Puerto Ricans overwhelmingly think that the territory is on the wrong track and disapprove of the insular government’s “commonwealth” party’s leaders, a new scientific poll reveals.
Only five percent believe that Puerto Rico is headed in the right direction; 69% say that it is headed in the wrong one, according to the survey of 1,000 voters conducted October 20th-25th.
Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla, narrowly elected two years ago, is approved of by only 19%, while 60% disapprove of his leadership.
The disapproval extends to the voters who elected him: Only 45% of those who voted for him approve of him now.
His support within his “commonwealth” party has sunk to 50%.
Only 19% think that his job performance can improve; 60% said that it could not.
Only 26% of those polled had a positive view of the “commonwealth” party; 51% had a negative view of the party.
The negative perceptions of the party have extended to even party voters. Twelve percent have a negative view of their own party and only 65% have a positive one.
Only 24% had a positive view of Gov. Garcia; 55% had a negative view of him.
Twenty-seven percent had a positive view of Senate President Eduardo Bhatia; 43% had a negative view of him.
Only 21% had a positive view of House of Representatives Speaker Jaime Perello; 49% had a negative view of him.
San Juan Mayor Carmen Cruz had the same positive and negative ratings as Perello.
Garcia’s approval rating has slid from 24% in March, while his disapproval percentage has risen from 52%. The current numbers are almost exactly what they were one year ago, a year after his squeaker of an election.
The poll was conducted for newspaper El Nuevo Dia, which has been having the survey done twice a year.
Forty-six percent of voters interviewed graded the Governor’s job performance as “F” and 15% gave him a “D”, compared with only 6% who said “A” and 12% who said “B”.
The change in his grades from March were that his “F” percentage then was 37% and “D” number was 22%. A year ago, he got an “A” from five percent, a “B” from 16%, a “D” from 23%, and an “F” from 34%.
In April 2013, four months after taking office, he was graded with an “A” by 11%, a “B” by 22%, a “D” by 19%, and an “F” by 18%.
Garcia got an “A” or “B” from only 45% of his party members; 21% gave him a “D” or an “F”.
Only 22% of voters polled think that there is a chance that his job performance will improve; 66% think that there is no chance of that.
Answers to specific questions about the Governor help explain his poor ratings.
- Only 19% said he inspires confidence,
- 21% said is capable of handling his job,
- 22% said he tells the truth,
- 23% said he knows how to handle Puerto Rico’s problems,
- 24% said he has been an effective leader of his party,
- 25% said he has acted quickly on important issues,
- 26% said he is trustworthy,
- 27% said that he makes right decisions even if the decisions are difficult,
- 44% said he treats those who disagree with him arrogantly, and
- 50% said he puts his political party above the people.
Senate President Eduardo Bhatia’s numbers were better but far from good. Twenty-seven percent approve of his work; 47% disapprove.
Only 27% think that his job performance can improve, 61% think it could not.
Seven percent gave the Senate President an “A”, 16% a “B”, 20% a “D”, and 28% an “F”.
Bhatia’s grades from voters have deteriorated over the past year. In March, 22% gave him an “F”, a year ago only 14% did.
- Only 27% think Bhatia is capable,
- 29% that he tells the truth,
- 31% that he inspires confidence,
- 32% that he knows how to handle Puerto Rico’s problems,
- 32% that he is trustworthy,
- 33% that he has acted quickly on important issues,
- 36% that he makes right decisions even if difficult to do so,
- 39% that he treats those who disagree with him arrogantly, and
- 41% that he puts his party above the people.
House Speaker Jaime Perello’s numbers were worse, almost as bad as the Governor’s. Nineteen percent approve of his job performance; 50% disapprove.
Only 19% think that his job performance can improve, 60% said it could not.
Five percent graded his job performance with an “A”, 13% with a “B”, 19% with a “D”, and 32% with an “F”.
The percentage giving him an “F” has grown from 24% in March and 16% a year ago.
- Only 20% said Perello tells the truth,
- 22% that he is capable,
- 22% that he inspires confidence,
- 23% that he is trustworthy,
- 23% that he has acted quickly on important issues,
- 24% that he knows how to handle Puerto Rico’s problems,
- 26% that he makes right decisions even if difficult,
- 38% that he treats those who disagree with him arrogantly, and
- 43% that he puts his party above the people.
The poll has a margin of error of 3%.
