Raleigh, N.C. – The early leader in the Democratic primary for Governor of North Carolina is…undecided. 41% of voters aren’t sure who they’ll vote for in May. Bob Etheridge leads the pack with 26% to 19% for Walter Dalton. Bruce Blackmon leads the second tier of Democratic candidates with 5% to 4% for Gardenia Henley, and 2% each for Gary Dunn and Bill Faison.
Etheridge’s lead is due largely to a 50-7 advantage over Dalton in the Triangle. Dalton leads in the Triad, Charlotte, and the Mountains but not by large enough margins to overcome Etheridge’s massive lead in the part of the state where the most Democratic primary voters will be cast.
None of the major Democratic candidates are terribly well known. Etheridge has 51% name recognition with a 34/17 favorability rating but is generally a blank slate to voters outside the Triangle and eastern North Carolina. Dalton has 38% name recognition with a 22/16 favorability rating.
“It looks like we’re going to have a 2 person race for Governor between Walter Dalton and Bob Etheridge,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Etheridge has the small early edge, but most of that is due to superior name recognition. It should be a competitive contest.”
Other notes on the Democratic primaries:
-Incumbent Janet Cowell leads challenger Ron Elmer only 32-14 in the race for State Treasurer.
-In the Lieutenant Governor primary Linda Coleman leads Eric Mansfield 25-15.
-In the primary for Labor Commissioner Ty Richardson leads with 26% to 13% for John Brooks and 9% for Marlowe Foster.
PPP surveyed 499 likely Democratic primary voters on February 29th and March 1st. The margin of error is +/-4.4%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
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……………………………………………….. 22%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 62%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bob Etheridge?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 34%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 17%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 49%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bill Faison?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 10%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 20%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 70%
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………………………………………. 5%
Walter Dalton ………………………………………….. 19%
Gary Dunn ……………………………………………… 2%
Bob Etheridge …………………………………………. 26%
Bill Faison ………………………………………………. 2%
Gardenia Henley……………………………………… 4%
Undecided………………………………………………. 41%
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………………………………………… 25%
Eric Mansfield …………………………………………. 15%
Undecided………………………………………………. 61%
Q6 The Democratic candidates for Agriculture
Commissioner are Scott Bryant and Walter
Smith. If the election was today, who would you
vote for?
Scott Bryant ……………………………………………. 14%
Walter Smith …………………………………………… 13%
Undecided………………………………………………. 73%
Q7 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……………………………………………. 13%
Marlowe Foster ……………………………………….. 9%
Ty Richardson…………………………………………. 26%
Undecided………………………………………………. 52%
Q8 The Democratic candidates for State Treasurer
are Janet Cowell and Ron Elmer. If the election
was today, who would you vote for?
Janet Cowell …………………………………………… 32%
Ron Elmer………………………………………………. 14%
Undecided………………………………………………. 54%
Q9 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 16%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 29%
Moderate………………………………………………… 29%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 18%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 8%
Q10 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 61%
Man……………………………………………………….. 39%
Q11 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If an
independent, press 2.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 90%
Independent……………………………………………. 10%
Q12 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 64%
African-American …………………………………….. 30%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q13 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………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 36%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 28%
Q14
252………………………………………………………… 14%
336………………………………………………………… 15%
704………………………………………………………… 18%
828………………………………………………………… 10%
910………………………………………………………… 15%
919………………………………………………………… 28%
