Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's popularity is plunging says new poll

Governor Greg Abbott is setting a fine example of how to plummet in popularity. The far-right Republican politician — who in Texas has made it harder to vote, prohibited vaccine and mask mandates in local governments, allowed Texans to carry concealed guns without a permit, and has made it nearly impossible for a woman to get an abortion, even in cases of rape — is losing admirers, according to a new Dallas Morning News and UT Tyler poll. Since March 2020, his approval has plunged by 14 points, from 59% to 45%. No surprise there.

According to HuffPost:

A 54% majority of Texans believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, while just 45% think the state is on the right track, according to a survey conducted by The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler. 

Abbott's approval rating before the COVID-19 crisis began to grip the nation in March 2020 stood at 59%, the newspaper noted. …

Overall, Abbott's more extreme positions have alienated a crucial swing bloc of voters, the independents, the Morning News notes. His job approval rating among independents has dropped from 53% early last year to just 30% this month, the poll found. 

And when matched up against Matthew McConaughey, the actor would beat Abbott by 9 points, while Beto O'Rourke nips at Abbott's heels.

From The Hill:

The poll also found that 37 percent of respondents said they would vote for Abbott's potential 2022 opponent Beto O'Rourke, putting the former congressman just 5 percentage points behind Abbott. 

The survey had Texas resident Matthew McConaughey 9 points ahead of Abbott, with 44 percent of respondents saying they would vote for the actor.  

Neither O'Rourke nor McConaughey has officially declared a run for office.

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