Ohio Gov. Bob Taft's Approval Rating Up Slightly, But Still Dismal

Zogby International ^ | February 7, 2006

[Clintonfatigued]

Just 16% said the Cincinnati Republican is doing a good job as Ohio’s chief executive, while 83% said he is doing a poor job leading one of the most important political states in the nation. The poor approval ratings span the political spectrum - 93% of Democrats, 86% of independents, and 82% of Republicans give him poor marks for his work.

A Zogby Interactive survey in mid-November put his job approval rating at just 6%.

He has virtually no significant base of support anywhere in the state, the poll shows.

[Dog Gone]

He ain't running for re-election is he?

[right right]

zogby's approval is about the same poor level

[ken5050]

Dead cat bounce.....

[Clintonfatigued]

This poll is not up to the minute, but it's recent enough. Bob Taft could do for Ohio Republicans in 2006 what Bill Clinton did for Congressional Democrats in 1994.

Want a solution? It's in my tagline.

[Clintonfatigued]

No, but he's an anchor around the necks of Ohio Republicans who are.

[LdSentinal]

He should do what John Rowland did: resign.

[ken5050]

FYI..RollCall reported today that Blackwell is running ads against his GOP primary opponent..accusing him of being "worse than Taft"....Very smart strategy, becomes it insulates Blackwell from the stench of the Taft administration during the general election..

[fieldmarshaldj]

What I'm worried about is polling data showing Blackwell sliding backwards against Strickland. Rasmussen has Strickland leading Blackwell by 12%, 47%-35%.

[Clintonfatigued]

Bob Taft is a major cause of this. If Taft were to resign or be impeached, Blackwell would instantly climb in the polls.

[conservative_2001]

There's no point bitching about Bob Taft if we're not also going to oppose the legislators who implemented his failed agenda and facilitated his pay-to-play corruption. Bob Tax didn't ruin this state by himself.

[D_Hawk]

Blackwell is not tainted as Pietro, but he has no chance against Ted Strickland. We are in for a big A** Whipping in Ohio due in large part to Taft! I believe that the GOP will hold on to Dewine's seat barely and should maintain majorities in the state senate and house. However the House of Reps is up for grab! I meet Taft he is a nice guy, but totally out of his league! Its unfortunate because his ancestors were great men!

[D_Hawk]

Blackwell is not tainted as Petro, but he has no chance against Ted Strickland. We are in for a big A** Whipping in Ohio due in large part to Taft! I believe that the GOP will hold on to Dewine's seat barely and should maintain majorities in the state senate and house. However the House of Reps is up for grab! I meet Taft he is a nice guy, but totally out of his league! Its unfortunate because his ancestors were great men!

[Kuksool]

I never thought any other Governor could be as unpopular as my ex-governor, George Ryan.

[NeoCaveman]

I still don't appove of Bob Taft & Spend.

Haven't since around 1999 or so.

[NeoCaveman]

Northeast Ohio Pings.

[Pontiac]

We are in for a big A** Whipping in Ohio due in large part to Taft!

I don’t think this is necessarily true.

It depends on how much the voting public has been paying attention.

I think if the voters have paid attention they will vote for Blackwell. Blackwell has been a bur under Taft’s saddle from the start. He was against the sales tax and was for cutting spending when Taft was fighting for every dime.

If we can remind the voters of these facts we can pull in a few of those undecided voters and the 20% of the black vote that Blackwell has been carrying we can keep the Governors house.

[D_Hawk]

Dude get off the pot! Your High, it is not going to happen trust me, it doesn't matter who the GOP puts up! I think Blackwell is a great guy, but he is in the wrong time at the wrong place. It won't be a total loss, he will get name recognition to run the next time.

[Commander8]

Proof that conservatives are made, not born.

I think I hear his namesake Senator Robert Taft, turning in his grave right now.