Survey USA released approval ratings for all fifty governors yesterday. Although Republicans and Democrats are spread somewhat evenly across the entire field, Republicans, as has been the case for the past five months at least, occupy both ends of the ranking's extremes:
Taft (R-OH) 19/77 (-58% net approval)
Rell (R-CT) 77/18 (+59% net approval)
There is more on the either side of the fold.
If current governor approval ratings in New Jersey and Virginia will be a variable in those states' upcoming elections, Kaine and Corzine should win their respective races:
Warner (D-VA) 64/29 (+35% net approval)
Codey (D-NJ) 52/42 (+10% net approval)
Democratic incumbents in 2006 whose approval ratings are under the crucial 50% mark are:
Granholm (D-MI) 42/55 (-13% net approval)
Blagojevich (D-IL) 41/53 (-12% net approval)
Kulongoski (D-OR) 42/47 (-5% net approval)
Rendell (D-PA) 43/51 (-8% net approval)
Baldacci (D-ME) 42/56 (-14% net approval)
Brederson (D-TN) 48/47 (+1% net approval)
Doyle (D-WI) 46/47 (-1% net approval)
It seems as if we will have many competitive gubernatorial races along with close Senate races in 2006. Weak Republican incumbents include:
Riley (R-AL) 49/48 (+1% net approval)
Murkowski (R-AK) 34/60 (-26% net approval)
Schwarzenegger (R-CA) 33/65 (-32% net approval)
Ehrlich (R-MD) 46/46 (+/-0 net approval)
Romney (R-MA) 43/51 (-8% net approval)
Perry (R-TX) 43/52 (-9% net approval)
Sanford (R-SC) 49/43 (+6% net approval)
The miserable performance of Ehrlich, Perry and Schwarzenegger will hopefully help us during the 2006 Senate races. Given Arnold's current ratings, I doubt he will remain California's governor in 2007.
Our rural governors, despite prevailing stereotypes, seem to be doing quite well in their respective states. Freudenthal, Napolitano and Sebelius are all guaranteed reelection:
Sebelius (D-KS) 59/35 (+24% net approval)
Freudenthal (D-WY) 67/26 (+41% net approval)
Napolitano (D-AZ) 60/35 (+25% net approval)
Let us hope Napolitano can provide coattails for Pederson. And let us hope Freudenthal can do the same for whomever may choose to challenge House Representative Cubin (R-WY-AL).
Our corrupt Republican governors, however, are not doing very well:
Taft (R-OH) 19/77 (-58% net approval)
Fletcher (R-KY) 32/61 (-29% net approval)
Blunt (R-MO) 33/61 (-28% net approval)
Perhaps future Senator Claire McCaskill has been performing too many audits on poor little Blunt. Donate some money to her campaign here. We really need her in the Senate.
Even Kathleen Blanco, who has had to deal with two hurricanes and a full media onslaught, is faring better than our corrupt Republican governors. Because most of her base is scattered throughout the 48 contiguous states, her approval ratings are very low. Let us hope this state of affairs will change very soon:
Blanco (D-LA) 38/58 (-20% net approval)
Be sure to complete my poll, and indicate the races about which you are most concerned in the comments section.