(CNN) – It looks like Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's backing of President Obama stimulus package isn't hurting his approval ratings among Republican voters.
A Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday finds the Republican governor received an impressive 68 percent approval rating from members of his own party - the same numbers he drew in November, before he appeared with the president at an event plugging the stimulus plan. He draws roughly the same positive ratings from Democrats and Independents: 66 percent of Democrats and 68 percent of Independents approve of the job Crist is doing during his time in office.
Crist's 25 percent disapproval rating among Republican voters is sightly higher than the 20 percent of Democrats who give him negative marks.
"There may be some GOP activists who think Gov. Charlie Crist isn't conservative enough, but they aren't striking a chord around the state," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Across America, an awful lot of governors are seeing their approval ratings dip as the recession requires higher taxes and cuts in government programs, but Teflon Charlie keeps chugging along with numbers that most of his fellow governors would die for."
Fifty-eight percent of voters, a slightly lower number, believe the governor should be re-elected if he chooses to run for a second term.
The Quinnipiac University telephone poll of 1,332 Florida voters was conducted April 6-13, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
From CNN Politics
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You don't say! The most ardent Republican Governor supporting President Obama's stimulus is wildly popular?! Get outta town! WAKE UP, GOP. If you follow Crist's lead, you might end up out of the woods. If you follow Sanford's lead, you'll wind up lost in the Amazon for a long, long time.
He and a handfull of politicians on the right understand and apreciate our democracy and what the young men and women fight for, not only or rights as individuals but our copllective decisions/vots as a nation.
Keep up the good work Crist
And I am an Independent!
Looks like bipartisanship is alive and well if you have someone with common sense.
Other Republicans should take note of this. All it takes is an effort to help our country in a fair, honest and open way. Good Luck Gov. Crist
Crist / Octomom 2012 !
Wow, it's Leslie Neilson. Must be another Naked Gun movie comming out.
WOW.....will Rush Limbaugh vilify Crist? Will the Republican party pull his funding for the next election? Will Dick Cheney say Crist is making America less secure?
These seem to be the actions being taken against any Republican who is intelligent enough to realize good policies being enacted by either party.
I applaud Crist for having the guts to stand up for what he sees as correct for his constituents.....and not for what he is being TOLD is important by the GOP National Committee.
I think he would make an excellent senator.
As a Democrat, I can definately say he deserves the high praise. I may not agree with all of his policies but I feel he is my Governor and not just the Republicans.
The party of "NO" loses again.
He is the ONLY real competition President Obama has in the next election. The others are only kidding themselves and their delusional supporters.
I am a FL democrat and love this guy. He is the one that did not allow himself to be seen with George Bush. He also did not disenfranchise the voters of the State by increasing the voting hrs in the last election. I will vote for him when he runs again
Charlie is a true politican. He knows how to read the current sentiments of his people. He is a true moderate Republican which is what the Republican party needs right now. He even married his beard to get in better with the higher ups in the GOP.
Good luck Charlie!
Cue the inevitable onslaught of neo-cons claiming that Crist isn't really a conservative, is a Republican In Name Only, etc.
There is no doubt that Crist is far more conservative than I am, but at least he seems like a reasonable, rational person, a quality that is in fast decline in the GOP.
There's a lesson here for the GOP .... don't fight an book smart and street smart, affable, handsome, well liked President ... just for the sake of fighting him.
Demonstrate where you can work together with him. Then pick your battles wisely.
Gov. Crist would have this girl's vote. He supported the stimulus package, and he continues to reject the failed policies of the Bush Administration. You get your seat governor.
HE HAS THE DEMS VOTE.
wow, look what happens when a Republican is moderate and REASONABLE...
The GOP needs to realize they must strike further towards the middle. Despite this, they keep heading even farther to the right...
anyone who thinks Limbaugh/Hannity/Coulter, Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal or that nutcase Michelle Bachmann are the voice or the future of their party need to prepare themselves for being in the MINORITY for a long time...
WAKE UP, REPUBLICANS!!!! Your intolerance and far-right extremism are getting you NOWHERE. Take a lesson from ol' Charlie...
His approval is high b/c he's putting country first!! I tip my hat off to common sense moderates.....
Hey GOP, Crist is your man if you want ANY future credibility. He is a moderate, he's practical and he gets things done. Forget Palin or you are doomed!
I would expect nothing less from the public, than to support an honest American
People like Crist's deserves the high rating for having the guts to vote his conscience rather than his parties directive
Right now there are only 2 Republicans in the country that can save the party: Crist and Huckabee
I like Gov Crist. He appears to possess common sense, is fair and open to new ideas in a bipartisan way – maybe the rest of the GOP should take note, behave in the same civilized manner and come to the table with ideas.
TO NYC REPUB – AMEN! I am a Democrat, but not a liberal, and I think the moderates on BOTH sides of the aisle are doing what's right. As we have seen, Florida is basically split 50/50 between the Dems and the Repubs, and being moderate makes sure he represents the interests of all of his consitutents. Kudos Governor Crist.
My guess is that it basically says people arent happy with this plan and its cost but that the problems are bad enough that sitting back and doing nothing... or the republican idea of how to fix it... is worse or non-existent. They have decided to give it a chance so they will support the effort and the leaders who do so also. Kind of like how Bush's popularity went up after 9/11. It wasnt a real reflection of peoples attitude about his policies but he was our president and we rightly rallied around him... or Gore if he had won.
Keep up the good work Crist and I am a democrat.
Hopefully he's about the facts and not the sideshows that are dominating the G.O.P.
I think this poll shows that 25-35% of the country is too far right-wing, even for the Republican party.
Maybe Jindal and Sanford should take notes it's not the GOP it's the ones who just say no.
Soon to be number one on Boss Limbaugh's hit list.
He's popular even with that beard!
You can keep all of the GOP Candidates. Members of the GOP voted for, or approved of, The Bush-Cheney Torture Program and The Bailout of Wall Street and the Oil Companies. It is time for the Freedom of Information Act to be used to expose the corruption within the GOP. Follow the email messages!
He's Version! There are thousands of others....
McCain should have asked him to come on the ticket instead of Palin. He might just have won.
As a proud liberal democrat who has a conscious and therefore could never be a republican I do find that Christ is one of the FEW republicans who actually seems to care about his constituents and not the uber rich.
WOW Just think how high the Rest of the GOP approval would go If they acted like MEN AND SUPPORTED THE NEW PRESIDENT IN GETTING SOME WORK DONE FOR THE NATION, INSTEAD OF ACTING LIKE SELFISH SPOILED CHILDREN WITH NO CLUE
Gov. Charlie Crist was voted in office by the people of Florida, not by the Republicans in Washington and he hasn't forgotten that like many Republican governors. Gov. Crist is just doing his job and I might say well done.
That's my boy....Go Charlie Fl loves you!!
Extremist he isn't. Which makes him like the 3rd or 4th member of the GOP to stay moderate and not just fool around with people's heartstrings to get an emotional reaction out of them by using wedge issues. This guy Crist actually uses common sense. Please GOP, emmulate this guy and breed.... they need it more than ever!
As a Floridian, I give high marks to Crist for backing Obama, but very low marks for gutting the education budget while at the same time leaving sales tax exemptions for his buddies industries in a completely heartless and corrupt budget balancing process.
The GOP activists aren't striking a chord anywhere.
It appears that Gov. Crist is the Gov. of the people of Florida and he makes decisions based on what he considers to be best for the peope of Florida. That is the job of a Governor. Maybe he should run a Governors 101 class for Democrat and Republican Governors.
I live in Jacksonville Florida and I think he is a fair governor. I did vote for him, and I think he is the best guy to handle Florida. We have budget problems as well, and as a state we needed someone who is not concern with party politics, but helping Florida as a whole.
if only Charlie could ever make up his mind about anything......
Uh-oh, a rational Republican is favored in FL?
Lush will NOT be pleased!
His approved ticket is Sanford and the half-wit, so he will see that you never take these numbers outside of Florida!
Yeah, I'm sure all of you slobbering over him will change your tune if he decides to run in 2012 after your boy's job. Hypocricy is not reserved only for the right. BTW we Floridians approve of the way he is governing our state.
When are the Republicans going to learn?
Independents are going to lead us to the next major party!
And Limbaugh and his cronies will be relegated to the backseat in the carseats because of their childish actions.
The only good thing I can say about Limbaugh (LimBomb) is he is the best example of a bad example I have every seen. Teach your children well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a democrat and I love Charlie!
Gov Crist is a good man he really cares about his people and that's
why he has good numbers and he's about common sense not party lines and that's why he has my vote in 2012 .
I am a lifelong Floridia democrat who will vote for Crist's second term governorship or first time senator! He truly listens to his constituents! Great job Charlie!
I like Chuck... as I am center right. I agree with many posts here that his kind would be better for the Republican party. Too many far from center people in gov... from both sides. Most of the country is center either to the right or the left yet it seems so many that win positions are extreme.
Republicans like Charlie Crist are a refreshing change from the "Hate everything" crowed that is lead by Boss Limbaugh.
Beware Democrats this is the type of man who can make inroads with independents and conservative democrats. That's if he can survive the wrath of right wing extremest for daring to support the stimulus.
Well done Crist you show grace and civility.
I hope the GOP continues to act like children and not pay attention to this Governor.
He is smart, well liked and chooses his battles wisely. And if he runs in 2012 we will definitely have another heart pounding election on our hands.
Palin/Jindal 2012
Christ is the ONLY Republican I have respect for. At least he has a brain and uses it. Notice the rest of the Republicans didn't like Christ for thinking and being realistic by backing Obama's plan. Christ is the ONLY Republican who cares enough about the rest of us to WORK TOGETHER.
I thought every American put country first including there own life but most of these conservitive say me...me.me...except Govern Christ a real American.
Crist is a loser...he supported the gay adoption ban...how's all those homeless foster kids there in Florida doing? You big self-loathing homophobe!
Its not just his support of the stimulus plan. He ran a clean election in 2008, was elected without getting nasty, and he stands up to the wackos in our state legislature. There will be a lot of time for him to lose my vote, but for now he's got it, and it will be the first vote I ever cast for a republican.
Here in Florida we like Crist because he is a common sense kind of guy who helped the state when we need it not play partisan.
Im a Florida Demorcrat and I voted for Crist and would vote for him again if he chose to run. I am not anit Repub. just because I am a demorcrat I vote for the most qualified and I think Crist is great for Florida....
Of course! the people who vote for him are hungry, homeless and unempolyed. They need the money, at least he recognizes that. He needs to convince his counterparts to do the same...or not , then we have good reason to vote their arses out!!
I knew he was a decent guy when he opened the Florida polls for longer hours during early voting, much against Republican Party wishes. He instead thought of his constituents standing in long lines for hours especially the strain it was taking on the elderly. He put the people ahead of his party.
I think the governor of Florida is attending to the people needs who voted him in office. I am a democrate and I admire anyone who think of others and that put politics aside. He is okay with me you know.
Crist is a rare Republican these days who thinks for himself. Fix News, Rush and Newt the Grinch doesn't tell him what to do nor do they threaten him. We need more of these kind of leaders who can lead with ideas not exaggerated claims...
Well, he is moderate. Like most citizens. And he can think for himself, doesn't feel it is necessary to follow the party line. You know...average.
I am a lib-dem from Austin and have been a supporter of Crist for some time now. I like who he is and what he stands for; he actually reminds me a lot of Pres Obama.
When you care about the people you are working for, in which the majority are blue-collar working class folks, they see this and respond regardless of their political affiliation.
Of course it is. People in the real world care about their own lives, not the made-up BS controversy of the week that Washington Republicans really really want people to care about.
Trotting out Jindal, Palin, Pawlenty, Steele and other hapless morons really isn't helping their cause, either.
The sad thing is, he'll get eviscerated in the primary if he runs in 2012 and he probably won't make it past Super Tuesday. If he does, it will have meant that he kowtowed to the far right, and ran the typical GOP campaign against gays and called everything that benefits the country as a whole a socialist power grab.
Maybe bipartisanship has something to do with it?
He would have a chance if he became a democrate. The word republican (which I was for 40 years) has become the voice of the radical right wing like the guy who blew up that building in OK City and the guy who shot those three policemen in Pittsburg!! Crist-get OUT of the republican party!!!
crist's my gov. i support him wholeheartedly and im so glad i live in fl where my gov isn't entirely consumed with political calculation and ideology.
Say what you want to about Crist, but he always knows which way the wind is blowing.
We do like Crist down here in Florida. But, remember, he is a republican and supportd McCain/Palin in the election. Trust me, he is no fan of Obama.
Where would we all be? without conflict? 1776... But a new revolt?
Crist supported the President, so of course his approval rating will go up. I can't say the same for Palin, Jindal and that S.C. governor.
Christ is a hack. he has done nothing here in Florida. He let the insurance companies drop all their home owners insurance coverage , but let them continue to sell car insurance after he campaigned he wouldn't let that happen. He has done nothing to fix property tax problems. The problems in Florida just keep getting worse and people actually think he's ready to run an even larger goverment in DC?
I dont think he will toe the Rush Limbaugh line,therefore he loses.
You get ratings like this when you actually care about , and serve the people of your state. Meanwhile, over at "Angryville", AKA Fox News, Sean, Ann, Billbo and the dingbat beltway boys are the laughing stock of the nation .... idealogues on crack. Think their opion counts for any votes anymore? Think again. Nice job, Govenor Crist. Keep up the good works.
RAG, he didn't support Obama. He was one of McCain's biggest supporters. He was considered for VP. That brings his judgement into question.
Why WOULD backing legislation to fix our economy hurt Crist's approval? Florida Republicans must be smarter than the typical Republican.
The republican mob will strip him for this.
How much more glaring evidence does the GOP need to have shoved in its face that its current course is WRONG? I mean, there's all kinds of evidence that their ideology has failed, but it's understandable that they'll rationalize and do everything they can to explain away facts and evidence proving that. But evidence like this...that the nasty obstructionist rhetoric and behavior is a losing tactic? Nobody's asking for an apology...we'll trade you the fact that we deserve one for you simply changing course, acting like adults and doing everything you can to help bring solutions to DC, rather than just roadblocks.
Crist is one of the few Republicans I can stomach. Didn't grandstand and took the money for his people, I appreciated that. Hope he's gonna stay sane and middle of the road, doing the right thing, instead of aligning himself with the "conspiracy-theory conservative" loons.
This just shows that being a Republican (vs. a Republican't) that can be civil to Obama and support him when as appropriate will be a plus in the next election cycle We'll see the extreme right conservatives Republicants fall by the wayside. This economy is already picking up and everyone in my middle class extended family has gotten an Obama tax cut starting this month so even the half that are Republicans will support people like Charlie C.
He's the GOP's only hope for a decent showing in 2012, because he's NOT a Leave-it-to-Beaver "family values" nutjob.
I'm a Florida Dem and Crist has my vote if he decides to run for a second term or run for senator.
As long as these "GOP activists" keep undercutting popular members of their own party, the GOP as a whole has no chance of being anything more than an impotent, marginalized political group.
Crist may be on to something!! Help your state (by taking the Stimulas money) and not cow-towing to the base! He's too smart to run against Obama in 2012....but look out out in 2016!
Did he get boss limbaugh's blessing for this?
Gov, Crist is not stupid. He saw his state go for Obama in the election. He wants to keep his job and is does not wear that right wing zealotry on his sleeve. He is looking out for his survival not that of some other Republican crackpots
He is one of the few Republicans that I would consider voting for in the future. However, I said the same thing about John McCain when he was a true maverick. Unfortunately, the base got a hold of him and he flip flopped on just every issue and moved back to the extreme right. I'm afraid that this will also happen to Crist. Sad.
As a Florida Democrat, Crist gets my approval because he is pragmatic and not unwilling to consider all sides of an argument. He doesn't act like he values dogma above getting the job done. I have some misgivings about his desire to expand the powers of the executive branch, but on the whole he's doing as well as anyone could...
He is a good Governor and as a democrat...I will support Governor Crist for re-election. He's not a partisan republican and if the Repubs were smart he'd be their nominee, but they're not smart....The party of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and FoX News.