McCrory starts term in decent shape

Raleigh, N.C. – PPP's first Pat McCrory approval poll finds 45% of voters giving him good marks to just 19% who disapprove. His approval number is almost identical to the 43% we found for Bev Perdue the first time we polled on her in 2009, but the disapproval is a good deal lower than the 32% of voters who started out with unhappy. A big part of that is due to Democrats splitting evenly on McCrory, 26% approving and 26% disapproving. That suggests they're at least giving him a chance.

The next six months will be critical for McCrory. After starting out in a similar place, Perdue was down to a 25% approval rating by July and was never able to recover over the next four years. The success or failure of McCrory's administration may be determined in these early days.

Reflecting the fact that most voters don't pay close attention state government 31% approve of McCrory's cabinet selections, 24% disapprove, and 45% don't have an opinion either way. His two most controversial appointees Tony Tata (14/19) and Art Pope (12/19) both have negative favorability ratings but that may be more a reflection of them being unknown than anything else. In the Triangle where they do have decently high name recognition Tata (36/23) is seen positively, while Pope (21/28) is not.

Barack Obama's starting out his second term with a 46% approval rating in North Carolina. He was at 52% on his first approval poll in 2009 and the 46% figure reflects voters having their minds already made up and not really being willing to give him a chance to the same extent they did the last time around.

Richard Burr continues to be one of the most low profile Senators in the country in his home state- 32% of voters approve of him and 30% disapprove, but the largest chunk of voters at 38% doesn't have an opinion about him either way.

Apparently all the General Assembly has to do is breathe and voters don't like it. One week after convening for this year only 16% of voters like the job it's doing to 50% who disapprove. Voter unhappiness extends to both parties although the Republicans (31/48) get an even worse favorability rating than the Democrats (34/44).

Finally Panthers fans (49% of North Carolinians identify as such) support bringing Ron Rivera back for a third season by a 56/17 margin, including 67/13 in the Charlotte region. Clearly the team's strong close to the season has fans feeling better about Rivera.

“Pat McCrory’s starting out in a similar position to Bev Perdue four years ago,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “The next six months will be the most critical period in determining how successful he is over the next four years.”

PPP surveyed 608 North Carolinian voters from January 10^th to 13^th. The margin of error is +/-4.0%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.

Topline results are below.  Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve .......................................................... 46%
Disapprove...................................................... 52%
Not sure .......................................................... 3%

Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Pat
McCrory's job performance?
Approve ................. .45%
Disapprove............. .19%
Not sure ................. .36%

Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Richard Burr’s job performance?
Approve ................. .32%
Disapprove............. .30%
Not sure ................. .38%

Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Pat
McCrory’s cabinet selections?
Approve .......................................................... 31%
Disapprove...................................................... 24%
Not sure .......................................................... 45%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Art Pope?
Favorable........................................................ 12%
Unfavorable .................................................... 19%
Not sure .......................................................... 69%

Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Tony Tata?
Favorable........................................................ 14%
Unfavorable .................................................... 19%
Not sure .......................................................... 67%

Q7 Do you approve or disapprove of the job the
General Assembly is doing?
Approve ................. .16%
Disapprove............. .50%
Not sure ................. .34%

Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable........................................................ 34%
Unfavorable .................................................... 44%
Not sure .......................................................... 22%

Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable........................................................ 31%
Unfavorable .................................................... 48%
Not sure .......................................................... 21%

Q10 Do you consider yourself to be a Carolina
Panthers fan, or not?
Are a Panthers fan.......................................... 49%
Are not ............................................................ 38%
Not sure .......................................................... 13%

Q11 (Asked only of Panthers fans) Do you support
bringing Ron Rivera back for another season
as coach of the Panthers, or do you think he
should be replaced?
Support bringing Rivera back.......................... 56%
Think he should be replaced........................... 17%
Not sure .......................................................... 26%

Q12 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ...................................................... 11%
Somewhat liberal ............................................ 18%
Moderate......................................................... 29%
Somewhat conservative.................................. 23%
Very conservative ........................................... 20%

Q13 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ........................................................... 54%
Man................................................................. 46%

Q14 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ........................................................ 45%
Republican...................................................... 33%
Independent/Other.......................................... 22%

Q15 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White .............................................................. 75%
African-American ............................................ 20%
Other............................................................... 5%

Q16 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29........................................................... 15%
30 to 45........................................................... 28%
46 to 65........................................................... 36%
Older than 65.................................................. 21%

Q17 Area Code
252.................................................................. 18%
336.................................................................. 20%
704.................................................................. 15%
828.................................................................. 17%
910.................................................................. 14%
919.................................................................. 16%