Voters Split on Governor Tom Corbett
A new Quinnipiac Poll finds a split job approval rating (39 – 38) for Governor Tom Corbett. While 39% is a relatively low job approval number, pollster Tim Malloy says there is some good news: “He is doing far better than his counterparts; Gov. Scott of Florida, Gov. Kasich of Ohio, who are in negative territory.” A widening gender gap appears to be contributing to Governor Corbett’s lukewarm numbers. “He’s far more popular with men than he is with women,” says Malloy, “There’s an 18 percentage point difference.” That gap was just seven points in the April Quinnipiac Poll. 23% of PA voters are still undecided on Governor Corbett. “It could work for him or against him down the road, but it’s a big number that he would obviously try to solicit and win over,” Malloy tells us.
Today’s poll also finds that by roughly 2 to 1 margins, Pennsylvanians support Marcellus Shale drilling, and a tax on the natural gas drilling companies. Malloy summed it up by saying, “It is drill baby drill, and it is also tax baby tax.” As those Marcellus Shale poll numbers were being released, the State Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee advanced an amended Marcellus Shale “impact fee” proposal, which would direct revenue to affected counties and municipalities.
