May 15, 2013 - Virginia Gov's Job Approval Hits New Low, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Questions Of Impropriety Are 'just Politics,' Voters Say PDF format Watch Video: Assistant Director Tim Malloy discusses poll results FLV File - For Website Original .MP4 File - For Broadcast Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has a 49 - 28 percent job approval rating, down slightly from his 53 - 26 percent score March 27 and his lowest score in two years, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters say 44 - 12 percent, however, that questions about Gov. McDonnell's ties to a campaign donor are "just politics" rather than a "major issue." McDonnell's job approval is the lowest since the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe- ack) University began polling Virginia voters on state matters two years ago, and it is the first time he has been below 50 percent in his job approval. The governor, however, still has positive job approval and favorability ratings. "The relationship between Gov. Bob McDonnell and businessman Jonnie Williams Sr. has been a major story in the news media, but seems so far to have little impact on voters' views of the governor, which remain relatively positive," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "That could change depending on developments, but at this point many more voters see the matter as 'just politics' than as a major issue. The governor retains a favorable view in the eyes of Virginia voters." McDonnell's job approval is 67 - 14 percent among Republicans and 54 - 27 percent among independent voters, while Democrats disapprove 41 - 31 percent. That reflects small movement downward among his fellow Republicans and among independent voters. On March 27 his approval rating was 73 - 14 among Republicans and 56 - 22 percent among independents, with Democratic disapproval at 42 - 33 percent. Among Republicans, 46 percent see the focus on the McDonnell-Williams relationship as just politics, while 7 percent see it as a major issue. Independent voters agree 51 - 12 percent, as do Democrats 35 - 16 percent. While 57 percent of Virginia voters have read or heard about the McDonnell-Williams relationship, most still don't know much about it. Among all Virginia voters, 12 percent think McDonnell engaged in serious wrongdoing while 6 percent said it was not serious and 16 percent say he has not engaged in wrongdoing at all. The remaining 63 percent do not know enough about the issue to make a judgment. Voters' overall opinion of McDonnell is little changed. Currently it is 40 - 23 percent favorable, compared to 42 - 22 percent in March. President Barack Obama's job approval rating has inched up a bit in the Old Dominion to a split 49 - 47 percent, compared to a negative 45 - 49 percent in March. The most popular politician in Virginia remains U.S. Sen. Mark Warner who has a 59 - 22 percent approval rating, while U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, has a 46 - 33 percent score. The State Legislature has a slightly negative 38 - 42 percent approval rating and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling has a 37 - 17 percent positive rating. From May 8 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,286 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 4. Is your opinion of Bob McDonnell favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 40% 63% 21% 44% 48% 34% 44% 25% Unfavorable 23 8 35 25 21 24 25 19 Hvn't hrd enough 35 28 42 30 29 40 30 54 REFUSED 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 TREND: Is your opinion of Bob McDonnell favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? May 15 Mar 27 Feb 20 Jan 09 Nov 15 Jun 07 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012 Favorable 40 42 41 45 42 39 Unfavorable 23 22 24 23 22 25 Hvn't hrd enough 35 33 33 30 34 35 REFUSED 2 4 3 2 2 2 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 49% 67% 31% 54% 53% 45% 50% 38% Disapprove 28 14 41 27 26 30 29 28 DK/NA 23 18 28 19 21 24 21 34 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 55% 45% 46% 50% 57% 40% 48% 47% 59% Disapprove 30 27 26 31 29 25 27 35 21 DK/NA 15 28 28 20 14 34 25 18 20 East/ West/ North SthEst Rchmnd Shndh Approve 49% 48% 51% 44% Disapprove 30 31 26 29 DK/NA 21 21 23 28 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling his job as Governor? APPROVE....... High Low May 15 Mar 27 Feb 20 Jan 09 Nov 15 Oct 12 May 15 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2011 2013 Approve 49 53 53 54 53 62 49 Disapprove 28 26 28 27 26 22 28 DK/NA 23 21 19 19 20 16 23 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 38% 55% 22% 41% 42% 34% 40% 23% Disapprove 42 24 56 43 41 44 40 50 DK/NA 20 21 22 15 17 23 20 26 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 42% 35% 31% 40% 48% 44% 34% 35% 41% Disapprove 43 42 46 43 39 33 44 51 33 DK/NA 15 23 23 17 13 24 22 14 26 East/ West/ North SthEst Rchmnd Shndh Approve 41% 37% 40% 30% Disapprove 40 45 39 49 DK/NA 19 19 20 21 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? (*High also 48% Jun 2011, **Low also 38% Mar 2012, Feb 2013) APPROVE....... High Low May 15 Mar 27 Feb 20 Jan 09 Nov 15 Sep 14 May 15 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2011* 2013** Approve 38 40 38 43 44 48 38 Disapprove 42 40 46 39 35 34 42 DK/NA 20 20 16 19 21 18 20 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mark Warner is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 59% 42% 78% 56% 57% 61% 54% 73% Disapprove 22 38 10 22 24 20 25 12 DK/NA 18 20 13 22 18 19 21 15 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 65% 56% 60% 58% 67% 62% 55% 61% 59% Disapprove 21 23 22 23 20 15 23 24 26 DK/NA 14 21 18 19 14 23 23 15 15 East/ West/ North SthEst Rchmnd Shndh Approve 66% 54% 60% 53% Disapprove 16 25 23 26 DK/NA 18 21 17 20 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mark Warner is handling his job as United States Senator? (*High also 64% Sep 2011) APPROVE....... High Low May 15 Mar 27 Feb 21 Jan 09 Nov 14 Feb 09 Mar 27 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012* 2013 Approve 59 56 58 59 60 64 56 Disapprove 22 26 28 27 25 22 26 DK/NA 18 18 14 13 16 14 18 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tim Kaine is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 46% 23% 67% 45% 43% 48% 41% 62% Disapprove 33 55 12 34 38 29 38 17 DK/NA 21 22 20 21 20 23 21 22 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 56% 40% 43% 47% 56% 45% 49% 45% 43% Disapprove 25 37 35 34 26 25 28 38 36 DK/NA 18 23 22 19 18 29 23 16 21 East/ West/ North SthEst Rchmnd Shndh Approve 58% 47% 41% 37% Disapprove 21 32 37 43 DK/NA 21 21 22 21 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tim Kaine is handling his job as United States Senator? May 15 Mar 27 Feb 21 Jan 09 2013 2013 2013 2013 Approve 46 47 50 48 Disapprove 33 33 33 30 DK/NA 21 20 17 22 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 49% 10% 87% 43% 43% 53% 38% 85% Disapprove 47 87 10 52 52 42 58 11 DK/NA 4 3 4 5 4 5 4 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 52% 47% 52% 48% 49% 57% 50% 49% 38% Disapprove 44 48 44 47 48 37 44 49 56 DK/NA 4 5 5 5 3 7 6 2 6 East/ West/ North SthEst Rchmnd Shndh Approve 58% 51% 47% 37% Disapprove 39 45 49 56 DK/NA 4 4 4 7 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? (*High also 52% Nov 2012) APPROVE....... High Low May 15 Mar 28 Feb 21 Jan 10 Nov 14 Jan 10 Sep 15 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2013* 2011 Approve 49 45 51 52 52 52 40 Disapprove 47 49 46 44 44 44 54 DK/NA 4 6 4 3 4 3 6 14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Bolling is handling his job as Lieutenant Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 37% 47% 31% 39% 42% 34% 37% 40% Disapprove 17 15 21 13 17 17 15 19 DK/NA 46 38 48 48 41 50 48 41 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Approve 39% 36% 41% 35% 41% 36% 36% 38% 41% Disapprove 17 17 17 18 17 17 16 20 12 DK/NA 44 47 42 47 42 47 49 42 47 East/ West/ North SthEst Rchmnd Shndh Approve 33% 33% 44% 33% Disapprove 17 19 15 19 DK/NA 50 47 41 47 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Bolling is handling his job as Lieutenant Governor? (*Low also 35% Oct 2011) APPROVE....... High Low May 15 Mar 27 Feb 20 Jan 09 Nov 14 Jan 09 Dec 22 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2013 2011* Approve 37 37 36 40 38 40 35 Disapprove 17 15 18 16 15 16 18 DK/NA 46 48 45 44 47 44 46 16. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Virginia today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very satisfied 8% 15% 4% 7% 10% 7% 9% 5% Smwht satisfied 54 59 52 53 55 53 53 54 Smwht dissatisfied 26 16 29 31 24 27 27 22 Very dissatisfied 11 9 15 9 11 12 10 18 DK/NA 1 1 - - 1 1 1 1 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Very satisfied 10% 8% 7% 8% 11% 5% 8% 8% 14% Smwht satisfied 58 52 51 56 59 61 50 52 55 Smwht dissatisfied 24 27 28 26 24 24 27 29 22 Very dissatisfied 8 13 13 11 7 10 16 11 7 DK/NA - 1 1 - - - - - 2 East/ West/ North SthEst Rchmnd Shndh Very satisfied 10% 5% 10% 5% Smwht satisfied 60 54 52 49 Smwht dissatisfied 23 28 24 32 Very dissatisfied 6 13 12 13 DK/NA - - 1 1 TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Virginia today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? (*High also 68% Jun 2011) VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low May 15 Mar 27 Feb 20 Jan 10 Nov 15 Sep 14 Feb 20 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2011* 2013 Very satisfied 8 7 8 8 10 13 8 Smwht satisfied 54 57 50 57 57 55 50 Smwht dissatisfied 26 25 29 24 22 24 29 Very dissatisfied 11 10 12 10 11 7 12 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 23. How much have you heard or read about the relationship between Governor McDonnell and a campaign donor who paid for the food at a wedding for the governor's daughter; a lot, a little, or nothing at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk A lot 24% 23% 25% 26% 26% 22% 27% 19% A little 33 36 29 35 35 31 34 28 Nothing at all 42 40 45 39 38 45 39 53 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 1 1 1 24. Do you think Governor McDonnell was involved in any wrong-doing or not, or haven't you heard enough about this? IF YES: Do you think this is serious or not serious? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes/Serious 12% 4% 18% 14% 10% 14% 12% 15% Yes/Not serious 6 5 5 9 6 6 7 2 No, not involved 16 27 7 16 22 12 20 6 Hvn't hrd enough 63 63 68 59 60 66 58 75 REFUSED 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 25. Which of these comes closest to your own view: this is a major issue or this is just politics, or haven't you heard enough about this? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Major issue 12% 7% 16% 12% 9% 15% 12% 15% Just politics 44 46 35 51 47 41 47 30 Hvn't hrd enough 42 43 48 35 41 43 39 53 DK/NA 2 3 1 2 3 1 3 1 Demographic Summary
