Gov. Baker Support Strong In MA Despite Coronavirus Critics: Poll

MASSACHUSETTS — Gov. Charlie Baker appears to be more than weathering the onslaught of public criticism and consternation about the state's vaccine rollout, shifting business restrictions and return-to-the-classroom mandates. Two-thirds of those polled in a recent survey said they approve of Baker's performance as governor and more than 70 percent gave high marks for his handling of the coronavirus crisis overall.

The Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll of 500 residents determined 64.4 percent of residents said they believe the state is headed in the right direction — compared to 51.8 percent of residents who believe the country is headed in the right direction.

Last week: Patch Readers Give Baker High Grades

Baker even gets solid grades for how he's handled the vaccination rollout despite problems with the initial appointment website, frustration among older residents who had trouble getting appointments and regular challenges over which groups and professions should be eligible for the vaccine first. The poll said 57.8 percent of responders approve of the way he's handled the rollout, while 30.8 disapprove, with a margin of error of plus/minus 4.4 percent.

"For a Massachusetts Republican who has been in office for more than six years, Charlie Baker continues to defy the odds," said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, in the poll's release. "Despite a slight downdraft in the vaccine distribution initially, his overall job approval is incredibly consistent and driven by unconventional demographics."

According to the Suffolk pollsters, 47.8 percent of responders identified themselves as Independent, 37.4 percent Democrat and 8 percent Republican.

A plurality of responders (38.4 percent) said the state is doing better than most with the vaccine rollout, compared to 30.6 percent who think Massachusetts is doing about the same as other states and 18 percent who think the state is doing worse.

Nearly half of responders (45.4 percent) say they have been "very strict" about following state protocols on staying home when possible, practicing social distancing, avoiding social gatherings and physical contact such as hugging and handshakes with those not in their own household. More than a third (36.2 percent) said they are "pretty strict," while 17.4 percent said they are "not very strict" or "not strict at all."

With fans allowed back in TD Garden and Fenway Park over the past week — Opening day for the Red Sox on Thursday is expected to have about 4,500 fans or 12 percent capacity — 61.2 percent of responders said they would not be comfortable attending a major sporting event at this time.

A majority of responders (58.8 percent) said they would be comfortable taking a bus or train.

Residents are more confident in other previously restricted activities as 78.2 percent said they are comfortable with outdoor dining, 53.8 percent said they are comfortable with indoor dining at a bar or restaurant and 58.8 percent saying they feel OK about going back into a school or office.

Whether to fly at this time was split virtually even with 48.6 percent saying they are fine getting on a plane, and 48.2 percent saying they are not.

A plurality of responders said they expect things to get back to normal — defined as the way they were before the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 — by the end of the year at 38.6 percent, with 30.4 percent saying it will take several years, 12.2 percent saying they expect that will be within the next few months and 15.0 percent saying they believe things will never be normal again.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)