Raleigh, N.C. – PPP continues to find Nathan Deal with pretty mediocre approval numbers. Only
36% of voters approve of him to 41% who disapprove. That’s nearly identical to
the 37/40 spread we found for him in early December. Nevertheless Deal looks
like a favorite for reelection. He would lead Jason Carter 46/38 and John
Barrow and Kasim Reed 48/38 in hypothetical match ups. This may be a situation
where Deal’s unpopularity would let a strong Democratic candidate make the race
competitive, but it would be hard for a challenger to actually get to 50%.
“Nathan Deal isn’t very popular,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public
Policy Polling. “But the Republican lean of the state makes him a favorite for
reelection anyway.”
Our newest look at Saxby Chambliss’ approval numbers probably confirms that
he made the right choice by deciding to retire. Only 47% of Republicans
are happy with the job he’s doing to 31% who disapprove. It’s hard to fight off
a serious primary challenge when your numbers are under 50% in your party.
Chambliss’ overall approval is 35/41. Georgians aren’t real big on any of their
politicians- Johnny Isakson comes in at 37/39 and Barack Obama’s at 45/53 in the
state.
The Falcons aren’t making much progress in the court of public opinion about
their need for a new stadium. In December only 15% of voters thought they
needed one and after scads of press coverage in the last couple months that’s
only gone up to 20%. There’s only 17% support for any taxpayer funding for a
new stadium with 69% of voters opposed to it.
As mentioned above, Georgians don’t like Barack Obama. They do like the NRA-
it has a 46/38 favorability rating in the state. Nevertheless by a 51/40 margin
voters in the state think Congress should pass stricter gun laws. And there’s
49/44 support on the issue of an assault weapons ban in particular. This is the
new reality in the post-Newtown era- there are voters who don’t like Obama and
like the NRA and still think stronger gun laws and an assault weapons ban is
necessary, even in red states. It’s been over two months now and we’re not
seeing these numbers move.
PPP surveyed 602
Georgia voters from February 15th to 18th. The margin of error for
the overall sample is +/-4.0%. 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 approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 45%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 53%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Nathan Deal’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 36%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 22%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Kasim Reed?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 32%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 25%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 43%
Q4 If the candidates for Governor in 2014 were
Republican Nathan Deal and Democrat John
Barrow, who would you vote for?
Nathan Deal……………………………………………. 48%
John Barrow……………………………………………. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q5 If the candidates for Governor in 2014 were
Republican Nathan Deal and Democrat Jason
Carter, who would you vote for?
Nathan Deal……………………………………………. 46%
Jason Carter …………………………………………… 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q6 If the candidates for Governor in 2014 were
Republican Nathan Deal and Democrat Kasim
Reed, who would you vote for?
Nathan Deal……………………………………………. 48%
Kasim Reed ……………………………………………. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q7 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Saxby Chambliss’ job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 35%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 24%
Q8 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Johnny Isakson’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 37%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 25%
Q9 Do you think the Atlanta Falcons need a new
stadium, or not?
They need a new stadium…………………………. 20%
They do not…………………………………………….. 66%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q10 Would you support or oppose public funding to
help build a new stadium for the Falcons?
Support ………………………………………………….. 17%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 69%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q11 Would you support or oppose banning assault
weapons?
Support ………………………………………………….. 49%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q12 Would you support or oppose Congress
passing stricter gun laws?
Support ………………………………………………….. 51%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q13 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the National Rifle Association?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 46%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Hillary Clinton?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 49%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q15 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Newt Gingrich?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 39%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 50%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q16 If the candidates for President in 2016 were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Newt
Gingrich, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 51%
Newt Gingrich …………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q17 If the candidates for President in 2016 were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican
Marco Rubio, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 49%
Marco Rubio …………………………………………… 46%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q18 If the candidates for President in 2016 were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Paul
Ryan, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 50%
Paul Ryan ………………………………………………. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q19 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 12%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 25%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 21%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 22%
Q20 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q21 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 ……………………………………………….. 37%
Republican……………………………………………… 41%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 22%
Q22 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 73%
African-American …………………………………….. 20%
Other……………………………………………………… 7%
Q23 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………………………………………………….. 22%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 37%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 29%
