Raleigh, N.C. – A plurality of Florida voters agree with the decision to charge George Zimmerman with second-degree murder in the Trayvon Martin shooting, a new poll from Public Policy Polling finds. 49% of voters agree with the decision to charge Zimmerman, 25% disagree and 26% are’t sure. Voters aren’t sure whether he is guilty, though – 31% believe he’s guilty, 26% think he’s not guilty and 43% aren’t sure. Most voters don’t believe the shooting was motivated by racism – 45% say it wasn’t, 32% say it was and 23% aren’t sure. 46% of voters say Zimmerman can receive a fair trial, 37% believe he will not and 17% aren’t sure. Despite the controversy over the shooting, more Florida voters than not still support the “Stand Your Ground” law that allows citizens to use lethal force in the face of a perceived violent threat without having to retreat first. 42% support the law, 32% oppose it and 26% aren’t sure.
A closer look reveals splits along racial and political lines. Democrats (72-13), independents (49-24) and all racial groups support the decision to charge Zimmerman, while Republicans oppose charging him (25-39). Democrats (49-12), independents (31-23), Hispanics (48-19) and African-Americans (73-9) believe he is guilty, while Republicans (13-41) and whites (21-30) do not. Hispanics (44-36), African-Americans (68-11), and Democrats (47-26) believe the killing was motivated by racism while whites (24-51) and Republicans (14-66) do not, and independents are split (38-39). Republicans (60-13) and whites (47-28) support the Stand Your Ground law while Democrats (24-50) and African-Americans (18-51) oppose it.
Florida voters hate Fidel Castro, with just 4% having a favorable opinion of him and 86% unfavorable. While 39% of voters say Ozzie Guillen’s recent comments about Castro were inappropriate, 52% still aren’t sure and Guillen’s favorability ratings sits at 7% favorable and 26% unfavorable with 67% not sure, suggesting the issue hasn’t broken through with everyday voters. A plurality of voters with an opinion on Guillen’s suspension say the punishment was “just right” rather than too harsh or lenient. Florida voters aren’t too into their baseball, with 15% identifying themselves as a Miami Marlins fan, 19% as a Tampa Bay Rays fan and 67% saying they aren’t a fan of either team.
PPP surveyed 700 Florida voters from April 12th to 15th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.7%. 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 Fidel Castro?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 4%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 86%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ozzie Guillen?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 7%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 26%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 67%
Q3 Do you think Ozzie Guillen’s recent comments
about Fidel Castro were appropriate or
inappropriate, or are you not familiar with what
Guillen said about Castro?
Appropriate …………………………………………….. 8%
Inappropriate…………………………………………… 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 52%
Q4 (Asked only of those who had an opinion on
Q3:) Which of the following best describes your
opinion on the appropriate punishment for
Ozzie Guillen in regards to his recent
comments about Fidel Castro: the suspension
he received was just right, he should have
been suspended for longer, he should have
been fired, or he shouldn’t have received any
suspension at all?
The suspension was just right……………………. 30%
He should have been suspended longer……… 17%
He should have been fired………………………… 22%
He shouldn’t have been suspended at all ……. 27%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q5 Are you a Miami Marlins fan, a Tampa Bay
Rays fan, or are you not a fan of either team?
Marlins …………………………………………………… 15%
Rays ……………………………………………………… 19%
Neither team…………………………………………… 67%
Q6 Do you support or oppose Florida’s ‘Stand Your
Ground’ law?
Support ………………………………………………….. 42%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 32%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 26%
Q7 Do you agree or disagree with the decision to
charge George Zimmerman with seconddegree
murder in the Trayvon Martin case?
Agree …………………………………………………….. 49%
Disagree ………………………………………………… 25%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 26%
Q8 Do you think that George Zimmerman is guilty
of second-degree murder, or not?
He is guilty ……………………………………………… 31%
He is not…………………………………………………. 26%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 43%
Q9 Do you think that the killing of Trayvon Martin
was motivated by racism, or not?
It was motivated by racism………………………… 32%
It was not ……………………………………………….. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%
Q10 Do you think that George Zimmerman will be
able to receive a fair trial in this case, or not?
He will be able to receive a fair trial ……………. 46%
He will not ………………………………………………. 37%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q11 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 47%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 47%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%
Q12 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 32%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 22%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 16%
Q13 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 55%
Man……………………………………………………….. 45%
Q14 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 ……………………………………………….. 41%
Republican……………………………………………… 41%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 18%
Q15 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 13%
White …………………………………………………….. 71%
African-American …………………………………….. 11%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q16 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………………………………………………….. 31%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 33%
