Thursday, April 14, 2011

Corbett numbers down in the dumps

To the list of states already regretting their new Republican Governor you can add Pennsylvania: Tom Corbett has only a 34% approval rating to 44% of voters disapproving of him and voters say that if they could do it all over again now they'd vote for Democrat Dan Onorato instead, by a 49-44 margin over Corbett.

Pennsylvania joins Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and Georgia as states where PPP has recently found that if voters had a second chance they would now vote against their new GOP chief executive. Part of that is a reminder of just how much of the Republican gains last year were driven by low Democratic turnout- the party's voters were fat and happy after big wins in 2006 and 2008 and just didn't have the sense of urgency they would have needed to keep that momentum going last year. But the other thing it's reflective of is that there has been somewhat of a shift in the political landscape over the last five months, particularly with independent voters.

Exit polls last year showed Corbett defeating Onorato by 18 points with independent voters. Now Corbett has only a 31% approval rating with them to 38% who disapprove and those folks say they'd vote for Onorato by a 45-41 margin in a redo. In addition to independents turning against all of these newly elected Republican Governors, we also found in polling earlier this week that they've turned against the new Republican Congress.

Independents are unhappy, impatient, and expecting immediate results from the folks they voted into office in November and because they don't feel like they're getting that they're quickly getting negative toward the new GOP officials. It seems safe to say that if last year had been a Democratic year they'd probably already be turning against the Democrats too but for Republicans this is proving to be part of the price of success.

In addition to the upside down numbers for Corbett with independents he's suffering because only 60% of Republicans approve of the job he's doing. There are actually more GOP voters- 22%- who disapprove of his work so far than there are Democrats- 16%- who think he's doing a good job.

Voters in the state are pretty ambivalent toward Pat Toomey, which given Corbett and Barack Obama's unpopularity isn't necessarily a bad place to be. Toomey has a 32% approval rating with 31% of voters disapproving and 37% expressing no opinion. He's on narrowly positive ground with independents at 29/25, and benefits because Republicans (51%) are stronger in their approval of him than Democrats (44%) are in their disapproval.

Full results here

11 comments:

barkway said...

If ONLY the dumbasses would think BEFORE they voted....

Ghostly Wisconsin said...

"...Republican gains last year were driven by low Democratic turnout- the party's voters were fat and happy after big wins in 2006 and 2008..." This absolutely does NOT reflect what I've seen here (working class Wisconsin), where ordinary people are anything but "fat and happy." Withholding their votes was the only way they had of showing those Dem legislators, who failed to listen for so long, that we can't support a Dem Party that continues to legislate against the poor and middle classes, in favor of the rich. We don't want a Dem Party that is simply Republican-lite. After over 30 years of government of, for and by the wealthy elite, we are fighting for a government that represents us, ordinary people.

John said...

@GW - I think he probably meant "fat and happy" figuratively. Not literally "fat and happy" financially, but "fat and happy" electorally! Perhaps not as good a choice of words?

Anonymous said...

Your report is really an editorial disguised as a survey.

Anonymous said...

PPP,

There is no such thing as "do-overs" in Governors elections.

A-holes

Dustin Ingalls said...

"There is no such thing as "do-overs" in Governors elections."

Really, Sherlock? Notice the question says "IF" you could do it over....

Unknown said...

Who cares? And if elections were held today obama would lose, too. Who was polled for this - I bet more democrats than anyone else.

Anonymous said...

Enough of them DID think, Barkway. That's why Onorato got whipped. Dan's yet another leftist nut, like the Punk Obama. Bob

Anonymous said...

As of now Americans in the whole Country were fooled once again by Republicans of the GOP Party. It's time to take back America and vote for the Truth. Obama is surely gonna win the next term for sure because everything those lying Repugs said are all lies and they just continue to bury their heads. Obama all the way! Democrats are looking very hot right now! Go Obama and his Party!

Anonymous said...

If the Dems had won the Governship last year, the present poll would reflect the Reps would now win! I think the whole idea/concept is beyond stupid.

Anonymous said...

Corbett is an unintelligent and mean spirited person who won on a platform of disdain for government. Since January, he has packed his administration with political hacks and yes-men. Corbett has failed to show any leadership on reining in legislature with their excessive pay and perks, while cutting education to the bare bones. This has caused massive teacher layoffs and local tax increases. At the same time, he has cut all oversight of the gas drillers, given them a free tax ride and virtually free access to all Pennsylvania's state parks. Our children have been sacrificed to support the enormous campaign contributions he accepted from big oil. Is any wonder he is hated???

 
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