Polls

Senator Reed with large lead over Republicans

| Tom Jensen


Header-poll-results
Raleigh, N.C. –

Rhode Island voters have put Democratic Senator Jack Reed in a comfortable
position going into next year’s election cycle. When polled against several
Republican potentials, he wins by at least 29 points.

Among Rhode Island voters, Senator Jack Reed is currently sitting at an
approval rating of 62% which is 3 points higher than that of President Obama (59-36).
The highest approval rating of potential Republican candidates for the Senate
race next year is Cranston mayor, Allan Fung with 55%. The lowest Republican
approval rate is retired baseball pitcher, Curt Schilling, with a 9% favorability
and 74% unfavorable rating.

When positioned against Republicans Brendan Doherty, Scott Avedisian, Allan
Fung, Don Carcieri and Curt Schilling in the Senate race, Reed wins by 29, 30,
34, 41 and 65 points, respectively. Their overwhelming approval of Democratic
Senator Reed could be due to the fact that Rhode Island voters have not chosen
a Republican for Reed’s seat since 1930.

“Jack Reed may very well be the least vulnerable Senator in the country up
for reelection next year,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy
Polling.

Looking at the favorability of their two Representatives for the House
chamber, Rhode Island voters chose long time Democrat Jim Langevin over junior
Democrat David Cicilline, 54-20.

Contrasting their high approval of Senator Reed, Rhode Island voters
strongly disapprove of assault weapons and the NRA. 64% of voters support
banning assault weapons while only 27% oppose the ban.

Voters have a highly unfavorable opinion of the NRA, 56/31. When asked
whether they trust President Obama or the NRA on the issue of guns, 59% trust
Obama while only 30% trust the NRA.

PPP surveyed 614 Rhode
Island voters from January 28th to 30th. 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 …………………………………………………. 59%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 4%

Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jack
Reed’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .62%
Disapprove…………. .30%
Not sure …………….. . 8%

Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Brendan Doherty?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 45%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 32%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%

Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Allan Fung?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 55%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 31%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Scott Avedisian?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 37%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 18%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 45%

Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Don Carcieri?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 30%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 53%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%

Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Curt Schilling?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 9%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 74%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%

Q8 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Democrat Jack Reed and Republican Scott
Avedisian, who would you vote for?
Jack Reed………………………………………………. 60%
Scott Avedisian ……………………………………….. 30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%

Q9 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Democrat Jack Reed and Republican Brendan
Doherty, who would you vote for?
Jack Reed………………………………………………. 63%
Brendan Doherty……………………………………… 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 3%

Q10 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Democrat Jack Reed and Republican Don
Carcieri, who would you vote for?
Jack Reed………………………………………………. 66%
Don Carcieri……………………………………………. 25%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%

Q11 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Democrat Jack Reed and Republican Allan
Fung, who would you vote for?
Jack Reed………………………………………………. 63%
Allan Fung………………………………………………. 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%

Q12 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Democrat Jack Reed and Republican Curt
Schilling, who would you vote for?
Jack Reed………………………………………………. 75%
Curt Schilling…………………………………………… 10%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%

Q13 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Sheldon Whitehouse’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .46%
Disapprove…………. .44%
Not sure …………….. . 9%

Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Buddy Cianci?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 40%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%

Q15 Would you support or oppose banning assault
weapons?
Support ………………………………………………….. 64%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 27%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%

Q16 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the National Rifle Association?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 31%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 56%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Q17 Who do you trust more on the issue of guns:
Barack Obama or the NRA?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 59%
The NRA………………………………………………… 30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%

Q18 Would you support or opposing impeaching
President Obama?
Support ………………………………………………….. 22%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 65%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Q19 Which of Rhode Island’s congressmen do you
have a higher opinion of: David Cicilline or Jim
Langevin?
David Cicilline …………………………………………. 20%
Jim Langevin…………………………………………… 54%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 26%

Q20 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 17%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 23%
Moderate………………………………………………… 29%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 23%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 9%

Q21 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%

Q22 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 ……………………………………………….. 38%
Republican……………………………………………… 17%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 45%

Q23 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White …………………………………………………….. 89%
Other……………………………………………………… 11%

Q24 If you are 18 to 45 years old, press 1. If 46 to
65, press 2. If you are older than 65, press 3.
18 to 45………………………………………………….. 35%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 47%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 18%

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