CARTER LIKES BUSH, GORBY

Jimmy Carter says George Bush an improvement on Ronald Reagan. Carter, talking with reporters at the Cable News Network Center in Atlanta Thursday, was asked about the first 100 days of the Bush administration.

'As a Democrat I'm inclined to be critical,' Carter said, 'but compared to his predecessor he's done a rather beautiful job.' Carter also praised Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who he said had a 75 percent approval rating among Americans. 'No one has that high a rating but Bob Hope,' he said.