Gregoire ratings getting less negative which is more positive

Newly released polling from Stuart Elway found more people are pleased with Gov. Chris Gregoire’s job performance than earlier in the year.

But the same survey shows overall, a majority continues to hold an unfavorable view of how she is performing her duties.

Of the 405 people polled, 54 percent gave her a negative rating. That is broken down into 30 percent describing her performance as “only fair” and 24 percent calling it “poor.” Meanwhile, 44 percent gave her a thumbs up. The breakdown there was 33 percent saying it was “good” and 11 percent termed it “excellent.”

These are improved from Elway polling released in January in which 55 percent had a negative view of her leadership versus 41 percent positive. Gregoire’s high water marks came in 2008. In June 2008, for example, 52 percent approved of her performance and 44 percent did not.

In this most recent survey, Gregoire did earn positive marks from a majority of women (51 percent), those over 65 years of age, (51 percent) and Seattle residents (53 percent).

Among the groups giving her performance a thumbs-down were Independents (65 percent), public employees (56 percent) and those with high school degrees (64 percent)