Minnesota Poll: One year after election, Sen. Klobuchar is riding high

WASHINGTON - Ten months into the job, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has won widespread approval among Minnesotans, with her strongest showings among women and older Minnesotans, a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll has found.

At 61 percent, Klobuchar's approval rating is the highest of any Minnesota senator this decade, beating out the 59 percent garnered by the late Sen. Paul Wellstone in February 2002.

Klobuchar has her detractors too, though. Nearly 20 percent say they disapprove of the job she is doing, with slightly more than one in four men expressing dissatisfaction.

Klobuchar, who won in a landslide last November, was praised by some poll respondents for her work across party lines, particularly in the wake of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.

"She was there for the bridge," said Diane Moshier, 59, a pharmacy co-owner in Little Falls. "When something happens, she's been here taking care of things and making sure there's funds, trying to get things passed so the problem can be fixed."

In recent months, Klobuchar has also championed an array of consumer issues from her seat on the Senate Commerce Committee, with high-profile legislation on lead-contaminated toys and early termination fees for cell phone contracts.

Lee Sheehy, Klobuchar's chief of staff, attributed the senator's high approval ratings to her work on the issues.

"She's advocated for middle-class families, whether it's elder care or cell phones," Sheehy said. "She has been quick and decisive in responding to pressing issues -- the flooding, the issues of our Guard members, the bridge, of course."

Angela High-Pippert, an associate professor of political science at the University of St. Thomas, said that so far, Klobuchar has managed to cut across the usual public perception of politicians.

"People see her as someone who does her homework and offers a fresh perspective," High-Pippert said. "She's not out there showboating, but she's still able to get things done."

The poll, conducted Sept. 18 to 23, surveyed 802 Minnesota adults. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The margin for subgroups is larger.

Chuck Charnstrom, a 33-year-old builder from Waconia, said Klobuchar would do better to concentrate on issues that would have a bigger effect on her constituents, such as lower taxes. "She seems to be in the paper quite a bit spearheading or co-signing different bills out there," Charnstrom said. "I think none of them do anything to help people."

'Just a feeling'

Many poll respondents said they trust the former Hennepin County attorney.

"She seems honest. It's just a feeling," said Ronald Serritslev, a 65-year-old Blaine Realtor who leans Republican. "She's trying to give it a good try before they ruin her in Washington."

Barbara Kopietz, a 52-year-old Republican teacher's aide from Minneapolis, said Klobuchar seems like she has a good head on her shoulders. "She's a hometown girl," Kopietz said. "She just seems pretty steady, common sense."

Like many of those interviewed for this story, Kopietz brought up the image of Klobuchar standing side by side with Republican Sen. Norm Coleman as a symbol of her willingness to put aside partisan politics. But that doesn't mean the good bipartisan feelings have rubbed off much on her colleague. Coleman, who is bracing for a tough reelection run, has a job approval rating of 45 percent.

Above the fray?

High-Pippert, who also directs St. Thomas' Women Studies Department, said that Klobuchar's gender and her law enforcement background may be factors in her honeymoon ratings.

Klobuchar does well among men -- 54 percent approve of the job she is doing -- but has exceptional ratings among women, with 68 percent approval.

"Women candidates are generally seen as a little bit above the fray," High-Pippert said. "They come with a cleaner image." Klobuchar, she said, "would have it anyway with her law enforcement background, but it doesn't hurt in this case that she's a woman."

Researcher Roberta Hovde contributed to this report. Nina Petersen-Perlman • 202-408-2723