Democrats will trot out singer Paul Simon and representatives from Easter Seals and Families USA today for a Capitol Hill news conference in yet another attempt to play politics with children’s health care. But while they stage this latest stunt in the debate over the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, President Bush appears to have Americans on his side when it comes to the policy goals of SCHIP.

Richard Wolf of USA Today writes about a new Gallup Poll revealing “that while Bush may be losing the political battle with Democrats, he may be doing better on policy.” Here are the numbers:

• 52% agree with Bush that most benefits should go to children in families earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level — about $41,000 for a family of four. Only 40% say benefits should go to such families earning up to $62,000, as the bill written by Democrats and some Republicans would allow.

• 55% are very or somewhat concerned that the program would create an incentive for families to drop private insurance. Bush and Republican opponents have called that a step toward government-run health care.

For an administration that is standing up to Democrats to prevent the slippery slope to socialized medicine, it’s welcome news, even if the political battle is one of the toughest Bush has had to face on the domestic front. The numbers should also serve as encouragement for Republicans on Capitol Hill who have come under misleading and deceptive attacks from Big Labor and liberal-interest groups such as American United for Change and Catholics United.

With a vote to override Bush’s veto just two days away, Democrats have failed over the past two weeks to peel off 15 House Republicans they need to vote for their $35-billion expansion of SCHIP, which could cover families earning up to $83,000 per year. There’s a good reason. David Espo of the Associated Press reports that the chances of those Republicans facing a revolt at the ballot box next year would probably be slim.

The 151 Republicans who voted against the bill last month averaged nearly 64 percent of the vote in their most recent election. Many had vote totals in the 70 percent range, making them all but invulnerable from attack.

One of the Republicans under attack, Rep. Ric Keller of Florida, said despite the onslaught of ads and pressure from Democrats, he’s not switching his vote. It’s refreshing to see politicians like Keller stand on principle rather than cave to political pressure.