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* Just a few days before Gov. Pat Quinn won his election last year, Public Policy Polling found his job approval rating was 32 percent and his disapproval was 54 percent. In March, after the income tax hike passed, We Ask America pegged Quinn’s approval rating at 30.6 percent and his disapproval at 60.7 percent.
We Ask America has a new poll out and Quinn’s rating is pretty much the same…
A FOX Chicago News/We Ask America survey found only 29.6 percent of registered voters approved Quinn’s job performance; 60 percent disapproved.
Even the governor’s own party appears to be deserting him. Among self-described Democrats: 46%percent approved, 42 percent disapproved. […]
Fewer than half of voters in the Governor’s home town of Chicago are happy: 49 percent approve, 39 percent disapprove. In suburban Cook County, 32 percent approve, 57 percent disapprove. In the suburban collar counties surrounding Chicago, 27 percent approve, 61 percent disapprove. Among registered voters Downstate, a mere 19 percent approve, 70 percent disapprove.
African-American registered voters are Quinn’s strongest supporters, with 52 percent approving while 40 percent disapprove. Among Hispanic voters, 30 percent approve, 54 percemt disapprove. Among white voters, 25 percent approve, 63 percent disapprove.
There is little difference between male and female voters. Among women, 31 percent approve, 55 percent disapprove. Among men, 29 percent approve, 65 percent disapprove.
Man, those Downstate and collar numbers are just downright horrible. And his suburban Cook and Chicago numbers are far worse than the president’s. But it has always been thus with Pat Quinn. He managed to win last year by turning his opponent into a bigger ogre than he was. Overwhelming disapproval doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the General Assembly, however. Going up against him is no great risk. Then again, their overall approval rating is probably lower than his.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 5:50 am
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Yes, it would be fun to see the approval for GA members about right now. The coming weeks and Veto Session is going to be fun when the members won’t be able to hide from the brutal truth of the state of the budget they passed, and they own, along with the issues it has created. But I’m sure the profiles in courage will find a way to “duck and cover”.
I’m not saying the Gov does not share some blame, but I’m really tired of the GA members doing nothing but complaining about cuts, closings and reductions while they scream to the voters about responsible budgeting. No wonder so many are leaving, not a lot fun to be had in Springpatch right now.
Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 6:04 am
Even if the GAs number is worse that Quinn’s it is still low risk to go after him
Comment by Oneman Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 6:26 am
The whole lot of them deserve the low regard the citizens of Illinois hold for them.
Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 7:00 am
After the massive tax hike, why are the state’s finances in even worse condition? Why are thousands losing services, possible jobs, having their wages frozen, and the continued cuts in education? Why can’t the state pay its bills?
Quinn has not only backtracked on too many campaign promises, he seems to be punishing the people who supported his re-election. Terrible PR.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 7:04 am
You can thank Planned Parenthood for all of this. They scared the H_ _ _ out of everyone into voting for a person (or against a person) who will probably never make a major decision on anything related to abortion. Great, just great.
Comment by Red Cup Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 7:21 am
Well Red Cup, considering how Quinn has treated AFSCME after the election, I wouldn’t take to much comfort if I was an organization in being a ‘Friend’ of Pat Quinn.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 7:40 am
**After the massive tax hike, why are the state’s finances in even worse condition? **
They’re not.
Comment by dave Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 7:41 am
Quinn’s hammer with the GA is his veto stamp on tough, close bills, as he showed with ComEd, and has threatened with gambling.
What he leverage it for is another question.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 8:00 am
As the recent Cong. Costello retirement intimates, downstate democrats are in a world of hurt. With Obama heading the ticket and Quinn’s numbers submerged somewhere below bilge water, there’s not much in 2012 to do except hunker down and concentrate on saving the state and local incumbents. Peoria Senator Koehler should forget about the congressional race and save his current Senate seat, as Sen. Sullivan and other downstate state legislators face another 2010 tsunami.
Comment by Louis Howe Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 8:14 am
The state’s finances are getting worse every day. According to the states own figures, as of early August, it will rack up an operating loss of $454M in FY12. The good news is that this is down from the operating loss of $3911M in FY11. The estimated income for FY12 is up mainly due to the income tax increase. However, estimated expenses are down by only $324M for FY12. With the large income tax hike Illinois is still going deeper in hole every, only at a far slower rate.
P.S. This also assumes that no more spending is approved in the override session (any bets on that happening?).
Comment by Left Out Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 8:31 am
The income tax increase, by itself, was never going to fix the problem and regular readers here know that. At best, it was a one to three year stop-gap action. Spending had to be cut also; plus the borrowing plan had to be approved (part of the tax increase is dedicated to paying off the borrowing that didn’t occur). Only one out of the three parts to fix things got accomplished in full, the tax increase. Some cuts got made, but not enough. And, as stated above, the borrowing didn’t happen. Score: something like 1.4 out of 3.
Even considering the lousy national economy and lack of recovery, at the state level the good news is things aren’t getting a lot worse and the budget, for now, is more or less in balance. Some executive orders and actions in the right places could fix a lot of the remaining imbalance … but wasting time and dollars on fighting union contracts isn’t the way to do it. If the nation ever recovers, say in 2014 or 2015, Illinois should end up in decent shape *if* they don’t go on another spending binge.
Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 8:46 am
Tell us how you really feel, RM.
Comment by namecaller Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 9:09 am
Dealing with the State’s fiscal mess isn’t going to make anyone popular. However, Quinn’s scatterbrained shotgun approach with no thought out plan has to be killing his numbers. How do you deal with our problems without an overarching strategic plan?
Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 9:22 am
The state’s finances are getting worse every day.
I love how you say this, and then immediately go on to say that the structural deficit is projected to be lower, revenue is projected to be higher, and spending is projected to be lower.
But ITS GETTING WORSE!!!!!
Comment by dave Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 9:25 am
Why should PQ worry about his approval numbers? Why should anyone think those numbers have any real meaning come election time?
A few well timed ads painting the opponent as the second coming of the devil himself will seal the deal and Rod Blagojevich, oops - I mean Pat Quinn, will be re-elected.
You’all get the government you deserve.
Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 9:58 am
Democrats eying the Governor’s office…start your engines.
Comment by Left Leaner Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 10:15 am
–He managed to win last year by turning his opponent into a bigger ogre than he was.–
Don’t you think Brady did a pretty good job at that on his own?
Comment by Ahoy Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 10:35 am
Quinn’s moment was when he had the choice to fix a broken state, regardless of popularity, or run for election. He passed up that chance.
Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 10:48 am
Politicians have a wonderful advantage - unfortunately, voters tend to have extremely short memories and reporters don’t seem to have memories that are much longer. Politician after politician (easiest example that comes to mind is Sen. Arlen Specter from PA up until this last election) dither around, do a horrible job and then during the run-up year to the election start paying attention to what the electorate is telling them. My personal guess is that these numbers won’t mean much considering that Quinn can skate along for at least another year or so.
Comment by Ghost of John Brown Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 10:49 am
“…29.6 percent of registered voters approved Quinn’s job performance…”
Who are these people? Do they ever read a newspaper?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 10:56 am
“Anonymous - 10:56″
Please remember that if the average IQ is 100, that means that half of the popultion is walking around with only 2 digits. That explains a lot and probably answers your question.
Comment by Ghost of John Brown Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 11:40 am
I can’t believe 19% of those Downstate still approve of him.
Comment by Champaign Dweller Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 12:10 pm
I recently heard a leading Chicago business figure say there was no sense in talking to anyone in the governor’s office until after the next election. No faith or trust in Quinn at all.
Comment by Niles Township Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 12:19 pm
–I recently heard a leading Chicago business figure say there was no sense in talking to anyone in the governor’s office until after the next election. No faith or trust in Quinn at all.–
A lot of “leading business figures” have been putting a lot of faith and trust in the handouts he’s been dishing out.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 12:32 pm
Gregor - Add to that the missed opportunity that the GA leasders especially Mike Madigan had back about six or so years ago when a smaller income tax could have been passed and if applied to the pension payments that had not been made for years would have put Illinois in a much better fiscal condition than it is now.
If the GA had not gone along with Blago’s “holiday” on pension payments and stopped the borrowing of those funds at that time we would not be facing the disaster we are living with.
Power seems to corrupt very quickly in this state. The GA and yes, even the seemingly straight as an arrow, PQ get sucked in and self preservation and maintaing their status quo becomes their paramount concern.
As far as I am concerned I see no one who is worth re-electing. The old adage of voting for the known individual over the unknown is bogus. The ” We know what we have in that person, you never know what your going to get with a new face” is past. Yes we know what we have. We have a group of do nothings that are CYA driven. All new faces would be fine with me.
We need experience? Why? Experience got us where we are.
Comment by Irish Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 2:12 pm
@Niles
So the solution is to sit around and twiddle thumbs for three years? At what point to people come together to actually fix problems instead of trying to fight the same election battles over and over again without any headway being made?
Comment by Colossus Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 2:14 pm
Granted, it’s 3 years out. But you figure someone like Quinn will run for reelection and lose….this time in the Democratic primary. Who beats him? Lisa? Hynes? Alexi? Triple J?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 6:47 pm
I am suprised he got 19% in downstate. Must be those poltical patronage hires that PQ continues to place in state agencies. All I can say, is Chicago and Cook Co voted him in. You get what you pay for…
Comment by southern illinoisan Wednesday, Oct 5, 11 @ 8:05 pm