Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s reelection prospects are improving as voters approve 58 – 32 percent of the job he is doing, and say 50 – 41 percent that he deserves to be reelected, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday.
A July 19 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University showed job approval at 51 – 33 percent while voters said 46 – 43 percent that he did not deserve four more years.
Backing another term for Gov. Branstad are Republicans 81 – 11 percent and independent voters 50 – 40 percent, with Democrats opposed 72 – 19 percent. There is a large gender gap as men say four more years 58 – 36 percent while 43 percent of women say yes and 45 percent say no.
There is also a gender gap on the governor’s job approval as men approve 65 – 29 percent while women approve 52 – 35 percent. Approval is 88 – 7 percent among Republicans and 57 – 31 percent among independent voters, while Democrats disapprove 61 – 29 percent.
Branstad is close to 50 percent in races against three possible Democratic challengers:
49 – 33 percent over State Sen. Jack Hatch;
50 – 32 percent over State Rep. Tyler Olson;
49 – 31 percent over former State Rep. Bob Krause.
“Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad enters his re-election year in better shape than when we looked five months ago. He defeats his three potential Democratic opponents by 16 points or more and has the kind of job approval that usually goes along with comfortable reelections,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“Of course anything is possible with 11 months until Election Day.”
“But with 71 percent of Iowa voters satisfied with the way things are going in the state, and more than six in 10 seeing the governor as honest and a strong leader, whoever emerges from the Democratic field will face an uphill climb to the governor’s mansion,” Brown added.
Iowa voters give Gov. Branstad high marks for character, saying:
61 – 29 percent that he is honest and trustworthy;
67 – 27 percent that he is a strong leader;
56 – 37 percent that he cares about their needs and problems.
Voters say 30 – 14 percent that Branstad’s time in office makes them less likely rather than more likely to vote for him, while 54 percent say it makes no difference.
