Raleigh, N.C. – With the worst of the Gulf oil spill likely over and the beach tourism season heading into its home stretch, 50% of North Carolinians once again support drilling for oil off the state’s coast. 39% are opposed, a 15-point swing from the 42-46 negative mark in late June and a return to the similar 48-39 showing in early June. Republicans have moved 20 points in the last month, from 59-31 to 69-21. Independents have moved 14 points, from 46-45 to 53-38. Even Democrats have moved 13 points, from 27-58 to 34-52.
Voters have also suddenly become much more enthusiastic, with a 53% majority now saying they are very excited about voting in the fall, versus 43% in July. That corresponds to a 10-point decrease in those who say they are not very excited—from 28% to 18%. Somewhat excited voters are steady at 24%. The movement almost all comes among Democrats and independents, with the partisan balance, previously favoring Republicans, now looking about the same across the spectrum. In July, the very-somewhat-not very excited figures for Republicans were 51-23-23, with Democrats at 39-26-31 and independents at 39-24-34. Now Republicans sit at 56-22-17, a slight increase in enthusiasm, but Democrats are at 51-26-17 and independents at 53-21-22, representing huge shifts from “not very excited” to “very excited.”
While the generic state legislative ballot retains a three-point lead for the Republicans, Democrats have ticked upward from a 40-46 deficit last month to 42-44 now.
“It could be a temporary adjustment, but if Democrats continue to get motivated and turn out to vote in North Carolina and elsewhere, it will solve the biggest problem facing Elaine Marshall and the Democrats nationwide,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
PPP surveyed 624 North Carolina voters from July 27th to 31st. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.9%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Complete results are attached, and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.
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 support or oppose drilling for oil off the
coast of North Carolina?
Support ………………. 50%
Oppose ………………. 39%
Not Sure……………… 12%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Bev
Perdue’s job performance?
Approve…………….. 32%
Disapprove………… 48%
Not Sure……………. 20%
Q3 If there was an election for the state legislature
today, would you vote Democratic or
Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 41%
Republican……………………………………………… 44%
Undecided………………………………………………. 16%
Q4 If there was an election for Congress today,
would you vote Democratic or Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 42%
Republican……………………………………………… 44%
Undecided………………………………………………. 14%
Q5 How excited are you about casting your vote in
the general election this fall?
Very excited……………………………………………. 53%
Somewhat excited …………………………………… 24%
Not very excited………………………………………. 18%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%
Q6 Do you support or oppose the goals of the ‘Tea
Party’ movement?
Support ………………………………………………….. 44%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 36%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 19%
Q7 Do you personally identify as a member of the
‘Tea Party’ movement?
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 19%
No …………………………………………………………. 64%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 18%
Q8 How long do you think former legislators
should have to wait before becoming lobbyists:
6 months, a year, two years, more than two
years, or do you think there should be no
waiting period or do you think former legislators
should never be able to work as lobbyists?
No waiting period …………………………………….. 4%
6 months………………………………………………… 5%
1 year…………………………………………………….. 12%
2 years…………………………………………………… 15%
Longer than 2 years…………………………………. 20%
Former legislators should not be allowed to
become lobbyists…………………………………….. 35%
Not sure………………………………………………….. 9%
Q9 Who did you vote for President last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 47%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 47%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%
Q10 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 17%
Moderate………………………………………………… 36%
Conservative…………………………………………… 48%
Q11 I am going to name 7 issues. Which of these is
most important to you: the War in Iraq,
education, the economy and jobs, taxes, moral
or family values, health care, or immigration?
War in Iraq ……………………………………………… 6%
Education……………………………………………….. 8%
Economy and Jobs ………………………………….. 54%
Taxes…………………………………………………….. 6%
Moral and family values ……………………………. 11%
Health care …………………………………………….. 6%
Immigration…………………………………………….. 7%
Other……………………………………………………… 3%
Q12 Would you describe the community you live in
as urban, suburban, rural, or a small town?
Urban…………………………………………………….. 14%
Suburban ……………………………………………….. 30%
Rural ……………………………………………………… 27%
Small Town…………………………………………….. 29%
Q13 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 50%
Man……………………………………………………….. 50%
Q14 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 ……………………………………………….. 46%
Republican……………………………………………… 34%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 20%
Q15 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 76%
African-American …………………………………….. 21%
Other……………………………………………………… 3%
Q16 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 6%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 26%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 45%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 23%
Q17
252………………………………………………………… 12%
336………………………………………………………… 18%
704………………………………………………………… 20%
828………………………………………………………… 13%
910………………………………………………………… 16%
919………………………………………………………… 21%
