A newly released survey reports that nearly 68 percent of Arizona voters who were polled have a favorable impression of Governor Napolitano, but roughly half had doubts about whether the state is headed in the right direction.

Conducted by ThinkAZ, which bills itself as an objective, non-partisan research institute, the survey came up with that apparently contradictory assessment.

Rita Maguire, president and CEO of ThinkAZ, said Ms. Napolitano’s popularity apparently stems from the treatment she receives in the news media.

“She gets very positive press,” Ms. Maguire said. “But people also read in the paper about high gas prices and the impacts of growth on the state. Those things, whether federal or state issues, give voters a sense of apathy or a lack of support.

“It’s not necessarily a reflection on leadership per se. It’s a lack of enthusiasm. It’s more a reflection of the state of affairs and not directed at individual leaders.”

A total of 603 Arizonans who voted on Proposition 200 in the November 2004 general election were questioned by phone — 42.7 percent were Republican, 40.5 percent Democrat, and 16.8 percent independent or had other affiliations.

The gender split among those polled was virtually even, the median age was 54 and the median length of residence in Arizona was 27 years.

The survey notes that voters’ age and length of residence are linked to the mood of where Arizona is going.

“Older voters and those who have lived in Arizona longer are more likely to respond they think the state is off on the wrong track,” the survey states, “while younger or more recent residents are more likely to think the state is headed in the right direction.”

Ms. Maguire said, “It’s interesting that older respondents and longtime residents had greater dissatisfaction. It’s a notion of how much Arizona has changed over past 20 to 30 years.”

When voters were asked if the state is headed in the right or wrong direction, 51.6 percent said right, 30.6 percent said wrong and 17.8 percent said they weren’t sure. Even so, the report stated that the percentage of those with a positive outlook reached at least 50 percent for the first time in three years.

The report shows that 56 percent of the respondents in Maricopa County say the state is heading in the right direction. Other groups with a favorable view include Republicans, 55 percent and Latinos, 65 percent.

Belief that the state is on the wrong track peaks at 39 percent among Pima County respondents, particularly among the 56-to-65 age group or who have lived in Arizona for at least 21 years.

When it comes to the confidence level respondents have about leadership choices, 27.1 percent said they are confident, 28.8 percent said they are not and 44.1 percent had no opinion.

Ms. Napolitano racked up a favorable rating from nearly 68 percent of the respondents, 27 percent said they have an unfavorable impression of the governor and only 5 percent said couldn’t decide.

The report states that the Democratic governor did particularly well, even though voters from her party comprised only 41 percent of the respondents.

Ms. Napolitano’s popularity in the ThinkAZ survey increased from 62 percent in September 2001 to nearly 68 percent this year. President Bush slipped to 52 percent from 59 percent in December 2003.

The survey, conducted between March 23 and April 23, was released Aug. 3. It has a sampling error of plus or minus 4 percent. —