Polls

Cornyn favored for reelection despite low approval

| Tom Jensen


Header-poll-results
Raleigh, N.C.-
PPP’s most recent poll of Texas
voters indicates that the state is moving towards a more moderate or liberal
stance on some issues, but isn’t in danger of becoming a blue state any time
soon. Though both Republican Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are barely eking
out net favorable ratings (36/33 for Cornyn and 42/36 for Cruz), Democratic
bids for the Senate would still be major long shots. Cornyn holds at least a 7%
lead over all potential 2014 challengers, including former Houston Mayor Bill
White (47/40), State Senator Wendy Davis (48/40), Mayor of San Antonio Julian
Castro (50/37), and Mayor of Houston Annise Parker (49/36).

“John
Cornyn really hasn’t made much of an impression on Texas voters,” said Dean
Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But the Republican lean of the
state still makes him a clear favorite for reelection.”

Though
only 34% of Texans support a legalization of same-sex marriage in the state,
63% believe gay couples should either be allowed to get married or form civil
unions. Additionally, 75% believe employers should not be allowed to
discriminate based on sexual orientation. 54% of Texans support the Voting Rights
Act, compared to just 21% who oppose, and 45% oppose the Supreme Court’s ruling
overturning parts of the act, with 29% supporting. Finally, 72% of Texans
support requiring background checks for all gun
sales, including gun shows and the Internet.

In 2016
news, Senator Ted Cruz is the preferred choice for Republicans in his home
state, taking in 27% of the primary vote. Jeb Bush finished second with 15%,
and Chris Christie and Rand Paul both finished with 11%. Rick Perry’s
presidential aspirations appear to be dead in the Lone Star State, as only 18%
of Texas Republicans wish for him to run.

Miscellaneously,
the poll found that Texans still support Paula Deen, despite her recent
scandal, 46% to 21%. 78% of Texans agreed that people should not mess with
Texas, though 9% said they should and 13% were unsure. Finally, the poll showed
a 41% approval for President Obama, with 55% disapproving.

PPP
surveyed 500 registered voters between June 28-July 1, 2013, including 318 Republican
primary voters. The margin of error was +/- 4.4% statewide and +/- 5.5% for the
Republican primary. This poll was not authorized or paid for by any campaign or
political organization. PPP’s surveys are conducted through automated telephone
interviews.

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

General Election Toplines

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 41%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 55%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 4%

Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator John
Cornyn’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .36%
Disapprove…………. .33%
Not sure …………….. .31%

Q3 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Julian
Castro, who would you vote for?
John Cornyn …………………………………………… 50%
Julian Castro…………………………………………… 37%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Q4 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Wendy
Davis, who would you vote for?
John Cornyn …………………………………………… 48%
Wendy Davis…………………………………………… 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%

Q5 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Annise
Parker, who would you vote for?
John Cornyn …………………………………………… 49%
Annise Parker …………………………………………. 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%

Q6 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Bill
White, who would you vote for?
John Cornyn …………………………………………… 47%
Bill White………………………………………………… 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Q7 Do you support or oppose the Voting Rights
Act?
Support ……………… .54%
Oppose ……………… .21%
Not sure …………….. .25%

Q8 Do you support or oppose the Supreme Court’s
decision to overturn parts of the Voting Rights
Act?
Support ……………… .29%
Oppose ……………… .45%
Not sure …………….. .27%

Q9 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Ted
Cruz’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .42%
Disapprove…………. .36%
Not sure …………….. .22%

Q10 Do you think employers should be allowed to
discriminate against employees based on
sexual orientation, or not?
They should be
allowed to…………….14%
They should not be
allowed to…………….75%
Not sure …………….. .11%

Q11 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
allowed in Texas, or not?
It should …………………………………………………. 34%
It should not ……………………………………………. 57%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%

Q12 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should be allowed to legally
marry ……………………………………………………..31%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry …………………………………32%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%

Q13 Would you support or oppose requiring
background checks for all gun sales, including
gun shows and the Internet?
Support ……………… .72%
Oppose ……………… .22%
Not sure …………….. . 6%

Q14 If the candidates for President in 2016 were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Chris
Christie, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 38%
Chris Christie ………………………………………….. 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%

Q15 If the candidates for President in 2016 were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Rick
Perry, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 48%
Rick Perry ………………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%

Q16 If the candidates for President in 2016 were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Jeb
Bush, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 43%
Jeb Bush………………………………………………… 46%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%

Q17 If the candidates for President in 2016 were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Ted
Cruz, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 44%
Ted Cruz ………………………………………………… 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%

Q18 Do you think Rick Perry should run for
President in 2016, or not?
He should……………………………………………….. 18%
He should not………………………………………….. 74%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%

Q19 Do you think Ted Cruz should run for President
in 2016, or not?
He should……………………………………………….. 26%
He should not………………………………………….. 59%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%

Q20 In 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that
Texas became the third majority-minority state.
In other words, there are now more minority
than white residents. Do you approve or
disapprove of this being the case?
Approve …………….. .35%
Disapprove…………. .21%
Not sure …………….. .44%

Q21 Do you consider yourself more a Houston
Astros or Texas Rangers fan?
Astros ……………….. .19%
Rangers …………….. .44%
Not a fan of either
team……………………36%

Q22 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Paula Deen?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 46%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 21%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 32%

Q23 Do you think people should mess with Texas,
or not?
They should ……………………………………………. 9%
They should not ………………………………………. 78%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Q24 Do you think that Bert and Ernie are gay, or
not?
Think they are gay …………………………………… 8%
Think they are not ……………………………………. 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 52%

Q25 In the last presidential election, did you vote for
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 41%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 53%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%

Q26 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 26%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 21%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 28%

Q27 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%

Q28 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 ……………………………………………….. 34%
Republican……………………………………………… 38%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 28%

Q29 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 17%
White …………………………………………………….. 70%
African-American …………………………………….. 10%
Other……………………………………………………… 3%

Q30 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………………………………………………….. 33%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 23%

Republican Primary Toplines

Q1 Given the choices of Jeb Bush, Chris Christie,
Ted Cruz, Bobby Jindal, Rand Paul, Rick Perry,
Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, and Rick Santorum,
who would you most like to see as the GOP
candidate for President in 2016?
Jeb Bush………………………………………………… 15%
Chris Christie ………………………………………….. 11%
Ted Cruz ………………………………………………… 27%
Bobby Jindal …………………………………………… 3%
Rand Paul ………………………………………………. 11%
Rick Perry ………………………………………………. 7%
Marco Rubio …………………………………………… 6%
Paul Ryan ………………………………………………. 9%
Rick Santorum………………………………………… 4%
Someone else/Not sure ……………………………. 8%

Q2 Do you think Rick Perry should run for
President in 2016, or not?
He should……………………………………………….. 18%
He should not………………………………………….. 69%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%

Q3 Do you think Ted Cruz should run for President
in 2016, or not?
He should……………………………………………….. 42%
He should not………………………………………….. 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%

Q4 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 1%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 3%
Moderate………………………………………………… 15%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 30%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 51%

Q5 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 49%
Man……………………………………………………….. 51%

Q6 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………………………………………………….. 26%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 40%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 34%

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