President George Bush accidentally insulted a key Washington constituency yesterday evening during his televised stump speech. The President is known for his gaffes, but Washington insiders say this may be a more important gaffe than others in his career.

When asked, after his speech, what he thought of his lagging support in the polls, the President said that he “tries not to lead by following weekly opinion surveys” and that it is the president’s duty to “educate people about the challenges they face and the options available.”

When asked to clarify his remarks, the President added, “You know, if a president tries to govern based on polls, you’re kind of like a dog chasing your tail. I don’t think you can make good, sound decisions based upon polls.”

The reaction from pollsters was immediate and scathing. One leading opinion poll showed the president’s support drop ten percent among pollsters.

One pollster cried that he “felt his opinion meant no more than any other American’s.” Pollster Al Landon of the National Association for Pollsters and Surveyors demanded an immediate apology. “It is about time this administration began taking polls seriously, instead of denigrating them all the time. The President of the United States should not be insulting us!”

Pollsters are a critical constituency. Washington insider Tom Dewey noted that no president can hope to win support without appealing to pollsters.

The White House web site, this morning, cited a paid survey that claimed “Americans prefer presidents who lead by conviction rather than by poll.” The White House web site added that “Most Americans surveyed mistrust poll results.”

Landon countered that “no one asked me,” but that if the results were true, “it is the president’s responsibility to teach voters the importance of polls.”

Other pollsters agreed. Dewey said that “when Americans don’t trust polls, they become unpredictable. Worse, they become unmanageable.”

The White House had no further comments.