Upbeat poll numbers for governor -- Voters don't blame Schwarzenegger for failed bond plan

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/30/6 | Tom Chorneau

[SmithL]

Sacramento -- Most voters do not blame Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for the failure of his popular rebuilding plan to make the June ballot, according to a new poll released today.

The survey from the Public Policy Institute of California also found that a majority of voters said they would support Schwarzenegger over either of the leading Democratic challengers vying to face him in November -- state Treasurer Phil Angelides or Controller Steve Westly.

The poll results are good news for the governor, who has seen his numbers tumble over the past year largely because of the unpopular special election he called in November.

"I think it is significant," said Mark Baldassare, poll director. "His numbers have been steady during a time when Californians were disappointed over the lack of agreement on the infrastructure bond."

The governor proposed a $222 billion building plan in January to fix a long list of public projects. While the idea continues to have support of 70 percent of the electorate, Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders were unable to come to an agreement this month to place a package on the June ballot. Negotiations aimed at getting agreement in time for the fall election are continuing.

Baldassare said voters do not seem to blame Schwarzenegger for the initial failure.

"He's being viewed as someone with a lot at stake in the bond deal but one who was willing to compromise," Baldassare said. "Unlike last year when he seemed to be saying, 'My way or the highway,' this year he appears to be conciliatory. He seemed to be willing to settle, and voters understand that."

The poll found that 47 percent of likely voters said they approve of the governor's job performance -- up from 40 percent approval measured in February.

[SmithL]

This certainly is a strange State.

[Names Ash Housewares]

"This certainly is a strange State."


Dysfunctional.

Who knows what is to come. Flip a coin.

[Rokke]

No, no, no. This makes no sense and obviously can't be true. Previous polls "proved" Schwarzenegger was the lamest of lame ducks and doomed to an Alec Baldwin quality life of public irrelevancy. So this new poll can't be accurate. In less of course, all media polls are bogus and worth nothing more than generating headlines for failing mainstream media sources everywhere.

Hmmmmm. Now that actually does make sense.

[paul51]

They have probably realized he can be more successful at moving forward a democratic agenda than the democrats

[sheana]

Well I feel no responsibility for Arnold being in office. I didn't believe the lies that he was a conservative and I wasn't all starry eyed about his stardom either.
I don't care what they do in this state anymore, we are leaving. The illegals protesting just sealed the deal and sped up the timetable.

[Common Tator]

IF you read the adult population poll, then nothing has changed Arnie is in the dumpster... but If on the other hand they do a poll that counts, that is a poll of likely voters, then Arnie is doing Ok.

The actual poll numbers show nothing has changed at all in the last year except the media reports of the polling results get more accurate the closer you get to voting time. They were reporting adult poll numbers. In this poll they chose to report likely voters.

I betcha if you look at the Bush numbers for likely voters, then the same thing will be true.

Early on the media reports the numbers that make the Republicans look bad and the Democrats look good. Then as the election year progresses the reporting starts to use the numbers that will reflect the election results. Then the media tells us that the voters changed their minds.

The canvasing I have done over some 35 years shows that to not be true. Public opinion, barring some catastrophic event, changes slowly and gradually if at all. The only thing that really changes is which set of numbers the media chooses to report.

[Grebrook]

Poll numbers have gone up for Arnold? Well, how can that...

Oh, right, this: "The governor proposed a $222 billion building plan in January to fix a long list of public projects."

Maybe Bush should take the hint and write a trillion dollar check to build something, regardless of what it is, and it'll make all the Dem voters happy. Approval will hit 75% within a week. But then there's that whole thing about "not being a conservative anymore", but I don't think the GOP cares much about that anymore. Might as well have some fun with other people's money on the way down.

[Amerigomag]

Good points except for one. The connection between Schwarzenegger and Republicans.

Early on the media reports the numbers that make the Republicans look bad and the Democrats look good.

Depends on the viewer. McClatchy, the Tribune syndicate, Hurst and the CDP work hard to make the Austrian a Republican. Average Democrat voters see the Austrian as a Republicans. Average Republican voters don't.

To the average Republican, the Austrian is an undefined aberration and not a fellow Republican. He's a tain't. He tain't exactly a Republican and he tain't exactly a Democrat. This issue was brought home when Republican legislators refused to follow his lead in the bonding deals he coauthored with the Democrat leaders in the legislature.

[John Jorsett]

Maybe Bush should take the hint and write a trillion dollar check to build something, regardless of what it is

Well, he could start with a fence along our Southern border. Not that it would take a trillion. Or ever be proposed by Bush.

[NormsRevenge]

he can be more successful at moving forward a democratic agenda than the democrats

....


lol ;-}

[calcowgirl]

I wonder how they determine "likely voters." This is quite a swing:

Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way that Arnold 
Schwarzenegger is handling his job as governor of California?

               All      Likely
              Adults    Voters
              ------    ------
Approve         37%       47%
Disapprove      52%       45%
Don't know      11%        8%

Source: PPIC Poll (PDF)

[b9]

I wonder if the poll asked likely voters if they will vote for Arnold over Angelides.

[newzjunkey]

Maybe not. Arnold is by far the lesser to evils compared to what Angelides or Westly would bring to Sacramento. At least with Arnold we stand a chance of slowing down the insanity spewing from the legislature.

[newzjunkey]

His LBJ-like post-Katrina rebuild talk only made people wonder when part of "conservative" would catch up with all this "compassion."

[calcowgirl]

See the link above.

                   Likely Voters

Schwarzenegger         43%
Angelides              29%
Other/don't know       30%     

Schwarzenegger         39%
Westly                 31%
Other/don't know       30%

[b9]

Thank you.

[FairOpinion]

"In a contest with Angelides, Schwarzenegger got 41 percent of likely voters to 29 percent for the treasurer, with 30 percent undecided.

Against Westly, the governor received support from 39 percent of likely voters to 31 percent for the controller and another 30 percent undecided. "


I just hope this is accurate.

[b9]

Thank you.
These each add up to 100%.