The Marquette University Law School just released the results of its latest look at voter sentiment in the Badger state, and it isn't looking good for Governor Scott Walker. 57% of voters now disapprove of the job he’s doing, while 39% approve. Here are the results of the last three Marquette polls:
October 2014: 49% approval, 48% disapproval April 2015: 42% approval, 56% disapproval August 2015: 39% approval, 57% disapproval
Walker’s approval rating since he won the recall had been very stable—half approved, half disapproved. So why the sharp drop in Walker’s support now? Perhaps it’s because his merry band of GOP legislators have doubled down on the crazy, and the stench of corruption and incompetence has finally turned the stomachs of the independents who had been propping him up. Below are just a few of the “highlights” of the start of his second term.
- Walker releases extreme budget that funnels more money to corporations and expands school choice. The public schools in rural Wisconsin are definitely hurting due to his education cuts and continued attacks on teachers.
- Walker said before the election that right-to-work was not a priority, then he rammed it through with little time for public input. This seriously pissed off a lot of blue collar independents—they were okay with teachers and librarians losing their bargaining rights since Scotty kept reassuring them that he had no interest in messing around with private sector unions, but then he threw them under the bus.
- The outrageous corruption and incompetence taking place at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has made Walker look really bad. This was supposed to the crown jewel of his economic strategy, and it is a complete mess.
- The $250 million cuts to the University of Wisconsin did not go over well with the public. Changes to tenure and the botched attempt to change the mission statement of the university alienated independents who value our university system.
- Walker’s bait-and-switch on abortion was breathtakingly brazen. Last fall he assured women of Wisconsin that abortion was an issue to be decided by a woman and her doctor, then after the election he pushed through more restrictions.
Scotty hasn't ever been that popular in this state, but until recently he’s always had a slight edge among independents. That advantage is now gone, and it’s not just his extreme policies driving the disapproval—it’s also the sleazy way he goes about getting what he wants. Wisconsin residents have seen this dog and pony show for a few years now, and his divisive bait-and-switch tactics are wearing thin on the body politic. Small consolation for those of us who knew he was bad news from the start, but at least this latest poll will get some national notice as he runs around the country trying to sound as bigoted and crazy as Donald Trump.
2 more poll tidbits: Hillary leads Bernie 44%-32% General election: Clinton 47%, Bush 42%; Clinton 52%, Walker 42%. (Bernie not included in Marquette's general election polling)
