Washington ? Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill said Sunday the economy was fundamentally sound despite the stock market’s troubles and the business scandals that have shaken consumer confidence.

“I’m a deep believer in the potential and the reality of the greatest economy ever conceived,” said O’Neill, making high-profile appearances on the talk shows following criticism of his travels abroad during the recent economic volatility.

The Bush administration is trying to ward off potential political damage in the midterm elections this fall by talking up signs the economy is well positioned for growth despite the increasing reports of companies’ accounting problems, which have caused market jitters.

“Out there in our economy, out there in Main Street, the real growth in our economy is moving just as we thought it would,” O’Neill said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Citing reports on productivity growth and second-quarter earnings, O’Neill said “there is good news out there” drowned out by “the steady amplification of the negative stuff.”

He said Americans should look at investments in the long term and have faith in the market.

“People who are invested in the American economy over time are going to win,” O’Neill said. “There has never been an extended period of time in our history where investments in the U.S. economy didn’t win.”

During the past 10 weeks, investors drove down Dow prices to five-year lows, although Wall Street last week posted its biggest weekly gain since May.

“I think we’re reaching for a bottom, if we’re not there now,” said John Bogle, founder and former chairman of The Vanguard Group of mutual funds, which manages $590 billion in assets for 17 million clients.

He did not think that a bill Bush is expected to sign this week that makes sweeping changes in accounting practices and imposes new penalties for corporate fraud was a big factor in changing investors’ opinions about the future.

“I think investors’ confidence has been shattered, and it’s going to take a lot more than some congressional action to rebuild it,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.”

O’Neill said the administration was working with Congress on several bills trade powers for the president, pension protections, terrorism risk insurance, for example intended to “assure that our economy will continue to be the envy of the world.”

While O’Neill tried to focus on the economy’s strong points, he spent considerable time answering questions about his recent global travels at a time critics said he should be at home reassuring worried Americans.

O’Neill went to four former Soviet republics to gather information on how to bolster their economic growth, private investment and living standards, as well as to discuss terrorists’ financing. He planned to go to South America this week but postponed the trip.

“I think it is important, in my role of secretary of the treasury, that I don’t make the mistake that I think many people do, who think the sun only sets and rises in Washington and New York,” O’Neill said. “In order to protect our own security, both militarily and economically, we need to pay attention to the world.”