Republican Government in Virginia Takes a Poll Hit

Women protesting Republican actions arrested in Richmond demonstration.

In what could hardly be termed a "surprise," approval ratings for Virginia's Virginia Assembly, dominated by Republicans, and its Republican governor are heading south following a contentious session dominated by social legislation and what has been termed "a war on women."

A Quinnipiac University poll, released yesterday showed that the legislature's numbers fell to 38 percent approval and 47 percent disapproval. Gov. Bob McDonnell, meanwhile,fell to a "53 percent approval rating, with 32 percent disapproval, is the lowest since Quinnipiac began polling in the state ..." according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The approval of McDonnell by women fell from 54 to 48 percent and disapproval rose from 25 percent to 34 percent. Men liked him a little better, but not much and that approval was down four points.

According to a story in the Times-Dispatch Steve Farhsworth, a political science professor at Mary Washington University, said, "When your state government is being ridiculed nightly by the late-night comedians, that's not going to help your approval numbers. It does not help Virginia's approach to getting new business to be a national laughingstock."

The T-D quoted Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Brian Moran as saying, "This experiment in united Republican government has been an abject failure and today's poll indicates that Virginians are starting to realize it." Even Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins said the poll shows voters have tired of what he called "the tantrum."

The poll surveyed 1,034 registered voters from March 13 to March 18 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

(Photo: c'ville)