According to a poll conducted by Lansing polling firm EPIC-MRA, many Michigan voters are not satisfied with the job Gov. Rick Snyder currently is doing in the state’s executive office. Sixty percent of those polled gave the governor a negative job rating in the poll conducted from April 27 through May 3, which surveyed 600 voters who are active and likely will vote in the 2012 general elections.
This number is up from the last such poll, completed by the firm in February, in which Snyder received a negative job rating of 36 percent, said Bernie Porn, president of EPIC-MRA.
“When (Snyder) first came into office, I think there was great optimism,” he said. “(But) after he gave his budget message, things started turning south.”
Porn said Republicans as well as Democrats and independents gave Snyder a negative job rating. Thirty-five percent of Republicans feel the governor is doing a negative job, while 83 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Independents feel the same.
Eric Juenke, assistant professor of political science at MSU, said he is not surprised by the results of this poll.
“Most politicians right now, particularly in states hardest hit economically, are not enjoying good public numbers,” he said.
The poll also surveyed how voters feel about the job the governor is doing in areas of the state budget, education funding, job creation and taxes, among others.
Snyder received negative job ratings of more than 50 percent on each of these issues.
Fifty-two percent of polled voters also believe, in general, Michigan overall is headed off on the wrong track.
Porn said this figure is important in terms of how Michigan residents are perceiving their leader.
Geralyn Lasher, the governor’s director of communications, said Snyder knew when he took office that the public might not be happy with some of his choices.
“The governor knows and knew when he was elected that there were a lot of very difficult decisions that had to be made in order to turn Michigan around,” she said. “He understands difficult decisions are sometimes not popular.”
Juenke said it would be surprising if people thought Snyder was doing well so soon after taking office.
“He inherited a terrible economy,” Juenke said. “He’s been in office five months — it’s not easy to fix things.”
English and secondary education senior Dustin Kubas said he’s not yet convinced the governor is doing a good job, but he hopes Snyder’s actions have a positive effect on the state.
“My thing with (President Barack) Obama when he first got in (office) was we’re in a very bad spot right now, so it’s going to take time to help us out,” Kubas said. “So I can’t not give (Snyder) the same slack.”
Juenke said such negative ratings should not be cause for concern for the governor.
“Whoever the politician, (he or she) would not be wise to pay attention to one poll (or) to change long-term goals for short-term gain,” he said.
Support student media!
Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Discussion
Share and discuss “Poll shows Gov. Snyder's approval is down” on social media.
