Accuracy of Approval Ratings

       Do you approve?

       In a recent Boston Globe article, Governor Charlie Baker was once again named America's most popular governor. After working in the governor's office I can't help but think where these approval ratings are coming from. Later in the list, Senator Shaheen and newly elected Senator Hassan were polling at 57% and 55% approval ratings. Senator Elizabeth Warren's rating was said to have dropped according to a new morning consult poll. Governor Sununu struggled to maintain a positive rating among republicans in the New Hampshire state legislature so gathering any approval rating from the general public after such a short time in office is hard for any journalist. After sharing the article on my own social media page I had a few people say they would've voted differently. This consensus comes from a poll on the Globe website itself, which limits the average voter and voters without access to a computer from voicing their opinion. How fair and accurate can an approval rating really be when you're only asking one type of voter?

      Governor Baker is a moderate republican in a very blue state polling at 70% approval with only 18% saying they didn't like the way he currently governs. Personal experience in his office would lead me to believe otherwise, aside from my own opinion of him. I feel he meets the other side of the isle to work on issues facing the commonwealth very effectively. Passing legislation like drug courts, rehabilitation centers, public transportation reform, etc will leave behind a legacy that MA residents can refer to after his time in office. With the good comes the bad, staunch conservatives who are insisted by their daily talk radio hosts that the governor is after their constitutional rights gave him the nickname of "Charlie Faker". This outlook on any legislator is detrimental to furthering their political career. Here is where governor Baker excels, known for his middle of the road style politics and fiscal conservative values has set him up for a potential presidential run. Talk about a 2020 campaign has circulated through various online sources but yet to be confirmed by the governor himself.

        My experience in the Massachusetts state legislature was nothing short of positive. Meeting the likable man many times, I feel confident that he votes in the best interest of his constituents. When attorney general Healey issued her assault weapon ban this summer we heard from many citizens of the commonwealth who expressed their concerns to the governor's office. Many said that the governor needed to take a stand against the ludicrous ban that they felt infringed on their second amendment rights. Call after call the undertone was unpleasant and disappointed with the state house staff as a whole. Vowing to pull their support for the governor, many people rallied on the steps on beacon hill with various gun owner organizations to try and send a message. Governor Baker promised to review the legislation at hand and ultimately did nothing to overturn it. This is where I feel his approval rating dropped.

      The accuracy of approval ratings is often contingent on the demographic of those being polled. If you were to take a poll in Roxbury or Dorchester you would get a vastly different statistic than if you went to Newton or Wellsley. This is where I have a hard time reading articles like this. I would rate the governor positively but I know anyone on the far left or far right would argue my decision. Ultimately, name recognition has given Charlie Baker the prestigious title of America's most popular governor two years in a row now, providing a platform to utilize for bigger and better things.

To reference and form your own opinion, here is the original article, enjoy!

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/11/poll-shows-charlie-baker-most-popular-governor-america-again/lH9aH3EX3lS2wuXeAtzzGO/story.html