Raleigh, N.C. – Maine voters regret electing Republican Paul LePage Governor and would choose Independent Eliot Cutler if they could do the 2010 election over again, a new poll from Public Policy Polling finds. When asked who they would vote for if they could do the election over, 43% of Maine voters chose Eliot Cutler, 35% chose Paul LePage, and 19% chose Democrat Libby Mitchell. LePage suffers from a negative job approval rating, with just 41% of voters approving of his job performance and 52% disapproving.
Democrats are in strong position to make gains in the State Legislature, with 51% of voters saying they’d generally vote for Democratic candidates if the election were held today and just 37% of voters saying they’d vote for a Republican candidate. Among independent voters, 42% say they would vote for Democrats and 28% say they’d vote for a Republican.
A majority of Maine voters say same-sex marriage should be legal, by a 54-41 margin. A plurality of voters (47-32) favor a law that would allow “marriage licenses for same-sex couples that protects religious freedom by ensuring that no religion or clergy be required to perform such a marriage in violation of their religious beliefs.”
“It looks like Maine will reverse its 2009 vote on gay marriage this fall,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “That’s symbolic of the shift in public opinion that’s occurred on this issue over the last few years.”
Senator Susan Collins sees a high job approval rating, with 60% of voters approving and just 31% disapproving, including a 64-28 rating among independents and a 57-35 rating among Democrats. Perhaps reflecting her own independent reputation, Collins only commands the approval of 61% of Republicans while 29% disapprove. Mike Michaud also gets strong favorable views from Maine voters – 53% of voters hold a favorable opinion of him and just 27% hold an unfavorable view.
Legendary horror author Stephen King enjoys the favorable opinion of his fellow Maine citizens, with 60% saying they view him favorably and 16% unfavorably.
PPP surveyed 1,256 Maine voters from March 2nd to 4th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-2.8%. 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 approve or disapprove of Governor
Paul LePage’s job performance?
Approve…………….. 41%
Disapprove………… 52%
Not sure ……………. 7%
Q2 If you could do last fall’s election for Governor
over again, would you vote for independent
Eliot Cutler, Republican Paul LePage, or
Democrat Libby Mitchell?
Eliot Cutler ………… 43%
Paul LePage………. 35%
Libby Mitchell …….. 19%
Not sure ……………. 3%
Q3 If there was an election for the State
Legislature today, would you generally vote for
Democratic candidates or Republicans?
Democrats…………. 51%
Republicans ………. 37%
Not sure ……………. 13%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Susan Collins’ job performance?
Approve …………….. .60%
Disapprove…………. .31%
Not sure …………….. . 9%
Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Olympia Snowe’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .69%
Disapprove…………. .26%
Not sure …………….. . 5%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mike Michaud?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 53%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 27%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 20%
Q7 Do you favor a law allowing marriage licenses
for same-sex couples that protects religious
freedom by ensuring no religion or clergy be
required to perform such a marriage in violation
of their religious beliefs?
Yes………………………………………………………… 47%
No …………………………………………………………. 32%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q8 In general, do you think same-sex marriage
should be legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 54%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Stephen King?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 60%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 24%
Q10 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 37%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 57%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 7%
Q11 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 14%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 21%
Moderate………………………………………………… 31%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 21%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 14%
Q12 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 50%
Man……………………………………………………….. 50%
Q13 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 ……………………………………………….. 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 34%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 23%
Q14 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White …………………………………………………….. 95%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q15 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………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
