Obama’s Popularity Continues to Decline in W.Va. - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

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Obama’s Popularity Continues to Decline in W.Va.

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By Whitney Burdette - email

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Mountain State residents do not like President Barack Obama, according to a survey released Oct. 7 by Public Policy Polling.

Although Obama lost West Virginia in the 2008 presidential election by only 13 points, 63 percent of poll respondents said they disapprove of Obama's job in the White House. Only 28 percent of respondents approve. PPP has conducted this survey in 45 states. Of those, the only state in which Obama is less popular is Wyoming.

 With the 2012 presidential election on the horizon, how would GOP candidates fare against the president? According to the poll, five major Republican candidates would beat Obama in West Virginia if the election were held today.

Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, would win by 21 points, 55-34. Texas Gov. Rick Perry would win 52-36, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota would win 52-37, Newt Gingrich would win 51-36 and Ron Paul would 48-34. All Republican candidates are gaining traction in West Virginia when compared to pervious polls. Paul was has not been tested in past polls. Republican candidates are better liked compared to Obama. All except Perry have seen their favorability ratings surge. However, Perry's popularity has declined 14 points since the last poll.

The state GOP and other groups attempted to tie Obama to Gov.-elect Earl Ray Tomblin in October's special gubernatorial election. Although those attacks weren't enough to secure a win for Republican nominee Bill Maloney, they could have added to Obama's declining popularity.

"Republican attacks on Barack Obama weren't enough to make Bill Maloney governor," said Dean Debnam, president of PPP. "But they did succeed in making Obama's already poor standing in the state even worse."

According to PPP, Obama's standing against Romney in West Virginia is historically bad. The only Democrat to lose by such a margin was George McGovern in 1972.

PPP surveyed 932 likely West Virginia voters from Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 through automated telephone interviews. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percent. PPP is a Democratic poling company based in Raleigh, N.C., and the poll was not paid for or authorized by any candidate or political organization.