Nearly half of the Republicans surveyed last September had a “very favorable” opinion of Fallin and another 37 percent were somewhat favorable. Twenty-one percent of Democrats said they had a very favorable opinion of the governor, and 35 percent were somewhat favorable.

In June, only 34 percent of Republicans had a very favorable opinion of Fallin, and 33 percent were somewhat favorable.

Democratic percentages for those categories were 16 and 26 percent.

Fallin’s overall approval rating is also substantially lower than her two predecessors, Republican Frank Keating and Democrat Brad Henry, in the final years of their first terms.

Henry, who became one of Oklahoma’s most popular governors ever despite winning his first term by one of the narrowest margins in state history, had a favorability rating of 75 percent in the summer of 2006, ahead of his election to a second term.

“He was on the opposite side of public opinion on some things, but it didn’t seem to matter,” Shapard said.

“I think Republicans are a little more critical of their own leaders than Democrats are.”