Ohio (OH) Poll * February 26, 2008 * Ohio Governor's Approval Slips - Quinnipiac University

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February 26, 2008 - Ohio Governor's Approval Slips Slightly, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Balk At Strickland Proposals

Word format Ohio voters approve 56 - 19 percent of the job Gov. Ted Strickland is doing, but they are luke- warm to negative when it comes to his major legislative proposals, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This is down from his all-time high 61 - 15 percent approval rating November 13, 2007.
Republican voters approve 45 - 26 percent of the Democratic Governor, while Democrats approve 63 - 14 percent and independent voters approve 56 - 17 percent.
Gov. Strickland's proposal to borrow $1.7 billion to create jobs in Ohio is a "bad idea," voters say 44 - 40 percent in the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll. A total of 50 percent of voters say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" the Governor's stimulus package will create 80,000 new jobs in Ohio, while 44 percent say it is "not too likely" or "not likely at all" to succeed.
By a narrow 49 - 44 percent margin, voters also oppose expanding legalized gambling in Ohio by allowing electronic Keno machines in bars.
By an even larger 70 - 17 percent margin, voters prefer the existing system where a 19- member state board of education makes school decisions, rather than Strickland's plan to have a single person, appointed by the Governor, controlling public education. Even Democrats prefer the current system 67 - 19 percent.
"Gov. Strickland remains highly thought of by most Ohio voters, but his numbers are ticking down slightly," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Although he remains personally popular, that good will Ohioans feel toward him is not matched by their views of his proposals on the economy, gambling and education."
"Voters are skeptical he can do what he proposes when it comes to job creation and are uncomfortable with that much borrowing at a time when the state already has financial problems," Brown added.
The most opposition is to Strickland's plan to revamp the governing structure for K-12 public education. The governor wants to take the power that now resides in a 19-member board, eight members of which he appoints with the 11 others elected. Strickland wants to give control to a state education director that the Governor would appoint.
"The question is how much of his political capital is he willing to expend on some or all of these ideas."
Ohio voters approve 46 - 27 percent of the job U.S. Sen. George Voinovich is doing and approve 44 - 15 percent of the job Sen. Sherrod Brown is doing.
From February 18 - 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,853 Ohio voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Strickland is handling his job as Governor?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 56% 45% 63% 56% 59% 53% 50% Disapprove 19 26 14 17 19 19 21 DK/NA 25 29 22 27 22 28 29 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Approve 66% 52% 54% 70% 50% 52% Disapprove 13 20 19 11 18 28 DK/NA 21 27 27 20 32 20
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Strickland is handling his job as Governor? * also 61% on 7/11/07
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 25 Nov 13 Sep 5 Jul 11 May 15 Nov 13 Feb 1 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007* 2007 Approve 56 61 58 61 54 61 45 Disapprove 19 15 18 15 16 15 12 DK/NA 25 24 24 25 30 24 43
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sherrod Brown is handling his job as United States Senator?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 44% 33% 52% 43% 47% 41% 35% Disapprove 15 22 10 16 16 15 19 DK/NA 41 45 37 40 36 45 46 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Approve 44% 48% 37% 42% 38% 38% Disapprove 15 16 18 9 15 17 DK/NA 41 36 45 49 47 45
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sherrod Brown is handling his job as United States Senator? * also 47% on 3/21/07 ** also 42% on 2/1/07
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 25 Nov 14 Sep 5 Jul 11 May 15 Nov 14 May 15 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007* 2007** Approve 44 47 46 44 42 47 42 Disapprove 15 21 21 19 21 21 21 DK/NA 41 33 33 36 36 33 36
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Voinovich is handling his job as United States Senator?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 46% 55% 40% 47% 48% 45% 47% Disapprove 27 22 32 27 31 24 24 DK/NA 27 23 28 26 22 31 29 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Approve 51% 47% 41% 44% 44% 44% Disapprove 23 31 23 32 22 28 DK/NA 26 23 36 24 33 28
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Voinovich is handling his job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Feb 25 Nov 14 Sep 5 Jul 11 May 15 Mar 21 Dec 13 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 Approve 46 50 47 45 47 51 41 Disapprove 27 29 33 34 34 28 33 DK/NA 27 21 21 22 19 21 26
(INTRO TO Q8&9) Governor Strickland has proposed borrowing 1.7 billion dollars to fund an economic stimulus package that he says will create 80,000 jobs in Ohio. 8. How likely do you think it is that Strickland's job stimulus package will create 80,000 jobs in Ohio? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely or not likely at all?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Very likely 7% 4% 10% 6% 9% 5% 6% Smwht likely 43 33 49 44 40 45 36 Not too likely 29 34 24 29 26 31 32 Not likely at all 15 22 10 15 18 12 17 DK/NA 7 7 7 6 7 7 9 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Very likely 7% 7% 4% 17% 4% 5% Smwht likely 47 41 43 41 41 42 Not too likely 25 31 25 25 30 30 Not likely at all 14 14 20 9 17 15 DK/NA 7 7 8 8 7 8
9. Do you think that borrowing 1.7 billion dollars to create jobs in Ohio is a good idea or a bad idea?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Good idea 40% 26% 51% 39% 43% 37% 32% Bad idea 44 60 32 45 47 41 50 DK/NA 16 14 17 17 11 21 18 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Good idea 40% 41% 35% 59% 35% 36% Bad idea 41 42 47 31 54 49 DK/NA 19 17 18 10 11 15
10. In Ohio the state board of education is made up of 19 members. Governor Strickland wants to appoint a director of education who will make decisions with advice from the board. Who do you think should have control over Ohio's public schools, the 19 member board or a director appointed by the governor?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl 19 member board 70% 78% 67% 69% 68% 72% 77% Gov.appoint'd dir. 17 12 19 20 21 14 12 DK/NA 12 10 14 11 11 13 10 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt 19 member board 70% 70% 68% 68% 70% 75% Gov.appoint'd dir. 20 17 19 21 15 13 DK/NA 11 12 13 11 15 12
11. In order to help reduce the state budget deficit do you support or oppose expanding Ohio's state lottery to include electronic Keno machines in bars?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 44% 37% 47% 47% 51% 39% 32% Oppose 49 57 45 47 44 53 63 DK/NA 7 5 8 6 5 8 5 Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Support 43% 42% 44% 46% 56% 43% Oppose 48 50 51 48 40 53 DK/NA 8 8 6 6 4 4