Poll: Pawlenty's Approval, 2012 Rumors

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty's approval rating is a mixed bag, according to a new FOX 9-Rasmussen Reports poll, but that could change when he makes budget cuts public next month.

How would you rate the job Tim Pawlenty has been doing as Governor?

Strongly approve: 28 percent
Somewhat approve: 25 percent
Somewhat disapprove: 20 percent
Strongly disapprove: 26 percent
Not sure: 1 percent

Survey of 500 likely voters. Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence

Pawlenty says he will hold a cabinet meeting Thursday to discuss his plan for $2.7 billion in cuts and delayed payments, with the budget outline to be made public before July 1.

Pawlenty is also taking citizen input through an email address, budgetideas@state.mn.us .

Pawlenty says he doesn't want to drag out the process. He says he will seek cuts in welfare, local government aid, higher education and other social services spending.

The budget decision come in th thick of a nationwide economic crisis, shining the spotlight ecven brighter on elected officials. A majority of those polled feel things in Minnesota have gotten off on the wrong track.

Generally speaking, do you feel things in Minnesota are going in the right direction or have they gotten off on the wrong track?

Right direction: 19 percent
Wrong track: 62 percent
Not sure: 19 percent

On the heels of vice presidential candidacy rumors in 2008, the FOX 9-Rasmussen Reports poll also surveyed the possibility of Pawlenty running for president in 2012.

How likely is it that Governor Pawlenty will run for President?

Very likely: 17 percent
Somewhat likely: 42 percent
Not very likely: 24 percent
Not at all likely: 5 percent
Not sure: 11 percent

How likely is it that Governor Pawlenty will win the Republican Presidential nomination in 2012?

Very likely: 7 percent
Somewhat likely: 30 percent
Not very likely: 39 percent
Not at all likely: 16 percent
Not sure: 8 percent