Florida (FL) Poll * November 23, 2005 * Little Change In Florida On Go - Quinnipiac University

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November 23, 2005 - Little Change In Florida On Gov. Bush's Watch, Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; President Bush Was Little Or No Help To The State

Florida voters give Gov. Jeb Bush a 53 - 37 percent approval rating, but few voters think education, the economy or the tax situation in the state improved during Bush's two terms as Governor, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Bush has been a "great" Governor, 14 percent of voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll, while 40 percent say "good;" 31 percent say "so so" and 15 percent say "bad."
Things in Florida got better since Bush became Governor, 31 percent of voters say, while 22 percent say they got worse and 39 percent say they stayed the same.
Since Bush became Governor:
Education got better, 29 percent of Florida voters say, while 27 percent say it got worse and 34 percent say it stayed the same; The economy got better, 30 percent of voters say, while 28 percent say it got worse and 36 percent say it stayed the same; The tax situation got better, 9 percent of voters say, as 33 percent say it got worse and 52 percent say it stayed the same.
"Gov. Bush gets higher marks than his brother among Florida voters, but overall he is seen as a good but not great governor who for the most part has not made things better in the state since he became governor," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"When it comes to things like quality of life, the economy and education, only 31 percent say things have gotten better since Jeb Bush became Governor. The largest number of voters say things have stayed the same. He gets his lowest mark on taxes - only 9 percent say the tax picture has gotten better, a third say it's gotten worse and a majority says it has stayed the same."
Florida has benefited "a lot" because President George W. Bush is Gov. Bush's brother, 21 percent of voters say, as 44 percent say "a little" and 33 percent say "not at all."
Gov Bush's performance has been helped by the fact that his brother is the President, 43 percent say, while 28 percent say it has been hurt and 24 percent say there is no difference.
Florida voters disapprove 61 - 37 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing.
In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, 16 percent of Florida voters list education as the most important problem facing the state today, followed by 9 percent who list the economy, 6 percent who list immigration and 5 percent each for energy or energy costs, hurricanes, healthcare and open space/urban sprawl.
From November 8 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 855 Florida registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the nation as a public service and for research.
For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jeb Bush is handling his job as Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 53% 80% 30% 52% 59% 49% Disapprove 37 13 59 37 33 41 DK/NA 9 7 11 10 9 10 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 60% 58% 57% 59% 40% Disapprove 34 32 37 29 47 DK/NA 6 11 5 12 13
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jeb Bush is handling his job as Governor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Nov 23 Aug 31 Jun 30 Apr 13 Feb 24 Sep 23 Aug 12 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2004 2004 Approve 53 53 49 51 52 62 45 Disapprove 37 39 40 39 39 30 44 DK/NA 9 8 10 9 9 8 11
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 37% 71% 10% 30% 41% 33% Disapprove 61 26 90 66 57 64 DK/NA 2 3 1 4 3 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 46% 41% 43% 36% 23% Disapprove 51 57 55 60 75 DK/NA 3 2 2 4 2
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Nov 16 Aug 31 Jun 30 Apr 13 Feb 24 Sep 23 Nov 16 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2004 2005 Approve 37 42 45 46 44 50 37 Disapprove 61 54 51 51 52 47 61 DK/NA 2 4 4 3 4 3 2
6. If Governor Jeb Bush were to run for President in 2008, how likely is it that you would vote for him? Do you think you would definitely vote for him, probably vote for him, probably not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Definitely 12% 26% 4% 8% 11% 13% Probably 21 36 8 17 24 17 Probably not 16 11 16 21 18 15 Definitely not 42 15 66 43 36 47 DK/NA 9 11 6 11 11 8 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Definitely 14% 14% 13% 20% 6% Probably 24 27 19 20 15 Probably not 18 12 19 13 16 Definitely not 34 36 41 39 54 DK/NA 9 10 9 7 9
TREND: If Governor Jeb Bush were to run for President in 2008, how likely is it that you would vote for him? Do you think you would definitely vote for him, probably vote for him, probably not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?
Nov 16 Aug 31 2005 2005 Definitely 12 13 Probably 21 23 Probably not 16 15 Definitely not 42 43 DK/NA 9 6
23. How would you rate Jeb Bush as governor of Florida -- Has he been a great governor, a good governor, a so so governor or a bad governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Great 14% 29% 6% 8% 15% 13% Good 40 52 24 47 44 36 So so 31 13 46 30 26 36 Bad 15 4 23 15 14 15 DK/NA 1 1 - - 2 - North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Great 20% 16% 13% 22% 7% Good 42 44 44 37 33 So so 28 28 28 29 38 Bad 9 13 13 12 21 DK/NA 1 - 3 - -
24. What do you think is the most important problem facing Florida today?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Education Total 16% 16% 14% 17% 14% 17% Education general 12 13 11 12 9 14 Teachers 1 2 1 1 2 1 Funding education 3 1 2 4 3 2 Economy Total 9% 8% 11% 9% 11% 8% Economy general 2 3 3 2 3 2 Unemployment/jobs 3 1 4 4 5 2 Minimum wage too low 2 3 3 - 1 3 Cost of living 2 1 1 3 2 1 Energy Total 5% 8% 2% 4% 8% 3% Energy costs general 1 1 1 1 2 1 Gas prices 3 7 1 1 5 1 Oil prices 1 - - 2 1 1 Immigration 6% 10% 4% 6% 7% 5% Hurricanes 5% 4% 4% 5% 4% 5% Crime Total 3% 1% 3% 4% 3% 3% Crime/Violence general 1 1 1 2 1 2 Drugs 1 - 1 2 1 1 Crime other 1 - 1 - 1 - Taxes Total 2% 3% 1% 2% 2% 2% Taxes general 1 2 - 1 2 1 Property tax 1 1 1 1 - 1 Healthcare Total 5% 3% 6% 6% 4% 6% Healthcare/Costs Insurance/HMO's 4 2 4 5 3 4 Medicare 1 1 2 1 1 2 Open space/Urban sprawl/Overdevelopment 5% 4% 3% 7% 6% 3% Overcrowding/Over pop 4% 4% 4% 3% 3% 5% Environment/Pollution 4% 4% 4% 4% 3% 5% Politicians Total 3% - 4% 3% 3% 2% Politicians/ Campaigns general 1 - 2 - 1 1 Political corruption 1 - - 2 1 - Governor/State leadership 1 - 2 1 1 1 Children's issues 2 3 - 2 2 1 Senior issues 2 2 1 1 1 2 Poverty/Homeless 1 - 3 - - 2 Housing Costs/ Availability 1 3 - 2 1 2 Social security 1 - 1 1 - 1 Lack of ethics/Morality 1 1 - - 1 - Poor condition of roads/highways 1 - 1 1 1 - War (Iraq) 1 - 2 1 1 1 Other 12 12 13 9 14 10 DK/NA 9 6 13 7 8 9
25. Do you think Governor Bush's performance has been helped or hurt by the fact that his brother is president of the United States?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Helped 43% 48% 39% 42% 44% 42% Hurt 28 16 39 29 27 29 NO DIFFERENCE(VOL) 24 32 17 22 26 22 DK/NA 5 4 5 7 3 7
26. How much do you think Florida has benefited because the governor's brother is president -- a lot, a little, not at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A lot 21% 18% 22% 22% 18% 23% A little 44 45 43 45 45 43 Not at all 33 35 33 30 36 31 DK/NA 3 3 2 3 2 3
27. Since Jeb Bush became Governor, do you think things in Florida have gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 31% 52% 12% 30% 38% 25% Worse 22 6 40 16 19 25 The same 39 32 42 42 38 39 DK/NA 8 9 5 11 6 11 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Better 34% 36% 32% 41% 20% Worse 16 21 20 19 29 The same 43 34 38 28 43 DK/NA 6 9 10 12 7
TREND: Since Jeb Bush became Governor, do you think things in Florida have gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same?
Nov 23 Feb 24 2005 2005 Gotten Better 31 31 Gotten Worse 22 26 Stayed the same 39 37 DK/NA 8 6
28. Since Jeb Bush became Governor do you think the quality of education in Florida has gotten better, worse, or stayed about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 29% 38% 21% 28% 31% 26% Worse 27 12 44 23 24 30 The same 34 36 30 37 35 33 DK/NA 10 14 5 12 10 10
29. Since Jeb Bush became Governor do you think the economy in Florida has gotten better, worse, or stayed about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 30% 50% 15% 27% 36% 24% Worse 28 10 43 31 19 35 The same 36 33 37 34 43 30 DK/NA 6 7 5 8 2 10
30. Since Jeb Bush became Governor do you think the tax situation in Florida has gotten better, worse, or stayed about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better 9% 16% 2% 11% 10% 7% Worse 33 16 50 28 27 37 The same 52 60 43 53 59 46 DK/NA 7 8 5 8 5 9