The majority of voters in Georgia (53%) say Republican Governor Sonny Perdue is not doing enough to help them through the economic recession, though he still earns fairly positive reviews.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state found that one in four voters (25%) say the governor is doing enough for Georgians, while another 22% remain undecided.

Still, more than half of voters (57%) approve of the way Perdue is handling his job as governor, while 39% disapprove.

Men in Georgia are slightly more satisfied than women when it comes to their governor’s handling of the recession. While 36% of men say Perdue is doing enough, just 17% of women agree. Fifty-one percent (51%) of men and 55% of women in the state say the governor is not doing enough. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of women are unsure, along with 13% of men.

Forty-four percent (44%) of Republicans in the state believe Perdue is doing enough, along with 10% of Democrats and 22% of unaffiliated voters

While 31% of white voters say the governor is doing enough, just 11% of black voters agree.

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The early frontrunners among Republicans for the 2010 governor race in Georgia are Casey Cagle and John Oxendine. Cagle is currently serving as lieutenant governor, and Oxendine is the state insurance commissioner. Both men are favored by 14% of Republicans.

Among Democrats, former Governor Roy Barnes leads the pack of 2010 contenders with 28% support. Twenty-two percent (22%) of Democrats would consider voting for Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin for governor.

The state constitution prohibits Perdue from seeking a third term.

Most Georgia voters (86%) say the barrage of negative campaigning during the run-off election for the U.S. Senate between incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin did not keep them from voting in the race. Just 10% say the negative ads did stop them from voting.

Chambliss was elected to a second term by a 57% to 43% margin in the December 2 contest. A survey conducted in Georgia prior to the election found that 52% said they were less likely to vote for Martin knowing his victory would create a 60-seat filibuster-proof Senate for the Democratic Party.

The latest survey also found that 53% of Georgia voters think Barack Obama will do a better job as president than George Bush. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree, while 19% are undecided. Forty-three percent (43%) of men think Obama will do a better job, compared to 60% of women.

Fifteen percent (15%) of Georgia Republicans say Obama will make a better president than Bush, as do 91% of Democrats and 49% of unaffiliated voters.

Even more Georgia voters (56%) think Obama will do a better job than native son Jimmy Carter, who was president from 1976 to 1980, and just 15% disagree. Another 29% are not sure. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of men and 55% of women agree that Obama will make a better president than Carter.

Most Democrats (64%) say Obama will make a better president than Carter, who also was a Democratic governor of Georgia before being elected to the White House. Forty-five percent (45%) of Republicans and 60% of unaffiliated voters agree.

Forty-six percent (46%) of voters in Georgia Strongly Approve of the way Obama is performing as president-elect, while just 13% Strongly Disapprove. This is slightly above Obama's approval numbers nationally.

In the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Approval Index, 42% of voters nationwide now Strongly Approve of the way Obama is handling the role of president-elect while just 16% Strongly Disapprove.

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