According to a Quinnipiac poll released Friday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett’s job approval rating among Pennsylvania residents remains largely unaffected by the Penn State sex abuse scandal. The poll resulted in 47 percent of state residents approving of the governor’s job performance, while 34 percent disapproved.
In November, Mr. Corbett received a 46 percent approval rating, with a 31 percent disapproval rating, an indication that Pennsylvanians do not view him negatively in the wake of ex assistant Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky being charged with child sex abuse.
Mr. Sandusky has since been released from jail, but was re-arrested earlier this week when new charges were brought against him. He has since posted bond and was released from jail for those charges as well.
“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,” Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute said of the results.
The Republican governor received a higher approval rating from Republican voters, 65 percent of whom approved of the way he is handling his responsibilities as governor. In contrast, independent voters gave him a 45 percent approval rating and Democrats gave him a 36 percent approval rating.
There was a closer margin though among voters approval of Penn State choosing to fire former head coach Joe Paterno, as 52 percent approved while 43 percent disapproved. Comparitively, 74 percent of voters approved of the firing of former Penn State University President Graham Spanier.
“By a large majority, Pennsylvanians feel there is too much emphasis on the football program at Penn State,” Mr. 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,” the Quinnipiac Polling Institute official added.
Voters were split over the Republican governor’s handling of the child sex abuse case involving Mr. Sandusky, as 38 percent approved of his actions following Mr. Sandusky’s arrest, while 36 percent disapproved.
After the details of the investigation came out and Mr. Sandusky was released on bail in early November, Mr. Corbett questioned the “openness” at Penn State and called for more legislation regarding disclosure of of on campus crimes.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bill passed between now and the end of this year,” Mr. Corbett told reporters at a news conference after the arrest of Mr. Sandusky.
The poll also showed that voters do not want the state government to financially compensate the child victims involved in the Penn State scandal, as they 48 percent to 42 percent in favor of not compensating them.
“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,” Mr. Malloy The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted Nov. 28-Dec. 5, with a sample of 1,453 registered voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac poll was conducted between Nov. 28th and Dec. 5th, with a sample of 1,453 registered Pennsylvania voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
