Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » A big, fat goose egg for Blagojevich
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
A big, fat goose egg for Blagojevich

Friday, Oct 17, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I told subscribers about a new Rasmussen Reports poll earlier this week, but I figured it was time to clue in the blog as well.

Rasmussen asked: How do you rate the way that Rod Blagojevich is performing his role as Governor? Excellent, good, fair, or poor?

Zero percent rated Gov. Blagojevich performance as “excellent.”

Zero.

As we used to say in Germany: “Nix, Nein, Frankenstein.”

Last month, 3 percent rated Blagojevich’s performance as “excellent,” which ain’t much, but it was at least something.

* Here are this month’s Blagojevich job approval results with last month’s in parentheses…

Excellent 0 (3)
Good 4 (9)

Fair 29 (28)
Poor 65 (60)
Not sure 1 (0)

Notice that his “poor” rating has risen from 60 to 65 percent.

Oof.

* The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform’s David Morrison comments over at Illinoize

A 2000 General Election exit survey I found on-line suggests that 32% Illinois voters held a favorable view of then-Gov. George Ryan, which was after the first two dozen Operation Safe Roads convictions but still nearly three years before he was indicted and four years before his conviction. It would seem that George Ryan was 8 times as popular as Gov. Blagojevich.

* Blagojevich’s rating is even below President Bush’s, according to Rasmussen: How do you rate the way that George W. Bush is performing his role as President? Excellent, good, fair, or poor?

10% Excellent
15% Good
11% Fair
64% Poor
0% Not sure

* Another question from Rasmussen: Have things in Illinois gotten better, worse or stayed the same since Rod Blagojevich became governor?

5% Better
67% Worse
25% Stayed the same
4% Not sure

* These sorts of stories aren’t helping

The Blagojevich administration still isn’t saying how many people might be affected by an ill-fated health insurance program the governor launched last year.

A day after a Cook County judge ordered the administration to dismantle the FamilyCare expansion program, the administration wouldn’t say how many people might be left in the lurch from the decision.

‘’We are currently reviewing the decision and are determining how many people would be affected, but the governor is committed to making sure that these families continue to get the insurance they need,'’ said Annie Thompson, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

It is not clear why the administration hasn’t said how many people are enrolled in the program, which offered state-backed health insurance to people earning 400 percent of the poverty level, or up to $83,000 annually for a family of four.

What a disaster.

* Speaking of disasters, an overwhelming majority of respondents said they were cutting back on their holiday spending, which generally drives the nation’s economy…

* This holiday season, will you spend more or less on gifts than you did last year?

6% More
69% Less
23% About the same
2% Not sure

* More poll results…

* Should the Illinois State Constitution be amended to give voters the opportunity to recall statewide elected officials?

57% Yes
23% No
20% Not sure

* Do you favor or oppose Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic games?

64% Favor
26% Oppose
10% Not sure

* Senate Election

Sauerberg 31%
Durbin 62%
Other 0%
Not sure 7%

* 2008 Presidential General Election Match-Ups

McCain 39%
Obama 56%
Other 0%
Not sure 5%

* In terms of how you will vote for President, are you primarily interested in National Security issues such as the War with Iraq and the War on Terror, Economic issues such as jobs and economic growth, Domestic Issues like Social Security and Health Care, Cultural issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion, or Fiscal issues such as taxes and government spending?

50% Economic Issues
19% National Security Issues
9% Domestic Issues
8% Cultural Issues
8% Fiscal Issues
6% Not sure

The economy is everything.

Discuss.

[Illinois Survey of 500 Likely Voters Conducted October 13, 2008. Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 4.5%.]

       

37 Comments
  1. - Greg - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:42 am:

    The great thing about an excellent rating of zero is that the band of statistical significance extends well below zero. So we should not rule out the possibility that the Guv’s excellent rating might actually be -3.


  2. - pro - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:45 am:

    There’s that “fair” question again.


  3. - Secret Square - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:48 am:

    This must be some kind of record! Has ANY public official, anywhere in the U.S., attained approval ratings like this? Even Nixon didn’t fall that low when he resigned (I think his approval ratings bottomed out somewhere in the mid-20 percent range).


  4. - wordslinger - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:51 am:

    Only two surprises here to me.

    1. I’m no whiz, but I didn’t think zero was possible in polling. Does that mean not one person said excellent?

    2. The high level of support for the Olympics. Maybe it’s just too distant and people haven’t focused on the possible financial ramifications.


  5. - lake county democrat - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:55 am:

    Hmm. Anyone poll the Willis family for their preference? I’m surprised at the Olympics support too, but maybe those are suburbanites/downstaters thinking it’s only Chicago residents who will pay for it.


  6. - doubtful - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:09 am:

    I don’t believe in polls. They have been wrong in the past and to me they are very biased. -Charge

    Nothing you said was false, yet it’s dangerous to dismiss a poll outright, especially from a reputable establishment like Rasmussen.

    While it’s true that polls have been wrong, the odds of them being statistically significantly wrong are slim. Most of the time when an election poll is significantly wrong, it’s because an event occurred between the poll and election day that altered the landscape.

    Most of the bias in polling is introduced by improperly weighting the sample. A lot of polling outfits are relying on 2006 demographics, which I think will underweight youth and minority turnout.

    Regarding holiday spending, I will be spending much less this year, but it has more to do with the growth of my family than the state of the economy.


  7. - Leave a light on George - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:13 am:

    Who said one was the loneliest number?


  8. - VanillaMan - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:16 am:

    No surprises actually.


  9. - One of the 35 - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:16 am:

    The amazing thing to me about Blago’s numbers are that 4% said he was doing a good job! Who are these people and what were they thinking?


  10. - Secret Square - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:22 am:

    If you count everything other than “poor” as approval, Blago and Bush are about even (33 percent and 36 percent, respectively). But, Bush still has 1 out of 4 respondents (25 percent) expressing genuine approval of his performance, while Blago’s support is lukewarm at best.


  11. - Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:25 am:

    ===while Blago’s support is lukewarm at best.===

    “Fair” is not approval.


  12. - Greg - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:41 am:

    But if you count “poor” as approval, Blago’s support is 100%


  13. - Speaking At Will - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:41 am:

    Where is Bill at? Somebody has to find the silver lining in all of this.


  14. - Bill Baar - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:53 am:

    Where is Bill at? Somebody has to find the silver lining in all of this.

    When you’re at the bottom, the only way is up?


  15. - Speaking At Will - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:03 am:

    == When you’re at the bottom, the only way is up? ==

    This is true.

    On a somewhat unrelated note, for some reason all morning I keep thinking of a “Mr. Bill” parody with a claymation figure of Rod Blagojevich.

    Narrator: “Hey Mr. Rod, lets expand healthcare coverage!”

    Mr. Rod “Oh k”

    Narrator: “Look out Mr. Rod, here comes the court systems to overrule you!”

    Mr. Rod: “OOOOOHHHH NOOOO!”


  16. - Dan S. a Voter and Cubs Fan - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:23 am:

    Speaking At Will, that is priceless.


  17. - Rich O - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:33 am:

    Will they be changing their scale for polls to include a new level below “poor”?

    Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, Blagojevich.


  18. - Just My Opinion - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:43 am:

    Rich O - HOMERUN buddy.


  19. - Captain Flume - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:55 am:

    Speaking At Will’s dialog is great1 I might substitute Rod for the Narrator and the Pharmacists for Mr. Rod, though.


  20. - train111 - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 12:13 pm:

    So next time Rasmussen does one of these surveys, and Rod’s excellent rating increases to 1%, is he going to call a press conference to gloat about how his approval ratings have gone through the roof???

    train111


  21. - Jim Rockford - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:08 pm:

    What we’re looking at is the political equivalent of the Mendoza Line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendoza_Line).

    Pol1: How are your numbers?
    Pol2: Oh, man, I’m below the Blago Line!


  22. - Captain America - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:16 pm:

    Governor Pinocchio: Governmental gridlock and crime don’t pay. How low can you go? Maybe you should seek political asylum in the former Yugoslavia before the indictments come down. The public obviously knows you are guilty of criminal incompetence and suspects you may be guilty of various and sundry felonies. Maybe some aspiring author can write an updated version of An American Tragedy about your shattered political career.


  23. - What planet is he from again? - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:16 pm:

    Since a 0-107 vote was a “victory”, obviously 0% “Excellent” is a victory as well.


  24. - Phil Collins - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:27 pm:

    I think that Bush is “fair,” but I think that he’s too liberal.


  25. - Jerry Seinfeld - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:40 pm:

    The gov can turn this thing around. All he has to do is watch the Opposite episode of Seinfeld where George does everything opposite of what he would normally do.


  26. - Lefty Lefty - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:54 pm:

    On the other hand, if anyone polled said he rates as Excellent, we’d all be wondering the odds of Rasmussen dialing the Blagojevich house.


  27. - Black Ivy - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:12 pm:

    Question of the day for you, Rich: do you believe Blagojevich has achieved anything positive in the six years he has governed in Illinois?

    Just wondering…


  28. - Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:13 pm:

    Personally, the man has been a gold mine. lol


  29. - South Side Mike - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:30 pm:

    With apologies to the late, great Jerry Reed:

    “Rich got the gold mine/ Illinois got the shaft.”

    Happy for you, Rich, in all seriousness.


  30. - Phineas J. Whoopee - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:32 pm:

    I wonder what he did this last month to tick off those very easy to please 3%? I can’t remember anything too earth shattering.


  31. - jimbo - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:39 pm:

    Since there is a movie out about “W” who has better ratings than Blago, when will we see one about our Gov?


  32. - PrisonTime - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:42 pm:

    Blago. WORST Governor EVER.


  33. - South Side Mike - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:44 pm:

    jimbo, I think there’s been many movies and a TV series about Blago, Madigan, and Jones: The Three Stooges.

    nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.

    Ah, it’s Friday. My brain is fried.


  34. - Bubs - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 4:16 pm:

    I see a lot of good things in these numbers. I’m really pumped!

    You know, when people say “Fair” or “Poor”, what they are really saying is that they know you are trying hard for families and kids across Illinois, and that you are making a difference, but that small petty politics by a lot of Springfield types are standing in the way of better progress. So I look at this as real good, that the people are behind our initiatives and that people just want the politicians to get out fo the way and let the progress keep flowing.

    Thank you, no questions.


  35. - Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 4:22 pm:

    Bubs, you made my whole day.


  36. - Steve - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:13 pm:

    Rich, maybe I missed it, but any recent poll numbers for the ballot question on convening a new state constitutional convention? And/or, what are your thoughts on the likelihood of that measure passing in November?


  37. - Keef - Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:12 pm:

    Cold November night with the polls trending down
    but the cash sits around around
    smellin’ sweet

    Move up the road to the North side of town
    and the sound of a Sun Records beat

    Sits a guy named Rod, on whom Dick Mel once doted
    If he marries well, maybe he can get promoted

    It’s Rod, Brother Rod say Gov’nor Rod’s traveling salvation show
    Health care for babies, free rides for old ladies
    and everyone goes
    ‘Cause everyone knows,
    Rod’s all for show

    Room gets suddenly still and then you’d almost bet
    He’ not showing but yet,
    he walks in

    Eyes with no soul, and when he lifts his face
    Every lens in the place is on him
    Startin’ soft and slow, with an anecdote
    will it be the one,
    about the prez or the car he rode in

    It’s Rod, Gov’nor Rod say Milorad Blagojevich’s traveling show
    Canadian medicine, friends with Com Edison, everyone knows,
    ‘Cause everyone knows ’bout Brother Rod’s show

    (Halleluja) Brothers (Halle, halleluja) I say brothers
    Now you got yourself six bad years
    And when your governor is troubled you’ve gotta
    reach out your hand to him,
    with an envelope,
    ’cause that’s what it’s there for

    And when your agenda is failing you’ve gotta reach out
    your other hand, reach it out to the Emil-man up there
    ‘Cause that’s what He’s there in the Senate for

    Take my plane to fly
    down to Springpatch for a day
    In my heart I know
    I will make the Speaker pay
    Halle, halle, halle, halle, halle, halle, halle, halle

    Love Brother Rod say Brother Rod’s traveling salvation show
    Health care for less, and some Panda Express and I’m ready to go.

    I say Love BrotherRod say Brother Rod’s traveling salvation show
    Shredding the evidence, stay in my residence, reporters don’t know.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Question of the day
* Madigan trial roundup: Solis faces first day of cross-examination
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller