Florida Gov. Crist Unpopular For the First Time

Rising gas prices, the falling real estate market and deep state budget cuts have not only brought South Florida's economy to a crawl, they've deflated the once sky-high approval ratings of Gov. Charlie Crist, according to a new Miami Herald poll.

The governor is doing a fair to poor job of handling South Florida issues, according to 52 percent of the people surveyed by Zogby International in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. That compares with 43 percent who say he's doing a good to excellent job.

It's the first time in Crist's 18 months in office that more people give the Republican a negative rating than a positive one. The one area South Floridians criticize him most: property taxes.

''This is what happens to chief executives when the economy is down,'' said pollster John Zogby. ``He was doing well across the board and now the fact that a sitting Republican governor who was polling 54 percent is down to 43 percent is a sign the recession is maturing.''

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Trittydi]

Good. Turncoat.
*

[ObamAtomic]

Governor Crist decided is more convenient to closed some schools, and spend more money
on prison.Health hardship is rampant on the state, jobs loss skyrocketed

Unemployment compensation denied by the hundreds every week,.
Crist being trotting with McCain around the country,failing to tender matters of the state.
I do not see how good he will be good for McCain? His popularity is like Bush,

[ObamAtomic]

my comments are being removed for words filters..haha

[ObamAtomic]

.
Crist is not popular on Florida,where?

[ObamAtomic]

Crist can be out or in,whatever.Crist.

[ObamAtomic]

Beware McCain might pick Jebb Bush for vp.

[ObamAtomic]

Crist and McCain ticket for destruction.

[meltingpot101]

I live in Fl., and Crist has become more disappointing by the day. His constant blind support of McSame is going to cost him more than poll numbers. Here are just a few of the less than beneficial things he is allowing and even endorsing that people who live here are not happy about.

Agreeing with McSame about offshore drilling

Allowing Florida Power and Light to build a Fossil Fuel Power Plant just 500 feet away from the Florida Everglades. Do you know how much Sugar Cane is grown in this state, Brazil is dependant on no one for oil...their source Sugar Cane.

Pretending to significantly lower realestate taxes when the average homeowner only saves aprox. $200 dollars anually. This same bill cut funds to Firefighters and Police.

He claims to want to pay teachers more, still waiting.

A state as rich as Fl. should noe be below the national standards in public education.

After the GE and McSame is sent packing I HOPE he takes Crist with him.

[SlithyTove]

Crist does look decidedly, incontrovertibly gay...he'd make a better 'Mango' than Chris Kattan.

[CindyInIndy]

Slipping in the polls? C'mon. THAT is funny.

When the rating drops low enough, he'll waltz out his latest girlfriend -- who may be wearing a diamond... or carrying Clay Aiken's baby... or ...oh the possibilities are positively dreamy!

[schicklett3]

Crist is backing John McCain's offshore drilling nonsense, and that, my friends, is why his poll numbers are falling. McCain was in California today with Arnold Schwartzneger, and the protesters were out in full force. McCain is making NO friends with his drilling nonsense, and anyone who supports him on this issue will surely be ousted in the coming election.

I wonder when Arnold will come to his senses and turn Democrat?

[GuyFawkes]

If Crist is McDubya's VP, I have a pretty good guess what his October surprise will be.

[MizLiz]

Darn, and I wanted McCain to pick him for Veep. That would have been the icing on the cake.

[Americanium]

The writing is on the wall...Someone needs to interpret the writings.

One snake about to be eaten by another. ( McCain v Crist)

[TheKnownTruth]

Good for Crist. Finally his numbers are starting head in the direction he deserves. He is s Bush puppet like McCain. Maybe those retirees are starting to wake up from their 2000 and 2004 error in judgment and starting to think about the choices they are making..... But we'll see...

[kinnycut]

I'm from Florida and I can tell you that Crist is one of the worst Florida Governors ever. His policies, or the policies he has backed will have a bad effect on Florida for years to come.

[meltingpot101]

So true.

[nanapat]

I'm a Florida resident also and I truly agree with you.. He snowed people into voting for him and now too late those people are waking up.. And unfortunately he also snowed them into voting Yes on his Amendment One which was backed by the Fla Realtor Board and the Fla Home Builder's and now his Amendment One is costing those same voter's more than they got for it..

I hope McC take's him so that Florida can appoint a Gov to replace him..

[rbenjamin]

Another GOP politician discovers his party is radioactive. What to do?

[apoyo]

Taking money from education and giving more to prisons should not increase your popularity.

[TheOneironaut]

It just goes to show that any republican that sits and acts like its nothing wrong with his party is in jeopardy!! If the republicans dont "give it up" and come clean...ohhhhh forget it...what do I know!