Gingrich Receives Mixed Reviews in Poll : Politics: He gets high marks for his performance as Speaker. But many Americans have misgivings about his character and view him as an extremist.

WASHINGTON — After nearly six months as the dominant figure on the national political landscape, House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) gets a mixed review from the public, according to a new Times Mirror poll.

While large numbers of Americans give him relatively high marks for his performance as the ramrod of the GOP counterrevolution, many have misgivings about his character, and a majority view him as an extremist.

The strong opinions about the 51-year-old Georgian reflect the controversial nature of the policies he is promoting, his volatile and assertive personality and the fact that he has played a more conspicuous role in shaping political debate than any Speaker in this century.

Increasingly, reaction to Gingrich splits along partisan, class and race lines, according to Andrew Kohut, director of the Times Mirror Center of the People and the Press, which conducted the national survey of 1,819 adults last weekend.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 percentage points.

“Over the past month Republicans and Republican-oriented demographic groups have become even more favorable toward the Speaker, as Democratic groups have become even more critical,” he said.

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While the disapproval rating among whites rose six percentage points from last year to 35%, it rose 11 points to 45% among nonwhites. Among those making between $20,000 and $30,000, the approval rating dropped 15 points to 35%, compared to a 1% increase to 49% for those making $50,000 or more.

At the same time, Gingrich’s poll readings could have implications for any presidential ambitions that he may have, as well as those of his Senate counterpart, Majority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, who has all but formally announced his presidential bid.

Although Gingrich has sworn off seeking the presidency in 1996, many observers believe that a White House bid remains on his long-term agenda. Analysts say that Gingrich would have a difficult time reaching the Oval Office, however, unless he can alter some of the impressions revealed by the poll. For example, 53% of Americans think he is too extreme in his point of view, while only 43% regard him as trustworthy and only 47% consider him someone who cares about people.

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As for Dole, his advisers have worried that his candidacy might suffer from comparisons between Gingrich’s perceived ability to push legislation through the House and Dole’s performance in the slower-paced Senate. Nearly three of five Americans think of Gingrich as “able to get things done” and 44% approve of the way he is handling his job as Speaker, while only 37% disapprove.

On the other hand, Dole’s strategists believe that in contrast to Gingrich, the senator will seem moderate in his beliefs and steady in character--qualities that they hope will be viewed as reassuring and presidential.