Poll: McCaren More Popular Than Predecessor

Foreign Affairs Secretary is most visible member of president's administration


MAVOCKE--While President Brenton Menuhaeo's approval numbers have dipped in recent months, Foreign Affairs Secretary Jim McCaren remains deeply popular among the Grassadellian people.

According to a new Countrywide poll, 68% of Grassadellians approve of McCaren's job performance, compared to only 54% approval for McCaren's predecessor, former Secretary Richard Lanman, who served under President Dan Byelle.

McCaren was also found to be the most visible member of President Menuhaeo's cabinet, with 43% of respondents being able to identify him. Treasury Secretary Jay Goodling was next, with 36%, followed by Environmental Affairs Secretary Steven McIntosh (28%), Defense Secretary Jack Hastings Jr. (24%), and National Security Secretary Michelle Gates at 20 per cent.

It should be noted that Lanman served as Secretary for almost six years, and McCaren is not even two years into the job. Richard Lanman also had high approval ratings at the same point in his tenure, although his approval ratings were not as high and did not remain as long. Lanman took the brunt of Grassadellia's involvement in the Iraq War, and became a symbol of the relationship between former US President George W. Bush and Dan Byelle.

Since leaving the position after the 2008 election, Mr. Lanman has retired to his home in downstate Damoign. His children remain very active in politics however. His youngest son, Jared, was appointed to the Senate from Remmington, after disgraced former senator Dave Helgin resigned. Lanman's daughter, Beth Lanman-Trau, is the lieutenant governor of POG, and is married to POG Senator Dick Trau.

McCaren has a long resume in politics as well, having served as an ambassador, and later as a state senator, secretary of state, and briefly as governor of Damoign, following the death of Whit Meiyer.

In 2008, McCaren ran for a full term as governor, but lost in a three-way race between himself, Grassadellia City Mayor Sid Hoffa (CNS), and Democratic-Reformist Isaac Hjelms. McCaren was then nominated by President Menuhaeo to serve as Foreign Affairs Secretary, a position he was confirmed for easily.

Since assuming office, Mr. McCaren has focused on relations with North Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and has also led the Grassadellian response in Haiti following the devastating earthquake in January 2010. Later this month, the secretary will be traveling to Iceland to address the island nation's economic crisis.