WASHINGTON — Santa has lots going against him — schoolyard rumors, older brothers who think they know the deal and tattle to the young ones, errant price tags, the tell-all Internet and so many Made in China labels it seems the North Pole has outsourced to Asia.

Humbuggers everywhere. But no worries. It's a wonderful life for Santa.

An AP-AOL News poll finds him to be an enduring giant in the lives of Americans.

Fully 86 percent in the poll believed in Santa as a child. And despite the multiethnic nature of the country, more than 60 percent of those with children at home consider Santa important in their holiday celebrations now.

That's an approval rating President Bush and most in Congress could only dream about these days.

Among the findings:

n Santa is important to 60 percent of Catholics, 51 percent of those without a religious affiliation and 47 percent of Protestants, when households both with and without children are surveyed.

n Nearly half, 47 percent, said Santa detracts from the religious significance of Christmas; over one-third, 36 percent, said he enhances the religious nature of the holiday.

n 91 percent of whites believed in Santa as a child; 72 percent of minorities did. One quarter of those living in houses with incomes under $25,000 did not believe in Santa.

n An overwhelming majority, across nearly all backgrounds and religious beliefs, say they believe in angels — 81 percent. Belief in angels is shared by 57 percent of those who say they have no religious affiliation. Nearly all white evangelical Christians, 97 percent, share this belief.

Somehow, the tradition has survived all that challenges tradition.

Carl Anderson studied Santa beliefs as a doctoral student 20 years ago, looking at the phenomenon then and a century earlier.

So what's new, Santa?

Remarkably, he says, not much. The set of beliefs appears to have remained largely intact since the topic was studied in the late 1800s.