Raleigh, N.C. –
Americans clearly prefer Ronald McDonald for President over his rival the
Burger King, 36% to 22%, in PPP’s first national poll on food. 42% are not
sure.
Dinner is the preferred meal of 52% of Americans compared to 29% for
breakfast and a mere 11% for lunch. 21% consider themselves to be obese to 79%
who do not, which is slightly lower than the actual U.S. obesity rate. Republicans
have a negative opinion of vegans, with 31% of GOP voters viewing them favorably
to 41% unfavorably. 54% of Americans—especially Democrats—would be willing to
pay more for food to allow restaurant employees to have health insurance, while
30% would not pay more
Burger King is America’s favorite fast-food hamburger restaurant with 22%
support, followed by 19% for Wendy’s, 15% for McDonald’s, 9% for Hardee’s / Carl’s Jr., 7% for Sonic and 5% for Jack in
the Box. McDonald’s topped the list of least favorite hamburger restaurants
with 22% support for that distinction. Americans have an overall negative
opinion of fast food—40% favorable to 49% unfavorable.
Americans are torn between KFC (33%) and Chick-fil-A (32%) as their favorite
fast-food chicken restaurant, while Popeye’s (10%) and Church’s (5%) cannot
compete. 48% of Republicans and 42% of Southerners identified Chick-fil-A as
their favorite choice. Pizza Hut comes out on top as America’s favorite pizza
chain with 30% support. Domino’s and Little Ceasar’s are tied at 25% each for
least favorite pizza chain.
57% of Americans would rather drink a Coke than a beer, while 30% prefer
beer and 12% claim they never drink either. Americans prefer Coke over Pepsi
43% to 35% and regular soda over diet soda 41% to 34%. 22% say they don’t drink
soda at all.
“Even food polarizes Americans along party lines these days,” said Dean
Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Democrats and Republicans disagree
on donuts and bagels, KFC and Chick Fil A, and even the merits of Olive Garden
as quality authentic ethnic food.”
PPP surveyed 500
registered American voters from February 21st to 24th.
The margin of error for the overall sample is +/-4.4%. 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 What’s your favorite meal: breakfast, lunch, or
dinner?
Breakfast………………………………………………… 29%
Lunch…………………………………………………….. 11%
Dinner ……………………………………………………. 52%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of fast food?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 40%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q3 Which do you prefer for breakfast: pancakes,
French toast, or waffles?
Pancakes……………………………………………….. 33%
French toast……………………………………………. 30%
Waffles…………………………………………………… 22%
Don’t like any of them ………………………………. 15%
Q4 Which do you prefer: donuts, bagels, or
croissants?
Donuts …………………………………………………… 32%
Bagels……………………………………………………. 33%
Crossaints………………………………………………. 25%
Don’t like any of them ………………………………. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 0%
Q5 Which fast-food hamburger restaurant is your
favorite: Burger King, Hardee’s or Carl’s Jr,
Jack in the Box, McDonald’s, Sonic, Wendy’s,
or something else?
Burger King…………………………………………….. 22%
Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. …………………………………… 9%
Jack in the Box ……………………………………….. 5%
McDonald’s …………………………………………….. 15%
Sonic……………………………………………………… 7%
Wendy’s …………………………………………………. 19%
Something else ……………………………………….. 17%
Don’t like any of them ………………………………. 5%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 1%
Q6 Using the same list of choices, which fast-food
hamburger restaurant is your least favorite?
Burger King…………………………………………….. 15%
Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. …………………………………… 16%
Jack in the Box ……………………………………….. 15%
McDonald’s …………………………………………….. 22%
Sonic……………………………………………………… 10%
Wendy’s …………………………………………………. 2%
Something else ……………………………………….. 9%
No opinion………………………………………………. 9%
Q7 Which fast-food chicken restaurant is your
favorite: Chick-fil-A, Church’s Chicken,
Kentucky Fried Chicken, Popeye’s, or
something else?
Chick-fil-A ………………………………………………. 32%
Church’s…………………………………………………. 5%
KFC ………………………………………………………. 33%
Popeye’s ………………………………………………… 10%
Something else ……………………………………….. 11%
Don’t like any of them ………………………………. 5%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q8 Using the same list of choices, which fast-food
chicken restaurant is your least favorite?
Chick-fil-A ………………………………………………. 18%
Church’s…………………………………………………. 20%
KFC ………………………………………………………. 15%
Popeye’s ………………………………………………… 14%
Something else ……………………………………….. 18%
No opinion………………………………………………. 15%
Q9 Which pizza chain is your favorite: Domino’s,
Little Caesar’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, or
something else?
Domino’s………………………………………………… 15%
Little Caesar’s …………………………………………. 5%
Papa John’s ……………………………………………. 17%
Pizza Hut………………………………………………… 30%
Something else ……………………………………….. 27%
Don’t like any of them ………………………………. 4%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 3%
Q10 Using the same list of choices, which pizza
chain is your least favorite?
Domino’s………………………………………………… 25%
Little Caesar’s …………………………………………. 25%
Papa John’s ……………………………………………. 13%
Pizza Hut………………………………………………… 11%
Something else ……………………………………….. 14%
No opinion………………………………………………. 12%
Q11 Do you prefer Pepsi or Coke?
Pepsi……………………………………………………… 35%
Coke ……………………………………………………… 43%
Don’t like either of them……………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%
Q12 What’s your favorite soft drink: Coca-Cola, Dr.
Pepper, grape soda, Mountain Dew, orange
soda, Pepsi, Sprite, or something else?
Coke ……………………………………………………… 23%
Dr. Pepper ……………………………………………… 20%
Grape soda…………………………………………….. 2%
Mountain Dew…………………………………………. 6%
Orange soda…………………………………………… 7%
Pepsi……………………………………………………… 15%
Sprite …………………………………………………….. 9%
Something else ……………………………………….. 11%
Don’t drink soft drinks ………………………………. 6%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 1%
Q13 Do you generally drink regular soda or diet
soda, or do you not drink soda at all?
Regular soda ………………………………………….. 41%
Diet soda………………………………………………… 34%
Don’t drink soda at all ………………………………. 22%
Switch between the two ……………………………. 3%
Q14 Would you rather drink a beer or a coke?
Beer ………………………………………………………. 30%
Coke ……………………………………………………… 57%
Never drink either ……………………………………. 12%
Q15 If the candidates for President were Ronald
McDonald and the Burger King, who would you
vote for?
Ronald McDonald ……………………………………. 36%
The Burger King………………………………………. 22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 42%
Q16 Do you consider The Olive Garden to be a
quality source of authentic ethnic food, or not?
Yes………………………………………………………… 39%
No …………………………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q17 Would you be willing to pay more for your food
at a restaurant if you knew it would allow the
employees who worked there to have health
insurance, or not?
Would ……………………………………………………. 54%
Would not……………………………………………….. 30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q18 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of vegetarians?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 49%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q19 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of vegans?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 38%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 32%
Q20 Are you a vegetarian, a vegan, or neither of
these things?
Vegetarian………………………………………………. 6%
Vegan ……………………………………………………. 7%
Neither …………………………………………………… 87%
Q21 Do you consider yourself to be obese, or not?
Yes………………………………………………………… 21%
No …………………………………………………………. 79%
Q22 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 56%
Man……………………………………………………….. 44%
Q23 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 ……………………………………………….. 40%
Republican……………………………………………… 37%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 23%
Q24 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 12%
White …………………………………………………….. 69%
African-American …………………………………….. 13%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q25 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………………………………………………….. 14%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 38%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q26 Do you live in the Northeast, the Midwest, the
South, or the West?
Northeast ……………………………………………….. 25%
Midwest …………………………………………………. 28%
South …………………………………………………….. 32%
West………………………………………………………. 15%
