According to a poll conducted by the St. Norbert College Survey Center, fewer than half of Wisconsin voters are satisfied with Gov. Jim Doyle’s job performance.

The telephone survey, conducted from April 1 to April 9, asked 400 state residents about their feelings toward Doyle’s methods of leadership. The results showed 45 percent of those polled said they were either very or somewhat satisfied with Doyle’s performance, leaving 55 percent of respondents unhappy with the governor’s performance.

This latest survey shows the lowest approval rating for Doyle recorded by the Center since the governor took office in 2003. At this time last year, Doyle’s approval rating was 59 percent.

The pollsters also asked voters if they thought the state was moving in the right direction, if they were satisfied with the work of the Legislature and if they approved of certain state policy issues. Only 28 percent of respondents expressed approval of Doyle’s proposed budget to deal with the state’s record budget shortfall.

In an e-mail to The Badger Herald, Doyle spokesperson Lee Sensenbrenner brushed off the poll results, saying polls will vary as the election draws closer. According to Sensenbrenner, the most important issue for Doyle is getting the state’s economy back on track.

“Gov. Doyle has been working at the highest levels to make sure we take steps that are open and accountable and that produce results,” Sensenbrenner said. “[He] is focused on making the right strategic investments that will improve our infrastructure and make Wisconsin a cleaner, healthier and safer place to live.”

Doyle has not yet announced whether he intends to run for re-election in 2010.

University of Wisconsin political science professor Charles Franklin said the poll is not the only evidence of Doyle’s decreasing support and added Doyle should not be too “ruffled” by the poll since the next election is still far away.

“It is a long time between now and Election Day, and I don’t think there is any reason for the Doyle campaign to panic, and there is no reason for the Republicans to gloat at this point,” Franklin said.

Franklin also said the poll is quite reliable because the St. Norbert College Survey Center is an established polling place with a lot of experience. He added although having 400 respondents seems like too few to measure accurate public opinion, the randomness of the calls makes this a good representation.

Mark Jefferson, executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party, said the poll shows Doyle should take full responsibility for the condition of the state.

“With unemployment now surpassing the national average for the first time in a long time and the governor’s policy of increasing spending by 8 percent, I think the average voter is seeing a disparity between the problems they face and the governor’s reaction to them,” Jefferson said.

The St. Norbert College Survey Center began operating in 1984 as a survey research facility designed to serve the needs of St. Norbert College and the broader community. Wisconsin Public Radio funds the center.