Most approve of response to state disasters, poll finds

By a big margin, Minnesota politicians got good marks for their work after the 35W bridge fell and floodwaters rose.

By Bob Von Sternberg, Star Tribune

Last update: September 13, 2007 - 8:48 PM

Minnesotans generally approve of the way their state officials have reacted to the twin disasters that struck the state this summer -- with one glaring exception.

A recent poll shows that wide majorities of the state's residents give passing grades to officials' response to the Interstate 35W bridge collapse and the flooding of southeastern Minnesota.

But the poll also found that 85 percent wanted legislators to address both disasters in a special session. The poll, by Rasmussen Reports, was conducted last week, before a special session that was confined strictly to flood relief.

Asked about the performance of state government after the bridge fell, 77 percent of Minnesotans rated it as good or excellent, compared with 21 percent who considered it as fair or poor.

The evaluation was similar for post-flood job performance: Two-thirds rated it was good or excellent; a quarter called it fair or poor.

The poll has a 4.5-percentage-point margin of error.

In the days immediately after the bridge fell on Aug. 1, a debate arose over whether to increase the state's gasoline tax as a way to pay for public infrastructure improvements. Even Pawlenty, having long opposed such an increase, softened his opposition.

But Minnesotans appear to remain adamantly opposed to such an increase. The poll found they reject it by a two-to-one ratio. (And their tax aversion isn't confined to the gas tax; eight out of 10 oppose using state tax revenue to pay for a new Vikings stadium.)

The poll also shows that Minnesotans have a somewhat higher regard for Pawlenty's overall job performance than for President Bush's -- as they have for several months.

Only one-third gave Bush a job approval rating of good or excellent, while two-thirds rated it fair or poor. That's essentially in line with several recent national polls.

By comparison, 49 percent rated Pawlenty's performance as good or excellent, compared with 50 percent saying it has been fair or poor. That rating, slightly lower than other recent polls, approaches the danger zone for incumbent politicians, although Pawlenty wouldn't face reelection for more than three years.

And for all the speculation that Pawlenty has his eye on higher office (speculation he has tamped down), Minnesotans are lukewarm about him as the Republicans' vice-presidential nominee.

With him on the ticket, 38 percent said they'd be more likely to vote Republican, 30 percent said they'd be less likely and 28 percent said his presence would have no impact one way or the other.

The poll also took a snapshot of next year's Senate race, showing that Republican incumbent Norm Coleman leads his most likely DFL opponents -- but not by much.

Coleman has the support of 46 percent, compared with 42 percent for lawyer Mike Ciresi and 41 percent for comedian Al Franken. That's roughly in line with a poll conducted by another organization about six weeks ago.

Bob von Sternberg • 612-673-7184

Bob Von Sternberg • vonste@startribune.com

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