Josh Goodman is a former staff writer for GOVERNING..
E-mail: mailbox@governing.comTwitter: @governing
Politics
The Governors' Big-State Blues
Big-state governors are less popular than those in small states.
When Arnold Schwarzenegger's approval rating hit a new low of 28 percent in one poll this summer, it must have been only a small consolation that he was repeating the pattern of plummeting popularity set by his predecessor as California governor, Gray Davis, who was eventually removed from office by the voters. In New York, Governor David Paterson began heading downward in popularity almost from the day he took office. You begin to wonder: Is it a politically harder job to be governor of a big state than a small one?
California and New York aren't the only examples. Ed Rendell in Pennsylvania, Jennifer Granholm in Michigan and Bev Perdue in North Carolina all have low approval ratings. New Jersey's Jon Corzine stands a good chance of being booted from office in November.
What's striking is that many small-state governors aren't having this problem. Arkansas' Mike Beebe and New Hampshire's John Lynch have maintained high approval. The same is true for Mike Rounds in South Dakota and John Hoeven in North Dakota.
The reason for the disparity is hard to pin down. Perhaps big states are just inherently more partisan. Or perhaps it's just economics. The big states generally have suffered most in the recession, while some resource-rich small states haven't. Where small-state governors do face serious economic problems, such as Jim Gibbons in Nevada and Don Carcieri in Rhode Island, they don't win popularity contests, either.
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe for updates.
Twitter: @governing
Latest from Politics
- Fact vs. Fiction: Arkansas' Game-Changing Medicaid Expansion Plan
- A lot of information is floating around about the state's first-of-its-kind plan to expand Medicaid under Obamacare. Arkansas' Medicaid director sets the record straight.
- Behind Maryland Gov. O' Malley's Political Risk to Push Gun Control
- After the mass shootings at a Newtown, Conn., elementary schools, Martin O’Malley wanted to attempt something no state had attempted to enact in nearly two decades.
- Connecticut Gov. Malloy: NRA CEO is Like a Clown
- Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy went on the attack against NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, saying that he "reminds me of the clowns at the circus - that's what he's paid to do."
- Oil and Gas Bills Pit Legislature vs. Governor in Colorado
- For Gov. Hickenlooper, who supports oil and gas development, the Democrat-sponsored and -supported bills create a dilemma.
- Gay Marriage Opponents Lose Ballot-Title Battle in Oregon
- The Oregon attorney general's office isn't buying an attempt by gay marriage opponents to radically rewrite the ballot title for a proposed initiative that would allow same-sex marriages in Oregon.
GOVERNING Data
- Gay Marriage States Map
- Map shows state laws legalizing or prohibiting gay marriage and civil unions.
- 2012 Population Estimates for Metro Areas
- Public Transit Agency Ridership Statistics
- Average Tax Refund by State
- Which Services Are Citizens Most, Least Satisfied With?
- 2013 State of the State Speeches Word Cloud
Events & Webinars
- It’s A Paperless, Paperless World..... Thinking Outside the Box to Gain Efficiencies through Prepaid Cards
- April 23, 2013
- Public sector organizations are under intense scrutiny to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible and with maximum transparency. An important consideration is the way in which payments are made and managed. Prepaid cards can offer flexibility, security and accountability to governments as a method of dispersing benefits, healthcare and social care payments, child benefits and housing benefits to their constituents.
- GOVERNING - Michigan Leadership Forum 2013
- May 1, 2013
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved. |