The St. Norbert College Survey Center Poll sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio released Friday shows that only 45 percent of respondents are very or somewhat satisfied with Doyle. That is the lowest numbers for the Democratic governor since 54 percent said they were satisfied in fall 2007. A year ago, 59 percent said they were satisfied with Doyle. The drop in Doyle's numbers represent a natural decline that is common among presidents and governors, said Wendy Scattergood, St. Norbert political science professor and analyst for the survey center. Approval ratings for leaders tend to reflect how people generally feel about the economy, she said. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and his wife served as Peace Corps Volunteers in Tunisia in the 1960's.
Doyle approval rating at all-time low in survey
Doyle approval rating at all-time low in survey
By SCOTT BAUER | Associated Press Writer
4:27 PM CDT, April 17, 2009
MADISON, Wis. - Gov. Jim Doyle's approval rating hit an all-time low in a survey that has tracked it since he took office in 2003.
The St. Norbert College Survey Center Poll sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio released Friday shows that only 45 percent of respondents are very or somewhat satisfied with Doyle.
That is the lowest numbers for the Democratic governor since 54 percent said they were satisfied in fall 2007.
A year ago, 59 percent said they were satisfied with Doyle.
The drop in Doyle's numbers represent a natural decline that is common among presidents and governors, said Wendy Scattergood, St. Norbert political science professor and analyst for the survey center.
Approval ratings for leaders tend to reflect how people generally feel about the economy, she said.
Doyle said he understood the mood of people and wasn't bothered by his drop in popularity.
"Polls go up and down so I am not going to analyze it too much," he said during a stop in Wausau to announce some education spending. "I understand that this is a very tough time. You just look at sort of generally whether people in this country are happy right now or not happy. And of course they are not very happy."
Doyle toured four northern cities Friday with U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, a Democrat from Wausau first elected to Congress in 1969, to announce new government projects. Obey declined comment about Doyle's latest approval rating. "I am not hear to talk about polls," Obey said. "I am hear to talk about results."
Doyle worked closely with Obey and other Democratic governors and members of Congress on the economic stimulus plan that included billions of dollars to help Wisconsin deal with a record-high budget shortfall.
Even though Doyle's been talking about steps he's taken to help the economy, the message isn't getting through, Scattergood said.
"Yeah, he's been talking about it," she said. "Either they're not buying it or they're not hearing it."
Doyle's own budget plan, which relies on $1.7 billion in tax and fee increases over the next two years, didn't fare well in the survey.
Only 28 percent said they approved of it while 52 percent said they disapproved. However, hot-button individual pieces of Doyle's plan did have support:
-- 67 percent supported Doyle's proposal to raise income taxes on families earning more than $300,000.
-- 60 percent supported extending legal protections to same-sex couples.
-- 66 percent supported a statewide smoking ban.
-- 53 percent backed an early release program for nonviolent prison inmates.
Doyle said the survey showed he was advocating "exactly what people want."
"I learned a long time ago that when the good ones (polls) come out, you better not be too happy about that," the governor said. "We are in a very difficult time in this country. It means now you go to work harder."
Doyle can also take some solace in that he wasn't the only one in the survey with bad numbers.
Half of survey respondents said they were dissatisfied with the work being done by the Democratic-controlled Legislature, while 46 percent approved. A majority of those polled, 55 percent, said they thought the state was headed in the wrong direction.
Wisconsin is mired in a recession with 9.4 percent unemployment, the highest in 26 years. Doyle has been under attack from Republicans who argue it's wrong to raise taxes in a recession.
Even though the 2010 election is a year and a half away, potential Republican challengers to Doyle have been hard at work lining up supporters and raising money. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann are expected to seek the GOP nomination.
The telephone survey of 400 randomly selected people was done between April 1 and April 9 and has a 5 percentage point margin of error.
