Despite criticism, Klein's approval rating hovers at 44 percent

If we’re to believe a recent piece in New York Magazine, some city leaders are turning against Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. But among regular New York City voters, according a new poll, Klein is about as popular as he ever has been, even with the debate over mayoral control ratcheting up in recent months.

A new poll out of Quinnipiac University found that 44 percent of registered voters say they approve of the job Klein is doing. That’s roughly unchanged since last July and only two points lower than the highest approval rating Klein has ever recorded in a Quinnipiac poll, back in January 2003.