Raleigh, N.C. – Little known State Senator Chuck Purgason has chopped seven points off of Republican Senate frontrunner Roy Blunt’s lead in the primary since a November PPP survey of the state and is now holding the long time Congressman under 50%.
Blunt leads with 48% to 18% for Purgason and 34% of voters undecided. 47% of primary voters have a favorable opinion of Blunt to 19% who view him unfavorably. 84% of the likely electorate has no opinion of Purgason with 7% holding a positive opinion of him and 9% a negative one.
Purgason seems to be benefiting from anti-establishment sentiment among some GOP voters. 31% have an unfavorable opinion of the Republicans in Congress and within that segment of the party Blunt leads Purgason only 32-27.
“Roy Blunt certainly continues to be the overwhelming Republican favorite,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But his numbers with the primary electorate at this point are underwhelming for someone who’s been a major figure in Missouri politics for decades.”
Taking a look ahead to the 2012 contest for President in the state Republican primary voters say their early favorite is Mike Huckabee. He gets 32% support to 28% for Sarah Palin and only 22% for Mitt Romney.
Numbers released on the general election for Senate yesterday found Blunt with a small lead over Robin Carnahan and Purgason at a small deficit.
PPP will release numbers looking at Claire McCaskill’s standing tomorrow.
PPP surveyed 400 Republican primary voters from March 27th to 29th. The margin of error is +/-4.9. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Complete results are attached and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.
If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Roy Blunt? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 47%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 19%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 34%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Chuck Purgason? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 7%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 9%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 84%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in Congress? If favorable,
press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not
sure, press 3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 57%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 31%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 12%
Q4 If the candidates for the Republican Senate
nomination were Roy Blunt and Chuck
Purgason, who would you vote for? If Roy
Blunt, press 1. If Chuck Purgason, press 2. If
you’re undecided, press 3.
Blunt ……………………………………………………… 48%
Purgason ……………………………………………….. 18%
Undecided………………………………………………. 34%
Q5 If the Republican candidates for President in
2012 were Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, and
Mitt Romney who would you vote for? If Mike
Huckabee, press 1. If Sarah Palin, press 2. If
Mitt Romney, press 3. If you’re undecided,
press 4.
Huckabee……………………………………………….. 32%
Palin………………………………………………………. 28%
Romney …………………………………………………. 22%
Undecided………………………………………………. 18%
Q6 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative? If liberal, press 1. If
moderate, press 2. If conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 2%
Moderate………………………………………………… 22%
Conservative…………………………………………… 76%
Q7 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 44%
Man……………………………………………………….. 56%
Q8 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 8%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 30%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
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