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Governor's Approval Ratings
As Governor Gray Davis begins his bid for a second term, Orange County
residents are not very happy with his overall job performance. Forty
percent approve of his performance in office, while 53 percent disapprove.
Davis' low approval ratings partly reflect the strength of the GOP in
the county: Only 25 percent of Republicans approve of his performance.
However, his approval rating is only slightly higher among independent
voters (38%) and rises to just a bare majority even among Democrats
(52%).
Reflecting the Democratic leanings of California, Davis has more support
statewide: In the July PPIC Statewide Survey, 44 percent approved and
45 percent disapproved of his performance. What is noteworthy about
Orange County is that residents from all political groups appear to
be less happy with Davis than groups statewide: Disapproval was higher
in the Orange County survey than in the July statewide survey among
Democrats (42% to 34%), Republicans (71% to 66%), and independent voters
(54% to 46%).
Residents are also unhappy with the governor's response to the electricity
crisis: 63 percent disapprove of his performance. His disapproval ratings
are higher for his approach to the electricity problem than they are
for his overall job performance among all political groups: 76 to 71
percent among Republicans, 68 to 54 percent among independent voters,
and 55 to 42 percent among Democrats.
In the July PPIC Statewide Survey, 51 percent of residents statewide
said they disapproved of Davis' handling of the crisis. Orange County
residents outside of the GOP are more unhappy with Davis than we found
statewide: Democrats (55% to 41%) and independents (68% to 50%) are
more disapproving in our Orange County survey than in our statewide
survey, while Republicans largely feel about the same (76% to 72%).
There are important differences between demographic groups. Latinos
are much more positive than non-Hispanic whites about Davis overall
(55% to 34%) and on the electricity problem (47% to 24%). Similarly,
there are variations across socioeconomic groups. For instance, high
school graduates are much happier than those with a college degree with
Davis overall (52% to 35%), and the difference is even larger for the
issue of electricity (44% to 25%). Income has almost the same effect.
Table:
Governor's Approval Ratings
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