How’s that “Bob’s for Jobs” thing working out for Virginia? Pretty good, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.
Gov. Bob McDonnell enjoys a 55 percent approval rating compared to just 26 percent who disapproved, according to Quinnipiac’s inaugural Virginia poll.
“Gov. Bob McDonnell’s overall support levels are among the highest when compared to other governors around the country,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “And they are far better than those of his GOP counterparts in Florida, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Even among Democrats he is within 10 points of parity, an unusually high level of support for a governor from the opposition party.”
Potential GOP presidential nominees in 2012 are undoubtedly keeping an eye on McDonnell, who has generated buzz as a potential vice presidential pick. He has met in Richmond this year with two of them – former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who joined the race, and former U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, who is considering it.
McDonnell enjoyed a 77-11 approval split among Republicans, 59-24 percent among independents. Democrats, meanwhile, disapproved by a 42-33 percent margin.
The state’s other two top office holders fared well, too. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling had a 39-20 percent approval rating, and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli received a 49-31 approval split.
Elsewhere in the poll, 52 percent of Virginians oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to marry; voters approved a constitutional ban on gay marriage in 2006. However, 51 percent support allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.
The poll, conducted between June 21-27, has a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. Live interviewers surveyed 1,434 registered voters over land lines and cell phones.
