Poll: Jindal Among Nation's Most Unpopular Governors

Once considered a rising star in the Republican Party, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is suddenly experiencing a reversal of fortune and now finds himself among the nation’s most unpopular state leaders, according to a new state poll.

Public Policy Polling reported Thursday that Jindal’s job approval rating has sunk from 58 percent in 2010 to 37 percent today. The rating is based on a survey of 603 Louisiana voters conducted Feb. 8-12.

Jindal’s ranking among Republicans also has fallen dramatically. His approval rating among GOP voters has sunk from 81 percent in August 2010 to 59 percent today. His negative rating among Republicans has grown from 13 percent to 35 percent.

Likewise, with independents, his positive rating has fallen from 57 percent in August 2010 to 41 percent today.

Jindal's fall in the polls could spell trouble for GOP hopes of knocking off Democratic incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu in the 2014 election. In a hypothetical matchup against Landrieu, Jindal trails 49 percent to 41 percent. Landrieu is also polling ahead of all seven potential Republican opponents by a margin ranging from 3 percent to 12 percent.

The strongest potential Republican challenger, according to the poll, is Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne. In a hypothetical contest with Landrieu, she wins by 46 percent to his 43 percent.

Dardenne, however, appears to be liked by both Republicans and Democrats, according to the poll.

The poll also tested former and current GOP congressional members against Landrieu and found that Rep. Charlie Boustany would come closest to defeating her, but would lose by a six-point margin.

Public Policy Polling noted that while the Senate race would likely tighten once Republicans actually settle on a candidate, the fact that Landrieu’s drew nearly 50 percent support in all the hypothetical matchups indicates that the GOP will have a more difficult challenging her re-election than expected.