Raleigh, N.C. – New Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has a 46-34 job approval margin less than two months into his term, putting him just above the middle of the pack of 41 governors on which PPP has polled in the last 14 months or so. Voters’ views of McDonnell’s job performance have improved slightly from the previous survey in November, when the spread was 44-36. Independents rate him identically to the overall electorate, and 21% of Democrats approve to only 55% disapproving, on top of his 76-8 with his own party. Despite his conservatism, he has manged to not alienate Democrats and independents as much as many Republicans have.
Voters are also looking at Jim Webb more fondly since he announced his impending retirement from the Senate. 48% approve of what he is doing in the upper chamber, with 35% disapproving, a boost from his 43-37 edge a few months ago. Webb now rates just below the upper quartile of senators. More Democrats (75%) approve than Republicans disapprove (63%), and independents rate him at 50-33.
Junior colleage Mark Warner has also become more popular by an identical seven points on the margin, up to a 2:1 approval-disapproval ratio, 58-29, better than his already quite high 54-32 in November. This ties him with New Mexico’s Jeff Bingaman for the sixth most popular senator. Warner earns a 59-30 rating from independents, and he does even better among his own base and across the aisle than does McDonnell, getting a 26-56 from the GOP and an 86-5 from Democrats.
Lt. Governor Bill Bolling is decently well-liked, with a 33-26 approval rating. As with the aforementioned figures, he has the recipe for success: 58% of his party approves, and only 43% of Democrats disapprove, and he has a 27-21 grade with independents.
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has been more controversial, and therefore is in negative territory, 37-40. He polarizes the two parties, with 62% of the GOP approving and 61% of Democrats disapproving, and independents siding 37-41 against him.
PPP also tested two former statewide and national figures, 2009 gubernatorial primary loser and former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe, who is pretty unpopular, with a 17-30 favorability rating. Former governor, Richmond mayor, and Senate candidate Doug Wilder has a decent 38-34 rating. Wilder has a -11 margin with independents, and McAuliffe a -21, but twice as many Democrats are fond of Wilder as McAuliffe.
PPP surveyed 524 Virginia voters from February 24th to 27th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.5%. 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 Bob
McDonnell’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 46%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Lieutenant
Governor Bill Bolling’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 33%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 26%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 41%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Attorney
General Ken Cuccinelli’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 37%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Doug Wilder?
Favorable ………….. 38%
Unfavorable……….. 34%
Not sure ……………. 27%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Terry McAuliffe?
Favorable ………….. 17%
Unfavorable……….. 30%
Not sure ……………. 52%
Q6 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mark
Warner’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 58%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q7 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jim
Webb’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 48%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 35%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q8 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 44%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 50%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%
Q9 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 11%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 32%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 16%
Q10 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%
Q11 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 ……………………………………………….. 39%
Republican……………………………………………… 34%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 27%
Q12 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 76%
African-American …………………………………….. 20%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q13 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………………………………………………….. 9%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 27%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 41%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%
