Bush is  "confidence man"

He remembers names and tries to act like your good buddy even if you don't know him.  Most people are flattered by such behavior and especially when that person represents so much power.  

This would be less effective if so many US politicians weren't such total pricks.  Bush/Cheney is essentially a good cop/bad cop routine.

He gives off the vibe of an average happy go lucky guy with the sort of political people skills that paving mentions below. Or at least that's how I've always figured it - for me he has the air of the obnoxious frat boy.  Dem politicians seem to leave an impression of over-intellectualized cultural elitists - which is actually much more my taste in people to hang out with, but I'm a minority. Clinton managed to give both impressions simultaneously, along with even better people skills than Bush plus the intense charisma that Bush lacks. When that whole theme started I ended up idly speculating to myself about who my choices would be, and in what situation - Gore good for a quiet chat over a few drinks or coffee, not so much for a more raucous party, Clinton good for both.