Gov. John Kasich’s job approval rating stands at 42 percent — the best he’s seen since taking office in 2011 — but nearly the same percentage say he does not deserve a second term, according to a new poll released Tuesday by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Kasich’s job approval seem tied to a more positive economy, and 58 percent of Ohio voters now say they are satisfied with the way things are going in Ohio.

That’s the good news for the Republican as he goes into the second half of his four-year term. The bad news is that 43 percent of Ohio voters say the governor doesn’t deserve a second term and 44 percent say another Republican should challenge him in a GOP primary.

“Things are looking better for Gov. John Kasich,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “But it is not all blue skies as Gov. Kasich enters the last half of his term.”

Forty percent of Ohio voters have a favorable opinion of Kasich, 34 percent have a negative opinion and 24 percent haven’t heard enough about him to have an opinion, according to the poll.

Former Gov. Ted Strickland’s favorability rating is 41 percent approval, 29 percent disapproval and 29 percent no opinion. Strickland has not ruled out a rematch against Kasich for the governor’s office in 2014.

Three other possible Democratic challengers register “don’t know enough” scores ranging from 70 percent to 84 percent: former Ohio attorney general Richard Cordray, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan.

Contact this reporter at 614-224-1624 or email Laura A..Bischoff@coxinc.com.