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Patrick's Job Approval Rating Crashes

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Mar 6, 2009 8:43 am US/Eastern

Patrick's Job Approval Rating Crashes

Read: Jon Keller's Blog

Join The Conversation: Conversation Nation
Reporting
Jon Keller
BOSTON (WBZ) ― Budget cuts and tax hikes dominate the headlines these days.

It's a tough time to be in charge - just ask Gov. Deval Patrick.

Some new poll numbers on his performance look pretty bad.

"WORST I'VE EVER SEEN"

These are some of the worst job approval numbers I've ever seen for a governor of Massachusetts, and this is horrible news for Patrick at a key moment in his term.

"The average driver would pay the equivalent of about one large cup of coffee per week."

That was the governor's sales pitch thirteen days ago for his 19-cent a gallon gas tax hike, and judging from a survey taken in the following days, it's a flop. 

69% DISAPPROVE

The Survey USA poll of 600 adults found only 28-percent approving of Patrick's performance in office, while 69-percent disapprove.

Among the state's most important voting block, independents, the news is even worse, with only 18 percent approval and a whopping 78-percent disapproving.

BUSH-LIKE NUMBERS

For perspective, look at it this way.

When Gov. Patrick took the oath of office 26 months ago, his job approval rating was over 60 percent, about where President Obama is right now.

Today, Patrick's approval rating has collapsed to about where President George W. Bush was in his final days in office.

WHAT HAPPENED?

What pulled the rug out from under Deval Patrick?

No need to look much further than the imploding economy.

Candidate Patrick's core promises were property tax relief and a better-run state government.

But the tax relief never came, much of his agenda has stalled, and service cuts have outpaced reforms.

CHALLENGERS

Collapsing approval of Patrick is sure to spur potential challengers in next year's election, 

Like State Treasurer Tim Cahill or others emboldened by what may be the survey's most shocking finding:

Even among Democrats, disapproval of the governor's work is now a majority viewpoint: 53-percent disapprove compared to 42-percent who approve.

Patrick was already struggling to rally support on Beacon Hill for his proposed gas tax hike.

This won't help, as skittish legislators wonder – "Do I really want to book passage on the Titanic?"
 
What do you think?

Share your opinion with Jon in his Keller @ Large blog and join the conversation in our Conversation Nation blog.

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