Ritter Approval Rating Bad, But Could Be Worse?

11 Comments

by: Colorado Pols

We missed this latest poll from Tarrance Group, a Republican polling outfit, that was released last week.

According to the poll, Gov. Bill Ritter’s approval rating is at 44%, which is obviously not very good. The numbers are particularly scary for the Guv’s supporters considering that Ritter is a sitting governor 18 months from re-election in a state that just voted strongly for a Democrat for President. Ritter should be safely above 50% at this point in his term.

The upside, if there is any upside, is that Ritter isn’t polling any worse than 44%. We’ve actually heard polls a month or two ago had him below 40%, which could still be the case given the margin of error of these things. But with all of the negative press Ritter has received in the last several months, combined with some bafflingly-bad political decisions, perhaps 44% is about the best he could hope for…which tells you all you need to know about the race for governor at this point.

11 thoughts on “Ritter Approval Rating Bad, But Could Be Worse?”

johnpauljones says:

July 14, 2009 at 10:49 pm

I think it is fair to say the Govs race is dead even, and voters are not passionate about the Governor.

How does Ritter keep the 44% and add back the 6 -8% he will need to win? I have played with the question while on vacation and did not come up with an answer.

Transportation push? no money

Budget/ Revenue issue? With the need to eliminate all tax credits from the State, the Governor is about to go to battle with the Land Trust community, enterprise zones will hurt Economic Development/ Chamber types plus College President.

State employee layoffs? Hard to be the leader when you have done nothing so far but add employees.

PERA reform? more from the tax payer or more from the employee.

I really do not see how Ritter takes the agenda back in a way that adds 6-8% to his approval rating.

Love to hear the other armchair quaterbacks on this issue.

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1. redstateblues says:
  
  July 14, 2009 at 11:06 pm
  
  One way would be to try encourage Democratic turnout with a ballot initiative aimed at core Democratic constituencies. Despite the fact that many Dems are dissatisfied with him, if he can get something on the ballot–pushed by him–they might end up voting for him at the top of the ballot anyway.
  
  What exactly that would be is another issue entirely, but I see that as a way to get some of that 7-8% he’ll need.
  
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  1. J-Rock says:
    
    July 14, 2009 at 11:26 pm
    
    Turns out the Dems, is getting to be a winning issue with the moderates, makes him look like he’s doing something politically inexpedient (although he already looks that way) and helps explain why he hasn’t met more campaign promises related to transportation, etc.
    
    Although, last I heard, Brandon Shaffer was gonna take the reins on that issue.
    
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  2. johnpauljones says:
    
    July 15, 2009 at 1:45 am
    
    Redstateblue, good point
    
    Fielder did Amend 24 (growth control) which failed but help Dems took the Senate in 2000.
    
    Right to life folks will be back but it motivates both sides.
    
    Have to ponder what might work. Thanks
    
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RedGreen says:

July 14, 2009 at 10:59 pm

The same poll shows Bennet with a 21 percent approval, with 17 percent disapproval.

Generic GOP barely edges generic Dem for 2010 Senate 41-40 — this is remarkable just over nine months after Udall and Obama won the state.

Grain of salt, though. This was a poll for the NRSC, the outfit tasked with ousting Bennet.

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DavidThi808 says:

July 14, 2009 at 11:39 pm

Putting aside what I personally would like to see him do (because of course making me happy is the road to success) I think…

That the primary thing Ritter has to do is sell people on how he has done a really good job. I don’t think Ritter’s problem is what he has accomplished (or not accomplished), I think it’s people’s impression of those efforts.

In other words, Ritter’s main problem is in his marketing department.

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1. Gilpin Guy says:
  
  July 15, 2009 at 1:14 am
  
  Have him run against a Republican and give them plenty of air time to explain their ideas.
  
  Ritter wins in a landslide.
  
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2. Craig says:
  
  July 15, 2009 at 1:46 am
  
  Any politician outside Louisiana and Illinois who has become Governor and doesn’t know that you don’t give no-bid contracts to your former employer is simply un-qualified to hold the job and should be run out on a rail as soon as possible. I believe he will be run out, the question is will it be a Republican or another Democrat?
  
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  1. ClubTwitty says:
    
    July 15, 2009 at 1:54 am
    
    Penry will give it a go (I predict JP will be the GOP nominee).
    
    Penry will be a strong candidate, but I also think that the GOP Primary (and having to run to the right of McLobbyist) and his status as a regional (as opposed to statewide) pol are large challenges for Penry to overcome. Time will tell.
    
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    1. DavidThi808 says:
      
      July 15, 2009 at 6:16 am
      
      The base knows he’s conservative. And he’s running on Republicans need to change and that trashes McInnis without it being a move to the right.
      
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  2. Ralphie says:
    
    July 15, 2009 at 4:13 am
    
    Glad you signed up just to post that.
    
    There have been numerous discussions on the subjects you posted about.
    
    Pity you didn’t take the time to read them.
    
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