If job stress is as hard on Americans as we've all been told, then it stands to reason that the most stressful job of all - president of the United States - would also take the highest toll on those who hold it.

Thus, running for president could be so stressful it could shorten a candidate's lifespan, winning could make things worse, and being re-elected could be the last straw.It may sound logical, says a New York ad firm, but new findings indicate the contrary.

Cadwell Davis Partners, a firm specializing in advertising to the "mature market," said its ongoing study, "Occupational Lifespans: Who Lives Longest?" shows that being president tends to lengthen, not shorten, life. Of the 22 candidates in the past 15 presidential elections, 16 have outlived actuarial life expectancies.

"It takes a unique type of person to even seek the job," said Frankie Cadwell, president of Cadwll Davis Partners.

"Our conclusion is that political candidates who put themselves in this role thrive on the pressure and challenge presented to them. But win or lose, they live longer."

How long will President-elect George Bush live? According to "Vital Statistics of the United States," based on life expectancies for men and their ages, Bush is expected to live to age 79.

However, past presidents have outlived their projected life expectancies by an average of 6.6 years.

Therefore, Bush would be expected to live to 85.6 years.