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RALEIGH – Public Policy Polling surveyed 750 North Carolinians and found that over half disapprove of how Gov. Perdue is running the state.

34 percent of those polled approved of Perdue's job performance, 51 percent disapproved, and 15 percent said they were not sure.

"Basically, it's a net shift of about 25 points in voter perceptions of her," Tom Jensen, of Public Policy Polling, said. "And I should note that this is something we're finding with governors in almost every state in the country. It is just not a good time to be a governor right now."

Perdue defended the drop in approval rates and said times will start to get better.

"I am the governor of the greatest state in America in the most challenging times this state has ever faced,” she said. “I've just furloughed state employees and teachers. I am facing a $5 billion deficit, and I will pay the bills. I really am so privileged to be governor, and I don't take any of the responsibilities lightly.

“And at the end of the day, when we come out of this, we'll be all happy and smiling again,” Perdue said. “This is the hard time: the getting through it."

Perdue said she's been up and down in polls for 25 years and doesn't worry or think much about it.

Polling results show that voters reacted negatively to the ways Perdue has worked to balance the budget, which include pay cuts and furloughs for teachers and state employees.