Incoming Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson is viewed favorably by just 20% of Americans. But few among the general public express an opinion either way.
Twenty-three percent (23%) view the new secretary unfavorably, giving him a "net unfavorable" of 3%. But 57% offer no opinion at all of Mr. Paulson, even though we conducted our poll shortly after his appointment was announced, when he was much in the news.

In fact, only one-eighth of Americans have a settled opinion about the new Treasury Secretary. Just 6% have a "very" favorable opinion and 6% hold a "very" unfavorable view.

Former Treasury Secretary John W. Snow--widely thought to have been frustrated with his marginal role in policymaking--is viewed favorably by 27% of respondents, unfavorably by 25%, for a net favorable of 2%. That leaves 48% who venture no opinion.

The Treasury Secretary is thus the least visible of the several cabinet members we asked about in our survey. Perhaps because the post is seen as distant from major policy-making decisions, Americans who do offer opinions of the two men usually don't feel very intensely about it.

Other recent polling shows that congressional leaders are known by more people and viewed negatively by more people. On the other hand, Press Secretary Tony Snow, a popular political commentator before being tapped a month ago to join President Bush's team, is also still an unknown to many Americans. Yet 34% think of him favorably, and 15% a very favorable view.

Heny Paulson left a multi-million dollar Wall Street salary to take his new job, which he had declined in the past. When announcing the appointment, President Bush said Paulson would be "my chief economic advisor."