Raleigh, N.C. – The folks likely to vote in North Carolina this year have highly negative opinions of Barack Obama, Bev Perdue, and Kay Hagan. That’s a fact that will likely complicate Democratic efforts to maintain control of the General Assembly and pick up a US Senate seat this fall.
Obama’s approval rating is 43%, with 54% of voters disapproving of him. Perdue’s is 30%, with 52% of voters disapproving of her. And Hagan’s is 35%, with 50% of voters disapproving of her.
One common thread in the numbers for all three Democrats is that independent voters disapprove of them by a greater than 2:1 margin. They go against Obama 64/32, Perdue 57/21, and Hagan 62/20.
It may be better for Democrats to keep Barack Obama off the campaign trail this year. Only 32% of voters in the state say they’d be more likely to vote for a candidate endorsed by Obama, while 55% say his support would be a turnoff. Sarah Palin’s endorsement is a net negative with North Carolinians as well, but not nearly to the same extent. 41% say they’d be more inclined to vote for someone with her support while 46% say it would be harmful.
“One of the problems for Democrats running in North Carolina this year is that President and Governor are political liabilities,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “It’s always much easier if you can safely stand with the leaders of your party rather than having to run away from them.”
PPP surveyed 724 North Carolina voters from August 27th to 29th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.6%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.
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 …………………………………………………. 43%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 54%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 3%
Q2 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion?
Support ………………………………………………….. 40%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 55%
No opinion………………………………………………. 5%
Q3 Do you support or oppose drilling for oil off the
coast of North Carolina?
Support ………………. 50%
Oppose ………………. 35%
Not sure ……………… 15%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Bev
Perdue’s job performance?
Approve…………….. 30%
Disapprove………… 52%
Not sure ……………. 19%
Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Democratic
Senator Kay Hagan’s job performance?
Approve ……………… 35%
Disapprove………….. 50%
Not sure ……………… 16%
Q6 Would you be more or less likely to vote for a
candidate endorsed by Barack Obama?
More likely………………………………………………. 32%
Less likely ………………………………………………. 55%
Makes no difference ………………………………… 13%
Q7 Would you be more or less likely to vote for a
candidate endorsed by Sarah Palin?
More likely………………………………………………. 41%
Less likely ………………………………………………. 46%
Makes no difference ………………………………… 13%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Andy Griffith?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 44%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 34%
Q9 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 54%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 45%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 1%
Q10 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 41%
Conservative…………………………………………… 43%
Q11 Would you describe the community you live in
as urban, suburban, rural, or a small town?
Urban…………………………………………………….. 15%
Suburban ……………………………………………….. 27%
Rural ……………………………………………………… 31%
Small Town …………………………………………….. 27%
Q12 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q13 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 45%
Republican……………………………………………… 40%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 16%
Q14 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 76%
African-American …………………………………….. 20%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q15 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If older than
65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 7%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 25%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 43%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 25%
Q16
252………………………………………………………… 12%
336………………………………………………………… 19%
704………………………………………………………… 19%
828………………………………………………………… 13%
910………………………………………………………… 13%
919………………………………………………………… 24%
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