Raleigh, N.C. – The days of NASCAR
and moonshine may be over for North Carolina. But some things are still going
strong: Krispy Kreme, college basketball, and barbecue.

Barbecue had the greatest support of the cultural questions asked; 87% of
respondents said they like it. Krispy Kreme was close behind with 74-23
like-don’t like. Moonshine and tobacco don’t have much of a following anymore:
14-75 for moonshine and 17-79 for tobacco. Cheerwine, the cherry soft drink
created in Salisbury, N.C., a century ago, was split 43-45. Men were bigger
Cheerwine fans than women.

39% of NC natives consider themselves NASCAR fans, while only 19% of
non-natives do. The difference is just as clear for sweet tea and Cheerwine
based on whether respondents were born in N.C. Both natives and non-natives
generally dislike moonshine – 76% and 73% respectively. Almost everyone likes
barbecue.

“Some of the iconic aspects of North Carolina are fading away as the state
grows and changes,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But
we all still love barbecue.”

44% of respondents from the 828 area code, birthplace of NASCAR superstar
Junior Johnson, consider themselves NASCAR fans – the highest percentage of any
N.C. area code. 828 also showed the biggest support for moonshine and tobacco.
336 and 704 area codes had the highest support for Cheerwine, 62% and 54%
respectively – not surprising considering these are the two area codes that
serve Salisbury and surrounding areas.

18-29 year olds had the highest percentage of respondents that like
moonshine, NASCAR and tobacco, yet they also had the lowest percentage who like
college basketball and barbecue. They’re the only age group that prefers Dunkin
Donuts to Krispy Kreme. And the younger generation is also the only one familiar
with taking off your shirt and spinning it around your head just like a
helicopter – a line from a popular song by Greenville-born rapper Petey Pablo.
18% of them had done it, compared to 8% overall. 9% overall weren’t sure if
they had.

PPP surveyed 600
registered voters between August 8-11, 2013. The margin of error was +/- 4.0%. 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.

Q1 Do you consider yourself to be a NASCAR fan,
or not?
Consider yourself one………………………………. 32%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 59%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%

Q2 Do you consider yourself to be a college
basketball fan, or not?
Consider yourself one………………………………. 59%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%

Q3 Do you like sweet tea, or not?
Do …………………………………………………………. 63%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%

Q4 Do you like Cheerwine, or not?
Do …………………………………………………………. 43%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Q5 Do you like moonshine, or not?
Do …………………………………………………………. 14%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 75%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%

Q6 Do you like barbecue, or not?
Do …………………………………………………………. 87%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 12%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 1%

Q7 Do you like Krispy Kreme donuts, or not?
Do …………………………………………………………. 74%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%

Q8 Do you prefer Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme?
Dunkin Donuts ………………………………………… 23%
Krispy Kreme ………………………………………….. 58%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%

Q9 Do you like tobacco, or not?
Do …………………………………………………………. 17%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 79%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%

Q10 Have you ever taken your shirt off and twisted
it around your head just like a helicopter?
Have ……………………………………………………… 8%
Have not ………………………………………………… 83%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%

Q11 In the last presidential election, did you vote for
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 45%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 49%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%

Q12 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 32%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 23%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 19%

Q13 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%

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 ……………………………………………….. 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 34%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 23%

Q15 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 75%
African-American …………………………………….. 19%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%

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………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 26%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 41%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%

Q17 Are you a native of North Carolina, or were you
born somewhere else?
Native ……………………………………………………. 65%
Born somewhere else ………………………………. 35%

Q18 Area Code
252………………………………………………………… 11%
336………………………………………………………… 22%
704………………………………………………………… 20%
828………………………………………………………… 16%
910………………………………………………………… 12%
919………………………………………………………… 20%