Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (D) is the latest Democratic governor to find himself in trouble in the polls ahead of the 2010 elections. As the Hotline‘s Steve Shepard reports, the latest Des Moines Register poll shows Culver, first elected as Governor in 2006, trailing his most prominent potential GOP opponent, former Gov. Terry Barnstad, by more than 20 points.
Culver isn’t the only sitting Democratic governor in poll trouble. Gov. Ted Strickland (D-OH) is locked in a tight race with Rep. John Kasich (R), the likely GOP gubernatorial nominee in the state. In Massachusetts, incumbent Gov. Deval Patrick (D) is locked in a tight reelection contest many observers say it will be tough for him to win.
The reasons behind Culver’s declining numbers are found in other questions from the latest Register poll. Less than 40% of respondents to the poll said they approved of the job Culver is doing as governor, and as Shepard reported, the approval ratings slide includes his base — just 57% of Democrats said the approved of the job Culver is doing.
