Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 18, 1992 TAG: 9202180321
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short
WILDER'S RATINGS BOUNCE BACK
Gov. Douglas Wilder's approval ratings have made a comeback since he dropped his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, according to results of a public opinion poll released Monday.The survey by the Richmond Times-Dispatch shows 40 percent of Virginians approve of Wilder's performance as governor and 63 percent think more of him for quitting the presidential race.
Wilder, who dumped his presidential aspirations Jan. 8 after 118 days as a declared candidate, acknowledged that Virginians were angered by his decision to simultaneously run for president and run the state.
"I heard the call," he said. "I heard it loudly and clearly."
A December survey by Virginia Commonwealth University put Wilder's approval rating at 23 percent, an all-time low for a governor in the Richmond school's poll.
Blacks showed the strongest support for Wilder - 70 percent said they approved of his performance.
But nearly 60 percent of white respondents said they disapproved or strongly disapproved of the governor.
Asked for whom they would vote if Wilder and U.S. Sen. Charles Robb faced off two years from now for the party's Senate nomination, 48 percent of the respondents identifying themselves as Democrats favored Robb.
Thirty-six percent backed Wilder and 16 percent were undecided.
The poll also showed:
Democrats favor Attorney General Mary Sue Terry over Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer for their party's gubernatorial nomination next year, 52 percent to 26 percent.
U.S. Sen. John Warner currently is the only Republican who could defeat Terry for the governorship, but the contest would be close.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.