The Gonzales Maryland Poll for October was released Thursday, and the results showed approval ratings dropping for Governor Martin O’Malley and President Barack Obama. The poll surveyed 819 registered voters in Maryland who said they were likely to vote in the 2014 General Election.
In an interview aired on WBAL-TV Channel 11, Public Policy Professor and Chair Donald Norris said it’s hard to determine why O’Malley’s approval rating dropped, but a number of laws have taken affect including the controversial gas tax and gun laws.
“O’Malley’s popularity rating if I remember correctly has sort of bounced around. A little bit above 50, a little bit below 50 for some time, so I’m not sure what to make of this,” Norris said.
The poll results showed President Obama’s approval rating dropping from 64% in January to 58% in September. Norris said the government shutdown was a factor, but wondered if the numbers would be higher Thursday with the government back open.
“I think people are concerned about a government shutdown for good reason because the government provides services to the people and when the government is shutdown people can’t get those services,” he said.
Norris also commented on how there is very little wiggle room in the Democratic primary in the race for governor with so many voters undecided and with the poll showing Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown with a twenty-point lead over Attorney General Douglas Gansler.
You can find the full story on WBAL-TV here.
Tags: CAHSS, PublicPolicy, Research
