Can an unpopular governor win the presidency?

In The News Piece in MSNBC
Oct. 8, 2014

“The first thing many Americans want to know is how the economy is doing in their state and do the people there like him,” Zelizer said. He added that if the unpopular governors’ numbers continue to slide at home, “it will instantly raise questions, especially among donors who are always trying to figure out where to invest money.”