-When it comes to the favorite FBS school of North Carolinians the Tar Heels lead the way: 25% of voters in the state pick UNC to 19% for North Carolina State, 17% for Duke, 8% for East Carolina, and 5% for Wake Forest.
UNC is the first choice of North Carolinians across the ideological spectrum, except with voters who describe themselves as 'very conservative,' who go for the Wolfpack by a 23-20 margin. UNC and ECU split most popular honors in the northeastern part of the state. A big reason why Wake doesn't do well overall is that it trails UNC 28-15 even in the Triad. In the Triangle UNC wins out with 28% to 20% for State, and 18% for Duke.
-The Pirates may not have a huge number of fans across North Carolina, but the state's voters are very supportive of its moving into the BCS ranks. 49% of voters think the Big East should add ECU as a member to only 10% opposed. Pirate fans with an opinion on the matter pretty universally support the move (57/3), and fans of Duke, UNC, NC State, and Wake Forest all favor that promotion for ECU as well.
-While they're supportive of an ECU move, North Carolinians are pretty ambivalent about the ACC's recent expansion. 32% support the addition of Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the conference, with 26% opposed and 42% having no opinion. Duke (45-30) and Wake Forest (29-13) fans are both relatively supportive of adding the schools, perhaps because those schools are so basketball focused and the new teams will clearly enhance the conference on that front. UNC (34-33) and NC State (31-27) fans are a lot more divided about the newest additions, although they are still supportive.
-Finally in non-sports related programming North Carolina is down on both of its US Senators. Kay Hagan's approval spread is 39/43 and Richard Burr's is 32/43. So North Carolina doesn't like Hagan, Burr, Bev Perdue, Barack Obama, the Republicans in the Legislature, or the Democrats in the Legislature. It's a very unhappy state when it comes to politicians these days.
Full results here
It doesn't matter what NC thinks of Hagan or Burr (especially Burr)right now. The big questions should be focused on Perdue, Obama and the Legislature. Last Spring, I thought NC would go back to a Democrat controlled Legislature next year but there is no doubt that Perdue and Obama are a severe drag on the dems in this state. With anything around the current 10.2% unemployment, Obama will lose NC decisively next year and take Perdue down with him.
Posted by: jason | October 28, 2011 at 12:11 PM