Raleigh, N.C. – The momentum in the North Carolina Democratic primary for Governor has swung strongly in Walter Dalton’s direction over the last month and the race is now basically a tie with him at 26% to 25% for Bob Etheridge, 5% for Bill Faison, 4% for Bruce Blackmon and Gary Dunn, and 2% for Gardenia Henley.
Etheridge led by 11 points a month ago. Since then he’s dropped a point while Dalton has gained 11. Dalton’s name recognition is on the rise since he began running television ads, and Democrats are responding positively to him. 33% have a favorable opinion to only 14% with a negative one. That 33% favorability rating is up 14 points from our last poll. Etheridge has good numbers too with 37% seeing him favorably to 19% with a negative opinion, but he’s up only 6 points from his 31% rating on the last poll.
Geography continues to be the biggest divider in the race. Dalton is up by 24 points in metro Charlotte, 17 in the Triad, and 9 in the Mountains. Etheridge is up 17 points in northeastern North Carolina, and 12 points in the Triangle and southeastern North Carolina. Although he still trails, Dalton has gained a lot of ground in the Triangle where he’d previously trailed by 42 points.
“Things are moving strongly in Walter Dalton’s direction,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Bob Etheridge would have to get on the air soon to stop his momentum.”
Linda Coleman continues to lead by double digits in the race for Lieutenant Governor, 28-16 over Eric Mansfield. The race for Labor Commissioner is tied with Ty Richardson and John Brooks at 18%, and Marlowe Foster at 10%. Janet Cowell has a solid lead in the Treasurer’s race at 38-11.
Despite David Parker’s claims last week that he still has the party base behind him, we find that 45% of Democrats think he should resign as chair to only 19% who believe he should continue on. 36% express no opinion one way or the other about the intra party issue. Parker clearly doesn’t have much support to continue on in his role.
PPP surveyed 500 likely Democratic primary voters from April 20th to 22nd. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.4%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Walter Dalton?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 33%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 53%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bob Etheridge?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 37%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 43%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bill Faison?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 16%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 62%
Q4 The Democratic candidates for Governor are
Bruce Blackmon, Walter Dalton, Gary Dunn,
Bob Etheridge, Bill Faison, and Gardenia
Henley. If the election was today, who would
you vote for?
Bruce Blackmon………………………………………. 4%
Walter Dalton ………………………………………….. 26%
Gary Dunn ……………………………………………… 4%
Bob Etheridge …………………………………………. 25%
Bill Faison ………………………………………………. 5%
Gardenia Henley……………………………………… 2%
Undecided………………………………………………. 35%
Q5 The Democratic candidates for Lieutenant
Governor are Linda Coleman and Eric
Mansfield. If the election was today, who would
you vote for?
Linda Coleman………………………………………… 28%
Eric Mansfield …………………………………………. 16%
Undecided………………………………………………. 56%
Q6 The Democratic candidates for Labor
Commissioner are John Brooks, Marlowe
Foster, and Ty Richardson. If the election was
today, who would you vote for?
John Brooks……………………………………………. 18%
Marlowe Foster ……………………………………….. 10%
Ty Richardson…………………………………………. 18%
Undecided………………………………………………. 54%
Q7 The Democratic candidates for State Treasurer
are Janet Cowell and Ron Elmer. If the election
was today, who would you vote for?
Janet Cowell …………………………………………… 38%
Ron Elmer………………………………………………. 11%
Undecided………………………………………………. 51%
Q8 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Bev
Perdue’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 60%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 25%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q9 Do you approve or disapprove of the
leadership being provided by David Parker as
chairman of the North Carolina Democratic
Party?
Approve …………………………………………………. 27%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 44%
Q10 Do you think that David Parker should resign
as chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party
in response to recent allegations of sexual
harassment by party staff members, or not?
He should resign……………………………………… 45%
He should not………………………………………….. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 36%
Q11 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 23%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 25%
Moderate………………………………………………… 31%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 14%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 7%
Q12 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 59%
Man……………………………………………………….. 41%
Q13 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If an
independent, press 2.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 89%
Independent……………………………………………. 11%
Q14 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 65%
African-American …………………………………….. 28%
Other……………………………………………………… 7%
Q15 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………………………………………………….. 20%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 37%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 31%
Q16
252………………………………………………………… 13%
336………………………………………………………… 17%
704………………………………………………………… 17%
828………………………………………………………… 15%
910………………………………………………………… 13%
919………………………………………………………… 25%
