The GOP governors' plummeting popularity
Voters have soured quickly on new Republican governors in some big swing states. Is this a recipe for disaster in 2012?
Republicans took over the governors' mansions in several key states in 2010, but recent polls suggest that many voters are already fed up with their slash-and-burn, budget-cutting ways. First, the poll numbers of governors John Kasich of Ohio and Scott Walker of Wisconsin dropped sharply. Now Gov. Rick Scott, in the crucial swing state of Florida, is finding that "the honeymoon is over," with his approval rating sinking to 33 percent just three months into his term, according to Public Policy Polling. Does this signal big trouble for the GOP in the 2012 elections? (Watch an MSNBC report about the poll results.)
This could spell doom for Republicans: "The rejection of these governors' austerity packages" could cost the GOP big in 2012, says Dave Weigel at Slate, and not just in their home states. It could cripple the party's presidential ticket, because "it's hard to win without Ohio and Florida." But Republicans still might dodge this bullet: Anger over the budget cuts could subside before election day — if the economy improves.
"Poll: Rick Scott joins the ranks of the new Republican governors who've torqued everybody off"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Don't believe the liberal propaganda: Calling these polls a sign of looming disaster for the GOP is pure "political spin," says Sam Foster at Left Coast Rebel. Public Policy Polling is linked to Democrats, and its polling sample in Florida skews hard to the left, giving Democrat Alex Sink a seven-point advantage, even though Scott just beat her in November. In this poll, "the big population driving up Scott's negatives" is people who didn't vote in 2010, and probably won't show up in 2012, either.
Denying the problem won't help the GOP: If the Florida poll leaned Democratic, says Steve Benen at Washington Monthly, why did the respondents give rave reviews to newly-elected Sen. Marco Rubio, a Tea Party favorite? Scott is clearly part of the "new crop of far-right Republican governors" who are "quickly annoying their own constituents" in big swing states. Democrats lost in 2010 because voters were sick of the status quo; now voters are getting a whole lot of reminders of "why they didn't like Republicans in the first place."
"Rick Scott's support collapses in Florida"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
French schools and the scourge of teenage violence
Talking Point Gabriel Attal announces 'bold' intervention to tackle rise in violent incidents
By The Week UK Published
-
On the trail of India’s wild lions at Sasan Gir National Park
The Week Recommends The sanctuary is a 'roaring' conservation success
By The Week UK Published
-
Recipe: almond marmalade cake
The Week Recommends This syrupy cake can be toasted for brunch
By The Week UK Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published