Raleigh, N.C. – Based on a poll PPP took late last September, Bill Richardson left office as the third least popular governor in the country after Republicans Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nevada’s scandal-plagued Jim Gibbons. He had a measly 27-64 approval rating with likely voters in last fall’s election.
Looking back at his two terms as a whole, though, voters are a little more charitable. In PPP’s latest poll of the state, 34% now rate his eight years in the governor’s mansion positively, while 55% disapprove. Republicans unsurprisingly line up almost unanimously against his tenure, and independents split, 30-50, in disapproval. He suffers most, though, because his fellow Democrats, who make up over half the electorate, are only barely, at 48-38, in his corner.
Now half of New Mexicans say they would definitely not vote for Richardson if he ran for office again, while only 13% would be solidly in his corner, and 35% would give it some thought. More Democrats (31%) have closed the door on him than the 19% who still support him. 55% of independents are against another Richardson bid.
Given these numbers, it is no surprise that Governor Susana Martinez would seem a breath of fresh air to voters. She starts her term with 53% approving of her performance so far, and only 29% disapproving, which makes her tied for the fifth most popular governor of 39 executives PPP has polled about in the last year or so.
Martinez’s standing is probably more impressive than any of the few governors with higher net approval margins because they are all either Republicans in red states or Democrats in blue states. Indeed, Martinez almost breaks even across the aisle, at 39-41. Independents approve, 46-19. Martinez probably benefits from her ethnicity. Hispanics make up 39% of the electorate here, and though they normally prefer Democrats to Republicans by large margins, they give Martinez a 49-34 mark, compared to their 40-49 for fellow Hispanic Richardson.
Tom Udall’s 56-31 approval rating makes him the 7th most popular of 78 senators PPP has polled on. Senior colleague Jeff Bingaman is the 5th, as Tuesday’s release showed.
PPP surveyed 545 New Mexico voters from February 4th to 6th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.2%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Susana Martinez’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 53%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Tom
Udall’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 56%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of the work Bill
Richardson did during his eight years as
Governor?
Approve …………………………………………………. 34%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 55%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q4 If Bill Richardson ran for political office again in
the future, would you definitely vote for him,
consider voting for him, or definitely not vote for
him?
Would definitely vote for him……………………… 13%
Would consider voting for him……………………. 35%
Would definitely not vote for him………………… 50%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q5 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 23%
Moderate………………………………………………… 46%
Conservative…………………………………………… 32%
Q6 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q7 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 55%
Republican……………………………………………… 29%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 16%
Q8 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If other, press 3.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 39%
White …………………………………………………….. 53%
Other……………………………………………………… 8%
Q9 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
