COLUMBUS, Ohio --The economy is tanking and so is Gov. Ted Strickland's popularity. The public's happiness with other governors – including California Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger and New York Democrat David Paterson - is also going south in these bad economic times. Not coincidentally, California, New York and Ohio are all bracing for painful budget cuts in 2009.
A Quinnipiac University poll out last week found 54 percent of Ohio voters approve of the job Strickland is doing, a number that represents a 6-point drop from August and his lowest job approval rating this year. Over the ensuing two days, Strickland released a pair of dire forecasts from his economic advisers and his budget director, then a detailed list of the devastating cuts that could be ahead absent federal help. Neither announcement is likely to gain him many new fans.
For Ohioans, there is nothing more important than the health of the economy to their feelings of well-being. Strickland's lowest approval rating since taking office (45 percent) was in February 2007, in the midst of crafting another difficult state budget.
There are added political aspects to Strickland's declining popularity, however. Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, notes that the drop can be traced primarily to Republicans viewing Strickland less favorably than they did a year ago. Just since August, 12 percent fewer Republicans said they like the way he's doing his job.
But popularity ratings aren't actually mere fluff. According to King and Cohen's study, a governor's backing by the public is directly related to how much he can get accomplished at the Statehouse. They found that a key element to a governor's informal power is how well the public thinks he's doing his job. Though it has declined, Strickland's popularity is still comparatively high. Between October and November, the percentage of New Yorkers who said Paterson was doing a good job fell from 57 percent to 51 percent. And only 40 percent of Californians, view Schwarzenegger favorably.
Just one example of the tug-of-war between Strickland's formal and informal power will come this week. Strickland says he will veto a bill funding bonuses for veterans through the state's rainy day fund, but Republican House Speaker Jon Husted says lawmakers will vote Tuesday to send it to him anyway.
Stay tuned to NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest news and information.
To send a news tip or submit a story idea, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement