BLOMENBURY, Rodden. -- A new study has ranked all the nation's 23 governors in respect to approval ratings, and the results are telling.
The two governors with the highest approval ratings are Nationalist women, and on average, female governors had higher approval ratings than their male colleagues.
The study also found voters approve of NAT governors more than CNS state executives.
Data collected during the study, which was conducted by Nelson University's Political and Sociological Studies Department, showed Roddenclanshire Gov. Mona Rodgers (N) with the highest approval rating, at 68%.
Onakiah Gov. Paula Tulane, also a Nationalist, came in second place, with 64% approval, followed by New Portsmouth Gov. Charles Wornkin at 63%.
Conservative Govs. George Garesby of Harvannah and Dale Fulbright of Armana round out the top five, with 62% and 61%, respectively. Both are moderate Conservatives.
Overall, female governors were more popular, with an average approval rating of 59% compared to 51% for male governors.
And NAT governors enjoy higher approval than CNS governors. On average, NAT state executives received a thumbs up from 59% of voters, while Conservative guvs received a good grade from 54%.
There was no noticeable connection found between the governors' political ideologies and popularity. Voters seem to approve and disapprove of moderate and far-left/far-right leaders at a similar rate.
The professors who led the study say they are a variety of reasons why a governor may enjoy high approval or may lag in popularity, but one common factor is likeability.
"Whether or not it's a good reason to approve of a politician, a number of voters base their approval on the person's personality," says Dr. Ken Thunderson, professor of Sociology at Nelson. "'Does the person come across as a nice person?' 'Are they friendly and amiable?' 'Do they fight with their political opponents or do they seek compromise?' Those seem to be common factors in voters' minds when giving approval to a public servant."
Rodgers, for example, hails from a liberal state. She's not a moderate - she's decisively liberal. But she has worked with Conservatives on a number of legislative issues, and she has a likeable personality.
Unlike Rodgers, Onakiah's Paula Tulane is a moderate, and has been vocal in opposing President Brenton Menuhaeo's agenda on many occasions. Her more conservative stances on the issues plays well in centre-right, blue-collar Onakiah.
Contrast that with Carova Gov. Sam Byelle, who governs a Conservative-leaning state. Despite his views being in line with that of most Carovans, he still holds the worst approval rating - only 45%.
Byelle barely won re-election in 2014, and many dissatisfied voters in his state cited his many years in politics combined with his perceived lack of interest in the job were their reasons for disapproving of his performance.
Marchenay Gov. David Brown's (C) unpopularity can largely attributed to his serious personality. The former businessman and real estate mogul is more introverted and not as charismatic as most politicians. He often seems anti-social and uptight at public events. He won the governorship in 2014 notably based on a campaign of economic recovery, but has been widely criticized for a perceived lack of concern for social justice issues.
And then there are surprises, like Biereland Gov. Ben Jordan (C), whose hardline conservative positions on immigration and Islamic terrorism angered many Bierelanders and alienated minorities.
Even though the former prosecutor remains one of the most controversial figures in Grassadellian politics, his approval rating is still in positive territory, standing at 52%.
Surprisingly, Conservative Govs. Donna Almone (POG) and Tony Ritonio (Kalnier), who are both prominent rising stars in their party, have modest approval ratings, both at 56%.
And curiously, Damoign Gov. Rod Penora (N), who is known for his frequent profanity, derogatory comments and short temper, still has a high approval rating of 59%.
Voters may not like his personality, but they seem satisfied with how he's governing the state.
There are many factors at play, says Dr. Rufus Greenwald, who co-authored the study.
"There is no one issue that determines popularity for elected officials. It's part personality, part public perception, part economic strength or lack of strength, part bipartisanship, part national mood, part party ID. There are a number of factors that influence someone's approval," says Greenwald.
Overall, Grassadellia's governors appear to have positive numbers. Only three had approval ratings under 50%.
Most political analysts agree an incumbent politician who has an approval rating below 50% is at high risk to lose re-election.
The two governors with the highest approval ratings are Nationalist women, and on average, female governors had higher approval ratings than their male colleagues.
The study also found voters approve of NAT governors more than CNS state executives.
Data collected during the study, which was conducted by Nelson University's Political and Sociological Studies Department, showed Roddenclanshire Gov. Mona Rodgers (N) with the highest approval rating, at 68%.
Onakiah Gov. Paula Tulane, also a Nationalist, came in second place, with 64% approval, followed by New Portsmouth Gov. Charles Wornkin at 63%.
Conservative Govs. George Garesby of Harvannah and Dale Fulbright of Armana round out the top five, with 62% and 61%, respectively. Both are moderate Conservatives.
Overall, female governors were more popular, with an average approval rating of 59% compared to 51% for male governors.
And NAT governors enjoy higher approval than CNS governors. On average, NAT state executives received a thumbs up from 59% of voters, while Conservative guvs received a good grade from 54%.
There was no noticeable connection found between the governors' political ideologies and popularity. Voters seem to approve and disapprove of moderate and far-left/far-right leaders at a similar rate.
The professors who led the study say they are a variety of reasons why a governor may enjoy high approval or may lag in popularity, but one common factor is likeability.
"Whether or not it's a good reason to approve of a politician, a number of voters base their approval on the person's personality," says Dr. Ken Thunderson, professor of Sociology at Nelson. "'Does the person come across as a nice person?' 'Are they friendly and amiable?' 'Do they fight with their political opponents or do they seek compromise?' Those seem to be common factors in voters' minds when giving approval to a public servant."
Rodgers, for example, hails from a liberal state. She's not a moderate - she's decisively liberal. But she has worked with Conservatives on a number of legislative issues, and she has a likeable personality.
Unlike Rodgers, Onakiah's Paula Tulane is a moderate, and has been vocal in opposing President Brenton Menuhaeo's agenda on many occasions. Her more conservative stances on the issues plays well in centre-right, blue-collar Onakiah.
Contrast that with Carova Gov. Sam Byelle, who governs a Conservative-leaning state. Despite his views being in line with that of most Carovans, he still holds the worst approval rating - only 45%.
Byelle barely won re-election in 2014, and many dissatisfied voters in his state cited his many years in politics combined with his perceived lack of interest in the job were their reasons for disapproving of his performance.
Marchenay Gov. David Brown's (C) unpopularity can largely attributed to his serious personality. The former businessman and real estate mogul is more introverted and not as charismatic as most politicians. He often seems anti-social and uptight at public events. He won the governorship in 2014 notably based on a campaign of economic recovery, but has been widely criticized for a perceived lack of concern for social justice issues.
And then there are surprises, like Biereland Gov. Ben Jordan (C), whose hardline conservative positions on immigration and Islamic terrorism angered many Bierelanders and alienated minorities.
Even though the former prosecutor remains one of the most controversial figures in Grassadellian politics, his approval rating is still in positive territory, standing at 52%.
Surprisingly, Conservative Govs. Donna Almone (POG) and Tony Ritonio (Kalnier), who are both prominent rising stars in their party, have modest approval ratings, both at 56%.
And curiously, Damoign Gov. Rod Penora (N), who is known for his frequent profanity, derogatory comments and short temper, still has a high approval rating of 59%.
Voters may not like his personality, but they seem satisfied with how he's governing the state.
There are many factors at play, says Dr. Rufus Greenwald, who co-authored the study.
"There is no one issue that determines popularity for elected officials. It's part personality, part public perception, part economic strength or lack of strength, part bipartisanship, part national mood, part party ID. There are a number of factors that influence someone's approval," says Greenwald.
Overall, Grassadellia's governors appear to have positive numbers. Only three had approval ratings under 50%.
Most political analysts agree an incumbent politician who has an approval rating below 50% is at high risk to lose re-election.
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