Raleigh, N.C. – The weeks-long national coverage of the battle over collective bargaining in Wisconsin has turned Americans as a whole somewhat narrowly toward the unions and against Governor Scott Walker. 34% see Walker favorably, but 39% unfavorably. By contrast, unions are seen positively by a 46-40 margin. And 45% side with the unions over 41% who back Walker. The two parties are unsurprisingly split, and independents break the tie in favor of the unions.
Charlie Sheen has certainly not been making a positive impression on Americans himself. Two-thirds of them have a negative opinion of Sheen, and that cuts across party lines. But while Sheen would go down in flames in humorous, hypothetical White House matchups with either President Obama or Sarah Palin, Americans are evidently at least a little more willing to cast a ballot for Sheen against Palin than against the president.
84% of Republicans would go with Palin, and the same proportion of Democrats would side with Obama. But while independents mirror the overall electorate in choosing Obama over Sheen by a 57-22 margin, they actually would prefer the actor to the ex-governor, 41-36. That is how low Palin’s public image has fallen.
In yesterday’s release, 86% of Democrats viewed Palin negatively, versus only 64% who see Sheen that way. Similarly, 86% of Republicans disapprove of Obama’s job performance, while 73% see Sheen unfavorably. Naturally, then, Democrats would still prefer Sheen to Palin (44-24) and Republicans Sheen to Obama (37-28). Apparently Democrats are even more intense in their hatred of Palin than Republicans toward Obama. Thus, Palin “only” beats Sheen, 49-29, but the president does, 57-24.
“The fact that Republicans and Democrats would vote for Charlie Sheen over the opposing party’s nominee shows how polarized things have become in America,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
44% of Americans think Fox News should continue to run Glenn Beck’s show to 32% who think he should be fired. Actual viewers of the network are strongly supportive of Beck, while those who don’t watch it think he should go.
PPP surveyed 642 American voters from March 10th to 13th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.9%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 34%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q2 Do you generally have a favorable or
unfavorable opinion of labor unions?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 46%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q3 In the current conflict between Governor
Walker and public employee unions in
Wisconsin, do you side more with Governor
Walker or the unions?
Governor Walker……………………………………… 41%
The unions ……………………………………………… 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q4 Do you think Fox News should continue to
have Glenn Beck’s show or should he be fired?
Fox News should continue to have Beck’s
show ………………………………………………………44%
He should be fired……………………………………. 32%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 24%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Charlie Sheen?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 10%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 67%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%
Q6 If the candidates for President next year were
Charlie Sheen and Barack Obama, who would
you vote for?
Charlie Sheen …………………………………………. 24%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 57%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q7 If the candidates for President next year were
Charlie Sheen and Sarah Palin, who would you
vote for?
Charlie Sheen …………………………………………. 29%
Sarah Palin …………………………………………….. 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q8 Do you regularly watch Fox News or not?
Regularly watch Fox News ……………………….. 47%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 53%
Q9 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 45%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Someone Else/Don’t Remember………………… 7%
Q10 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 8%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 17%
Moderate………………………………………………… 33%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 17%
Q11 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 49%
Man……………………………………………………….. 51%
Q12 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……………………………………………… 36%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 24%
Q13 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 10%
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q14 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………………………………………………….. 8%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 46%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 19%
