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LEADING OFF
Happy Friday and welcome to Rhode Map, your daily guide to everything happening in the Ocean State. I’m Dan McGowan and I can’t even describe how excited I am that Durk’s Bar-B-Q reopens in its new location today (where the Satin Doll used to be). Follow me on Twitter @DanMcGowan or send tips to Dan.McGowan@globe.com.
ICYMI: Rhode Island was up to 40,764 confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday, after adding 936 new cases. The overall daily test-positive rate was 4.7 percent, and the first-time positive rate was 26.7 percent. The state announced seven more deaths, bringing the total to 1,250. There were 232 people in the hospital.
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You might feel like throwing your slipper (no one’s wearing shoes these days, right?) at the television every week when Governor Gina Raimondo explains that you need knock it off with the social gatherings to stop the spread of COVID-19, but you should know that her approval ratings remain among the highest in the country.
A survey from the COVID-19 Consortium for Understanding the Public’s Policy Preferences Across States pegged Raimondo’s approval rating at 61 percent in October, good for sixth-best in the country.
The consortium, which includes researchers from Harvard, Northeastern, Rutgers, and Northwestern, has now polled residents in every state on what they think of their governor eight times since April, and Raimondo has never fallen below 60 percent.
Raimondo’s support has dipped since peaking at 74 percent in late April, which is a similar trend for most governors. One exception is Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a Republican who hit 80 percent approval in October and rolled to reelection last week.
You can read the whole survey here, but here’s a look at how Raimondo has fared each month.
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Late April: 74 percent
Early May: 72 percent
Late May: 66 percent
Late June: 63 percent
Late July: 71 percent
Late August: 60 percent
September: 62 percent
October: 61 percent
For the October numbers, Raimondo trailed Vermont’s Scott, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (68 percent), Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (65 percent), New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (65 percent), and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (61 percent). Scott, Hogan, and Baker are Republicans, while Muphy, Lamont, and Raimondo are Democrats.
The national average for approval rating among governors is 48 percent, which is significantly higher than President Trump 35 percent approval rating when it comes to handling the virus. In Rhode Island, Trump’s approval has been in the 20s since late May.
Late April: 39 percent
Early May: 31 percent
Late May: 17 percent
Late June: 25 percent
Late July: 26 percent
Late August: 21 percent
September: 27 percent
October: 26 percent
Over the course of eight online surveys, the consortium has polled 119,755 individuals across every state as well as Washington, D.C. The most recent poll was conducted between Oct. 2 and Oct. 25, and the margin of error in Rhode Island was plus or minus 7 percentage points.
THE GLOBE IN RHODE ISLAND
⚓ Governor Gina Raimondo is warning that Rhode Island could run out of hospital beds in the next three weeks as COVID-19 cases continue to hit record levels. Read more.
⚓ With more progressives getting elected to the General Assembly, Ed Fitzpatrick reports that the state may finally start getting serious about addressing climate change. Read more.
⚓ If you’re looking to shop local for gifts this holiday season, the Globe offers some ideas from New England’s best shops. Read more.
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⚓ Scott MacKay, one of the most-respected voices in Rhode Island political journalism, announced on Twitter that he is retiring as a political commentator for The Public’s Radio. Read more.
⚓ Rhode Map readers have sent a round of Happy Birthday wishes to: Michael DiBiase, Joy Fox, Karina Holyoak Wood, Daisy Louise Carey (90), Ryan Holt, Dave Talan, Felicia Brown Reed, Aly Chatham (32), Lauren Nocera, Stephanie Downey Toledo, Tara Granahan, state Representative-elect Jackie Baginski, Desiree Schuler (49), Rob Horowitz, Dan Denvir, Gerard Marzilli Jr. (44), Kate Coyne-McCoy, Andrew Posner, Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, and Michael Horvath.
MORE ON BOSTONGLOBE.COM
⚓ Politics I: It turns out that the woman who ran President-elect Joe Biden’s campaign is from Massachusetts. Here’s a closer look at Jennifer O’Malley Dillon. Read more.
⚓ Politics II: My colleague James Pindell explains why US Senator Bernie Sanders would not have defeated President Trump if he was the Democratic nominee this year. Read more.
⚓ Lifestyle: We’ve got an excellent guide for how to rescue the holidays during the pandemic. Read more.
⚓ Sports: It’s rainy and miserable outside, so why not take a deep dive into the farm system for the Red Sox. Alex Speier breaks down the team’s top prospects. Read more.
WHAT’S ON TAP TODAY
Each day, Rhode Map offers a cheat sheet breaking down what’s happening in Rhode Island. Have an idea? E-mail us at RInews@globe.com.
⚓ The state’s COVID-19 vaccine subcommittee is holding a virtual meeting this morning.
⚓ The Providence Preservation Society’s 2020 Symposium continues today at 3 p.m. with a virtual discussion on who decides what properties and landmarks are worth saving. It’s free, but you have to register by 10 a.m.
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⚓The Globe is hosting a virtual self-care session at 10 a.m.
⚓ Do you ❤ Rhode Map? Your subscription is what makes it possible. We’ve got a great offer here
Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.