A fresh poll shows that Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is doing significantly better than another survey just released when it comes to his standing with Kansas voters.

The new poll, from Neil Newhouse's Public Opinion Strategies, which has been polling in Kansas for years, concluded that Brownback had a 51 percent job approval compared with 43 percent who disapprove of his performance so far as governor.

Those numbers, from a survey taken Sunday and Monday, conflict somewhat with the latest SurveyUSA poll, which found that 34 percent approved of Brownback's performance while 44 percent of Kansans disapproved.

The difference? Brownback allies say it's the sample. The Newhouse poll more closely reflects current party registration in the state -- 44 percent Republican, 26 percent Democrat.

The SurveyUSA under-sampled Republicans and Tea Party backers, those allies say.

The Newhouse poll said 53 percent of Kansans hold a positive image of Brownback while 40 percent hold an unfavorable view.

Newhouse's bottom line:

"Despite taking on tough issues in his first sixteen months as Governor, Sam Brownback not only has a positive image among voters in the state, but a job approval score that breaks the 50% mark.

"With disapproval of the federal government near historic highs, and widespread public distrust of political institutions at all levels, the resilience of Governor Brownback's support in Kansas is particularly impressive."