Raleigh, N.C.— Should she run, Hillary Clinton is poised to
make Georgia a swing state in 2016. The
former Secretary of State leads national GOP frontrunner Rand Paul by five
points (48-43) and 2012 running mate Paul Ryan by three (47-44), ties Jeb Bush
at 45%, and lags Chris Christie by only two (42-44). She also leads unlikely candidates Sarah
Palin by 13 (51-38) and the state’s former representative Newt Gingrich by four
(47-43). In every matchup except those
against Bush and Christie, Clinton has more Republican support than her opponents
have Democratic votes.
Georgians are still evidently mad at General William Tecumseh Sherman 150
years after he burned his way through the South. He has only a 16% favorability rating, with
28% seeing him unfavorably. 56%,
however, have forgotten who he was.
Georgia Democrats, in particular, are still mad at one of their own, Zell
Miller, who endorsed George W. Bush in 2004.
They are split, with 34% seeing the former senator favorably, 32%
unfavorably, and 35% not sure. That
compares to 64-7 with Republicans and 45-25 with independents, for 47-21
overall.
Voters narrowly support Georgia State students being able to form a White
Students Union, 43-36. But it should be
no surprise that there is a stark racial divide on that question, with half of
whites for it and more than half of black voters against it.
Georgians are still almost 2:1 against gay marriage, but opinion has moved a
net 10 points in favor of it since PPP polled the state in December. Then, 27% thought it should be allowed and
65% not. It is now 32-60. As everywhere, support decreases across the
age spectrum, with voters under 30 strongly in favor (56-31) and seniors least
(22-69). It is therefore a matter of
time before it has majority support everywhere.
Also as most places, voters are already in support of civil unions. 57%, including 71% of independents and 67% of
Democrats, support legal equality for same-sex couples. A huge 72% do not believe employers should be
able to discriminate on sexual orientation, including even 53% of Republicans.
PPP surveyed 520
Georgia voters between August 2nd and 5th. The margin of
error for the survey is +/- 4.3%. This poll was not authorized or paid for by
any campaign or political organization. PPP’s surveys are conducted through
automated telephone interviews.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Saxby Chambliss’ job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 34%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 24%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Johnny Isakson’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 40%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 37%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%
Q3 Would you support or oppose requiring
background checks for all gun sales, including
gun shows and the Internet?
Support ………………………………………………….. 73%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q4 Do you think employers should be allowed to
discriminate against employees based on
sexual orientation, or not?
They should ……………………………………………. 17%
They should not ………………………………………. 72%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q5 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
allowed, or not?
It should …………………………………………………. 32%
It should not ……………………………………………. 60%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q6 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should be allowed to legally
marry ……………………………………………………..28%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry …………………………………29%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 3%
Q7 Do you think interracial marriage should be
allowed, or not?
It should …………………………………………………. 75%
It should not ……………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q8 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Newt
Gingrich, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 47%
Newt Gingrich …………………………………………. 43%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q9 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Jeb
Bush, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 45%
Jeb Bush………………………………………………… 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q10 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Chris
Christie, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 42%
Chris Christie ………………………………………….. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q11 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Sarah
Palin, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 51%
Sarah Palin …………………………………………….. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q12 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Rand
Paul, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 48%
Rand Paul ………………………………………………. 43%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q13 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Paul
Ryan, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton………………………………………….. 47%
Paul Ryan ………………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q14 Do you support or oppose allowing students at
Georgia State University to form a White
Student Union?
Support ………………………………………………….. 43%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q15 Would you say you believe more in creationism
or evolution?
Creationism…………………………………………….. 53%
Evolution………………………………………………… 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q16 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Zell Miller?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 47%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 21%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 31%
Q17 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Sam Nunn?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 56%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 12%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 32%
Q18 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Paula Deen?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 54%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 21%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 25%
Q19 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 73%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q20 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of William Tecumseh Sherman?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 16%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 28%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 56%
Q21 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Honey Boo Boo?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 8%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 63%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q22 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Atlanta?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 61%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 21%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q23 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Augusta?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 45%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 11%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 44%
Q24 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Columbus?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 40%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 10%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 50%
Q25 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Savannah?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 74%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 7%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q26 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Athens?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 64%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 6%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 31%
Q27 In the last presidential election, did you vote for
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 43%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 50%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 7%
Q28 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 9%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 21%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 22%
Q29 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q30 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 ……………………………………………….. 38%
Republican……………………………………………… 39%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 23%
Q31 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 71%
African-American …………………………………….. 24%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q32 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………………………………………………….. 11%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 21%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 26%
