Gov. Jim Doyle's approval rating is at an all-time low according to a new poll released Tuesday.
The survey, conducted by Wisconsin Public Radio and St. Norbert's College, showed 34 percent of Wisconsin residents approve of Doyle's job performance. The number is down 11 percentage points from 2009 and is the lowest rating of his tenure in office. The survey also found that 50 percent of Wisconsin residents disapprove of Doyle.
Doyle is in his second term as governor and will not run for re-election in the upcoming gubernatorial race.
UW-Madison political science professor Charles Franklin said declining approval for lame-duck officials is typical.
""With him out of the race, Doyle is not pumping out positive news stories about himself as he would be if he were running for re-election. The news coverage on the governor's race is being driven by the three main candidates and none of [them] … have any particular reason to speak up for Doyle,"" Franklin said.
The survey also reported a 32 percent approval rating for the Democrat-controlled state Legislature. Additionally, GOP gubernatorial candidates Mark Neumann and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker have comfortable leads on Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the Democratic candidate.
Barrett campaign spokesperson Phil Walzak said the campaign is not concerned with the current figures.
""With election day seven months away, it's hard to say what any poll can tell us about what will happen on Nov. 2, but we do know that Tom Barrett has the record and the message that's going to resonate with voters and that's going to carry him to victory,"" Walzak said.
According to Franklin, recent state budget policies have harmed the image of state Democrats.
""There simply hasn't been much positive, happy things coming out of the Capitol for a couple of years at least now, and I think that Democratic control necessarily has damaged their image in the state,"" Franklin said.
Franklin also said the national political atmosphere has harmed state Democrats.
""The history of midterm elections is that whichever party is in the White House tends to suffer in the midterm election … and at the moment, we are seeing probably the low point for Democrats in the country right now,"" Franklin said.
