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Gov. Butch Otter has received “very favorable” or “somewhat favorable” scores totaling up to 62 percent in the past, but fell to 47 percent in a survey of 400 randomly selected and statistically representative Idaho adults June 15-18, pollster Greg Smith says.
That’s barely above President Barack Obama, who drew a 45 percent favorable rating.
Smith said the decline is likely due to Otter’s support for higher gasoline taxes and user fees to maintain Idaho’s crumbling highways. But the survey was taken only about a month after the 2009 legislative session ended, and negative sentiment could mellow as memories fade, Smith said.
The poll showed a 59 percent favorable rating for U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, 56 percent for Rep. Mike Simpson, 49 percent for Sen. Jim Risch and 47 percent for Rep. Walt Minnick. All but Minnick are Republicans.
Smith, an Eagle Republican, is a former regional director for former U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho.
Sandra Forester: 377-6464
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