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* 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%.]
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:35 am
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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.
Comment by Greg Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:42 am
There’s that “fair” question again.
Comment by pro Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:45 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).
Comment by Secret Square Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:48 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.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:51 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.
Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 9:55 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.
Comment by doubtful Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:09 am
Who said one was the loneliest number?
Comment by Leave a light on George Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:13 am
No surprises actually.
Comment by VanillaMan 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?
Comment by One of the 35 Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:16 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.
Comment by Secret Square Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:22 am
===while Blago’s support is lukewarm at best.===
“Fair” is not approval.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:25 am
But if you count “poor” as approval, Blago’s support is 100%
Comment by Greg Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:41 am
Where is Bill at? Somebody has to find the silver lining in all of this.
Comment by 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.
When you’re at the bottom, the only way is up?
Comment by Bill Baar Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:53 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!”
Comment by Speaking At Will Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:03 am
Speaking At Will, that is priceless.
Comment by Dan S. a Voter and Cubs Fan Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:23 am
Will they be changing their scale for polls to include a new level below “poor”?
Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, Blagojevich.
Comment by Rich O Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:33 am
Rich O - HOMERUN buddy.
Comment by Just My Opinion Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:43 am
Speaking At Will’s dialog is great1 I might substitute Rod for the Narrator and the Pharmacists for Mr. Rod, though.
Comment by Captain Flume Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:55 am
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
Comment by train111 Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 12:13 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!
Comment by Jim Rockford Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:08 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.
Comment by Captain America Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:16 pm
Since a 0-107 vote was a “victory”, obviously 0% “Excellent” is a victory as well.
Comment by What planet is he from again? Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:16 pm
I think that Bush is “fair,” but I think that he’s too liberal.
Comment by Phil Collins Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:27 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.
Comment by Jerry Seinfeld Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:40 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.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 1:54 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…
Comment by Black Ivy Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:12 pm
Personally, the man has been a gold mine. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:13 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.
Comment by South Side Mike Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:30 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.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:32 pm
Since there is a movie out about “W” who has better ratings than Blago, when will we see one about our Gov?
Comment by jimbo Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:39 pm
Blago. WORST Governor EVER.
Comment by PrisonTime Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:42 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.
Comment by South Side Mike Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 2:44 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.
Comment by Bubs Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 4:16 pm
Bubs, you made my whole day.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 4:22 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?
Comment by Steve Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 10:13 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.
Comment by Keef Friday, Oct 17, 08 @ 11:12 pm