October 26, 2005

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Janet Napolitano keeps a high level of public backing in the Grand Canyon State, according to a poll by the Social Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University. 70 per cent of respondents in Arizona approve of the way the governor is handling her job.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Janet Napolitano keeps a high level of public backing in the Grand Canyon State, according to a poll by the Social Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University. 70 per cent of respondents in Arizona approve of the way the governor is handling her job.

Napolitano—a Democrat—has acted as Arizona's governor since January 2003. The former state attorney general defeated Republican Matt Salmon in the November 2002 election by just over 20,000 ballots.

Earlier this month, Napolitano testified before the House Homeland Security Committee, along with Texas' Rick Perry and New Mexico's Bill Richardson. Napolitano urged for assistance, saying, "We have lost operational control of the border in Arizona. In its own way, that has become a disaster for us and one for which we need federal help."

The Arizona State Legislature holds considerably lower numbers. Only 40 per cent of respondents approve of the job state lawmakers are doing, up two points since March. The next election is scheduled for November 2006.

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Janet Napolitano is handling her job as governor of Arizona?

	Oct. 2005	Mar. 2005
Approve	70%	70%
Disapprove	19%	17%
Don't know	11%	13%

What about the state legislature? Do you approve or disapprove of the job the state legislature is doing?

	Oct. 2005	Mar. 2005
Approve	40%	38%
Disapprove	30%	32%
Don't know	30%	30%

Source: Social Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 406 Arizona adults, conducted from Oct. 13 to Oct. 16, 2005. Margin of error is 4.9 per cent.