Capitolwire: Corbett’s job approval rating ticks up, but voters split on his handling of PSU scandal, Q-Poll says.

By Kevin Zwick
Staff Reporter
Capitolwire

HARRISBURG (Dec. 9) – Gov. Tom Corbett’s overall job approval rating increased one percentage point since early November, while voters split on his handling of the child sex scandal at Penn State University, according to the latest poll from the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

A “slim” majority of voters also said they supported the Board of Trustees decision to fire former Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno, according to the poll.

“The Penn State scandal is the biggest story in the Keystone State, but it apparently has not affected how voters view their first-year governor,” said assistant polling director Tim Malloy.

Voters polled gave Corbett an overall job approval rating of 47–34 percent, compared to 46–31 percent on November 10, according to the poll. Corbett’s approval among Republicans is 65-20 percent, and 45–35 percent among independent voters, while Democrats disapprove 43–36 percent.

And when asked how they thought Corbett handled the child sex abuse case involving former football coach Jerry Sandusky, voters’ approval split, 38-36 percent.

Corbett’s 47 percent overall job approval rating shows the first increase since his year-high of 50-32 percent on Sept. 29. His job approval rating dropped to 46-31 percent approval on Nov. 10.

This month’s poll also breaks down the polling data based on annual household income, whether they had a college degree, age, and military households. It also presents some data of those polled that identified as white and were Protestant or Catholic.

Based on annual household income, Corbett’s job approval rating was highest among those with an income greater than $100,000, 56-34 percent. For those polled who earn $50,000 to $100,000, 47 – 36 percent; for those polled who earn $30,000 to $50,000, 43–40 percent; and for households that earn less than $30,000, 44–33 percent approve, according to the poll.

Among voters polled who have a college degree, 44-41 percent approve. For those polled who did not have a college degree, 49–31 percent approve.

Corbett’s job approval is highest among voters aged 50-64 years old, 50-33 percent; among the 65-plus-aged voters polled, 49-30 percent; and among 18-49 year olds, 44-38 percent.

Half the military households approve of Corbett’s handling of the governor post, 50-31 percent.

Among white Protestants, Corbett has a 54-29 percent approval rating, and among white Catholics, 53-31.

PENN STATE SCANDAL

Voters also support the decision to fire former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, “by a slim 52 – 43 percent majority,” but support the firing of former University President Graham Spanier by a 74 – 13 percent margin

“University presidents come and go, but Joe Paterno…Pennsylvania voters have more love for the legendary football coach than for Graham Spanier, but they agree that Joe must go,” Malloy stated in the polling memo.

There is no gender gap in voter reaction to either firing, according to the polling memo.

Voters with a college degree support the Paterno firing 63 – 32 percent while voters without a degree are split 47 – 47 percent. White Protestants oppose the firing 49 – 44 percent while white Catholics support it 52 – 45 percent, according to the poll, which says there are no such divisions over the firing of Spanier.

Voters say 48-42 percent that the state should not financially compensate the alleged victims if Sandusky is found guilty. Women are divided 44 – 46 percent on whether to pay the victims while men oppose payment 49 – 40 percent.

Based on annual household income, voters making less than $30,000 per year support payments to the victims, 51 – 38 percent, but opposition to payments is 50 – 42 percent among voters making $30,000 to $50,000; 54 – 37 percent among voters making $50,000 to $100,000; and 51 – 41 percent among voters making more than $100,000, according to the poll.

Sixty-five percent of voters think football has too much influence at Penn State, while 4 percent say “not enough influence,” and 25 percent say “about the right amount of influence,” the polling says. Feelings are about the same among all groups, according to the memo.

But voters say 67 – 18 percent that it’s a “bad idea” for Penn State to decline a bowl bid. Again there is agreement among all groups.

“By a large majority, Pennsylvanians feel there is too much emphasis on the football program at Penn State,” Malloy stated. “Clearly the scandal has shaken the university to its foundations and may forever reshape its football program despite the clear indication from our polling that Pennsylvanians don’t want the players or team penalized.”

From Nov. 28 – Dec. 5, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,453 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. Live interviewers called landlines and cell phones.

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