Raleigh, N.C. – PPP recently made news for finding that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the most popular person the firm has ever polled on anywhere, and that only Abraham Lincoln and Jesus Christ are more popular with voters nationally than he is in Wisconsin. So PPP set out to find who the most popular figure in North Carolina is. Eight of the 14 people tested were sports figures, but none could top a preacher in this Bible-Belt state.
Billy Graham comes home from the hospital to news that his home state likes none of its residents better than him. 69% have a favorable impression of the reverend, and only 14% an unfavorable one. That level of raw favor and net favorability tops the list.
Next is legendary UNC basketball coach Dean Smith (59-9), former Sheriff of Mayberry Andy Griffith (64-15), Smith’s most accomplished Tar Heel pupil Michael Jordan (59-14), NASCAR great “King” Richard Petty (56-11), current Heels coach Roy Williams (46-10), rival Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski (49-14), Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (38-9), 2011 American Idol Scottie McCreery (37-8), NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (39-17), four-term governor Jim Hunt (38-23), first UNC system president Bill Friday (23-8), former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Hugh Shelton (12-7), and wrestler Ric Flair (12-23).
A lot fewer women have heard of Earnhardt, Petty, Newton, Smith, and Williams than men, and men like them all better. Women are higher than men on heartthrob McCreery. The greater popularity of NASCAR and evangelical Christianity with Republicans and white voters than with African Americans and Democrats means there are some political differences on Graham, Earnhardt, and Petty, among others. Jordan is the most popular figure with African Americans. There are geographic differences as well. Hunt, Friday, Smith, Williams, McCreery, and Krzyzewski are far more known and popular in the 919 area code (the Triangle) than elsewhere, and Newton in the 704 (Charlotte metro area).
PPP surveyed 865 North Carolina voters from December 1st to 4th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.3%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ric Flair?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 12%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 65%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 39%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 17%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 43%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bill Friday?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 23%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 8%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 69%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Billy Graham?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 69%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Andy Griffith?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 64%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jim Hunt?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 38%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 40%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Michael Jordan?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 59%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 27%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mike Krzyzewski?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 49%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 37%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Scottie McCreery?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 36%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 8%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 56%
Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Cam Newton?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 37%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 54%
Q11 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Richard Petty?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 56%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 11%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 33%
Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Hugh Shelton?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 12%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 7%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 81%
Q13 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Dean Smith?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 59%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 32%
Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Roy Williams?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 46%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 10%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 43%
Q15 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 46%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%
Q16 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 9%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 17%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 24%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 19%
Q17 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q18 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 ……………………………………………….. 47%
Republican……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 18%
Q19 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 75%
African-American …………………………………….. 20%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q20 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………………………………………………….. 30%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 38%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q21
252………………………………………………………… 11%
336………………………………………………………… 19%
704………………………………………………………… 24%
828………………………………………………………… 12%
910………………………………………………………… 16%
919………………………………………………………… 18%
