Posted on 02/23/2005 8:45:21 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's once-stratospheric popularity dropped in recent months as Democrats and many independents soured on his job performance, according to a poll released Wednesday.
The statewide Field Poll found that a majority of Californians - 54 percent of residents and 55 percent of registered voters - still approve of how Schwarzenegger is handling the governor's post. But in September, 65 percent of registered voters said they approved. Poll Director Mark DiCamillo called the change significant. "It's not just a statistical aberration," he said.
Eighty-four percent of Republicans said the governor was doing a good job. But Schwarzenegger, a moderate Republican who has cultivated a bipartisan image in his Democrat-leaning state, dropped among Democrats from 54 percent approval to 34 percent since September.
Independents, who make up the fastest-growing part of the state's electorate, also began viewing Schwarzenegger in a less favorable light, with 48 percent saying they approve, compared with 64 percent in September.
DiCamillo said a potential problem for Schwarzenegger is a newfound pessimism among voters about the state's direction. A majority of respondents, 51 percent, now believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, compared with 38 percent in September.
And Schwarzenegger, who campaigned for governor vowing to eradicate the influence of "special interests" in Sacramento, is viewed by 38 percent of voters - and 59 percent of Democrats - as favoring special interests over the broader public interest.
But DiCamillo noted that Schwarzenegger has still been able to generate more support from the opposing party than past California governors have.
"His numbers still haven't declined to where the public is divided or cynical," DiCamillo said. "It's just that Democrats are starting to take a wary eye at this governor."
And the numbers are in line with those of other governors early in their terms. Gov. Gray Davis, whom Schwarzenegger ousted in a historic 2003 recall election, was viewed favorably by 56 percent of voters near the end of his first year. Schwarzenegger took office in November 2003.
The survey of 1,009 California adults - of whom 800 were registered voters - was conducted Feb. 8-17. Among all adults, the sampling error was 3 percentage points; among registered voters, the error was 3 1/2 points.
I believe there is some other data that isn't even mentioned in the article, like who the voters trust more , the Legislature or the GUb..
What's up with that , Beth?
And there is this,,
DiCamillo said a potential problem for Schwarzenegger is a newfound pessimism among voters about the state's direction. A majority of respondents, 51 percent, now believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, compared with 38 percent in September.
Which is indicative of how clueless most voters are about who is screwing with who here. The Legislature and Democratic party leadership are certainly doing othing to even try to make a difference for the better.
Nice try Anrold. You can always go back to you old job you know!
Table 8
Is Governor Schwarzenegger / the state legislature negotiatingin good faith to reach a compromise or characterizedmore by confrontation and posturing?
Field Poll Online #2152 2/23/05---http://field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/RLS2152.pdf
I was going to comment here but you said it all in that one general statement.
Table 7
Who is to blame for the slow pace of budget negotiations?
Statewide Democrats Republicans Others
State legislature 52% 43% 83% 52%
Governor Schwarzenegger 21 34 2 17
Both 15 17 9 18
No opinion 13 6 6 13
The California Teacher's Assoc. and some other group are running ads on at least an hourly basis, maybe half-hourly now. The current ad has a guy calling the "governor's office" and talking to a disinterested woman about the "$2 billion" the governor "borrowed" from "our students", blah, blah. It says Arnold is not "keeping his promise to our students", that he doesn't care, etc. It's a big lie but when you're suffering the ad routinely, it's not at all surprising his approval ratings have taken a hit.
What this AP article doesn't tell you is most illuminating of how the media, unions and dems are in cahoots to use propaganda and snips to make it seem like we shouldn't even try and make a effort to reform this mess.
Shades of the Recall. lol
I highly recommend folks take a look at the entirety of the Poll and judge for yoruselves as to who is the Obstructionist Party in this state.
In a few days , the Gub needs to call the Special election, run a very focussed ad campaign of his own and use the data the dems don't want to have revealed, yet again, which is that many voters know who and what stinks in StinkyMento
That needs to be reinforced with facts, not misdirects at every opportunity.
He's right. Whatever the teachers' unions have done, Arnold has created his own mess here by borrowing a ton of money while accomplishing little in the way of substantive change, much less learning how to wield a line item veto.
I'll leave it to you to figure out who's ignorant here.
Poll? We don't need no steenkin' poll to know the answer to the obstructionist question.
I think Davis was at 39% when we were told by the MSM the recall was extreme.
Never assume newz...you'll make an ass out of yourself. I was born in California and have lived my entire 43 years, aside from one year in college that is, here in California so you're not dealing with some ignoramous. Arnold has been a terrible disappointment for Republicans in California (although is speech at the convention was excellent).
Take his first budget, the one for 2004. It was $3 BILLION more than Davis' proposed budget for 2004!!! So when he runs for Governor saying that the state has a spending problem and then proceeds to spend more then the man he replaced you've got a hypocracy problem, one that many voters see right through.
Take care.
This is what millions in lying ads by the California Teacher's Association will do for you. That scraggly voiced, smoke too much CTA president witch and her lying commercials always show up anytime anyone in California proposes meaningful change to the education system. That half man, half woman hack is a vicious liar and a demagogue, claiming cuts when education budgets are rising and misrepresenting any and all education reforms. When the hell are we going to get some campaign finance laws that prohibit the use of union dues for politics without the consent of individual members?
Arnold has been a disappointment for me. You really expect budgets would go below the baseline of Davis's budget with an Democratically controlled Senate and Assembly? I think the more meaningful measure is the rate of growth budgets have been held to, and it's been minimal. I guarantee you if Davis were still governor, this year's budget would be FAR MORE than 3 billion more than his last budget. And let's not forget that Arnold has beat back every attempt to hike taxes, they would have gone up under Davis, and gotten important reforms in Workman's Comp. which probably literally saved the economy of this state. That is probably Schwarzenegger's biggest contribution as governor. So speak for yourself, he's not been a disappointment to me. He's saved our butts in many ways in this state.
Sorry, I meant Arnold HAS NOT BEEN A DISAPPOINTMENT to me. Major correction.
Californians have to take resposibility for their mess.
The only thing that is saving the state, so far as it goes, is that taxes cannot be raised without a supermajority of the legislature. And California is only a couple of RINOs away from making even that safeguard irrelevant.
As you know, I have been saying on this board for years that I believe bankruptcy is inevitable for California and the sooner it happens, the sooner California can reorganize and begin recovery. The government is fresh out of smoke and mirrors.
In the end, California voted itself into this mess.
Regards,
LH
"Sorry, I meant Arnold HAS NOT BEEN A DISAPPOINTMENT to me." Major correction.
awwwww come on Mike!
you made a Freudian slip! LOL
Ronald Reagan managed to overcome a 'Rat Congress with a line item veto pen...so can Ahnold...unfortunately he's got Mr. Incompetent himself, Petee Wilson and Dickie Riordan "advising" him...and you know where they are today...the "political junkyard!"
If Ahnold had taken McClintock's "13 Percent Solution" to the people we would have a balanced budget next year!
So much for Ahnold's "looking under the hood"...he's shown he's not much of a "mechanic!"
Semper Fi,
Kelly
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