For Bush, the good grades come near the middle of his first-term. For Graves, the downward trend comes near the end of his tenure in office and marks the unofficial start of assessing his administration for the history books.

Statewide, 67 percent of voters rate Bush’s performance as excellent or good, while Graves was rated excellent or good by 55 percent  a 20 percentage-point drop over the course of his second term in office.

“There is some perception in the last year and a half that he hasn’t quite exerted the leadership he might have,” said Mel Kahn, a political science professor at Wichita State University.

On what was the No. 1 concern in Kansas, 49 percent said the economy, 25 percent said terrorism and 26 percent said both. The poll of 625 registered voters was taken last weekend and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Political observers said the slumping economy had hurt Graves’ popularity, which could be a cautionary lesson for Bush. Both Bush and Graves are Republicans.

“Governors are usually popular when the economy is going strong, but now that there is an economic slowdown, typically the overall rating of most governors goes down,” pollster Brad Coker said.

Many governors, like Graves, have raised taxes and shaved budgets. “You lose popularity when you have to make tough decisions,” Coker said. He said Bush’s continued high rating could hinge on the economy, too.

Kahn said Bush had maintained his popularity because of the war on terrorism, just as his father, the first President Bush, had high approval ratings during the Persian Gulf War. But, Kahn said, a rough economy “could end up being his Achilles’ heel, just as it was for his father,” who was defeated by Bill Clinton.

Political experts in Kansas agree Graves’ falling numbers are partially due to the economy, but the downturn also has to do with his job performance.

Most observers agree that Graves’ leadership style of working behind the scenes was productive for the first six years he was in office, but not so well the last two.

Kristin Heuertz, a spokeswoman for Graves, said the poll on Graves showed “this is a tough year for all politicians, not just the governor.”

An analysis of Graves’ numbers indicate he wins excellent or good grades across the political spectrum, 59 percent from Republicans, 51 percent from Democrats and 50 percent from independents.

Bush’s excellent or good ratings come overwhelmingly from Republicans, 89 percent, while 34 percent of Democrats rate him high, and 64 percent of independents give him good or excellent marks

The experts say that means two things: Bush has been able to maintain the support of the right wing of the GOP, while Graves and the right wing have long since parted ways.

Kahn recalled that in 1998, when facing a conservative Republican primary challenge from David Miller, Graves put ads on Christian radio in western Kansas that challenged Miller’s credentials as the conservative candidate. “I don’t think Graves could do that today,” Kahn said.