Raleigh, NC- Both Elaine Marshall and Cal Cunningham have lost name recognition during their run-off campaign for the Democratic Senate nomination. Compared to a poll taken just one week following the primary election, both Marshall and Cunningham’s popularity and recognition across the state have decreased, especially in the Charlotte area and western North Carolina.
Seventy-four percent of voters in North Carolina are unsure of their opinion of Cunningham and 62 percent of Marshall. This is an increase from 66 and 56 percent respectively in the week following the primary election. Voter turnout is typically lower in run-off elections as voter interest decreases. But both Cunningham and Marshall need to rally voters to wage a successful campaign against Republican Senator Richard Burr.
Burr’s approval ratings are still poor but continue to rise steadily. Burr has widened his lead against both Marshall and Cunningham, edging over Marshall 46- 39 and Cunningham 46- 35.
Senator Kay Hagan maintains poor approval ratings. Consistent with national trends, an overwhelming majority of voters who disapprove of Hagan identify as conservatives.
‘The impressions Cunningham and Marshall made during the primary seem to be temporary, not long lasting” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “That could prove to be beneficial to Senator Burr.”
PPP will release numbers tomorrow looking at how voters in the state are viewing the Legislature.
PPP surveyed 601 North Carolina voters from June 4th– 6th. 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.
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 Democratic
Senator Kay Hagan’s job performance?
Approve ………………34%
Disapprove…………..39%
Not Sure………………27%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Republican
Senator Richard Burr’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 35%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 37%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 28%
Q3 How would you rate Richard Burr’s job
performance on a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 being
the highest approval and 1 being the lowest.
Please push the number for the rating you
would give Senator Burr.
1……………………………………………………………. 16%
2……………………………………………………………. 8%
3……………………………………………………………. 8%
4……………………………………………………………. 11%
5……………………………………………………………. 23%
6……………………………………………………………. 9%
7……………………………………………………………. 13%
8……………………………………………………………. 5%
9……………………………………………………………. 7%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Cal Cunningham?
Favorable ………….. 12%
Unfavorable……….. 13%
Not Sure……………. 74%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Elaine Marshall?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 21%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 16%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 62%
Q6 If the candidates for US Senate next year were
Democrat Cal Cunningham and Republican
Richard Burr, who would you vote for?
Cal Cunningham……………………………………… 35%
Richard Burr……………………………………………. 46%
Undecided………………………………………………. 19%
Q7 If the candidates for US Senate next year were
Democrat Elaine Marshall and Republican
Richard Burr, who would you vote for?
Elaine Marshall ……………………………………….. 39%
Richard Burr……………………………………………. 46%
Undecided………………………………………………. 16%
Q8 Who did you vote for President last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 46%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 47%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 7%
Q9 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 40%
Conservative…………………………………………… 42%
Q10 Would you describe the community you live in
as urban, suburban, rural, or a small town?
Urban…………………………………………………….. 14%
Suburban ……………………………………………….. 32%
Rural ……………………………………………………… 27%
Small Town…………………………………………….. 28%
Q11 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 55%
Man……………………………………………………….. 45%
Q12 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 ……………………………………………….. 47%
Republican……………………………………………… 34%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 19%
Q13 If you are white, press one now. If you are
African-American, press two now. If other,
press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 75%
African-American …………………………………….. 22%
Other……………………………………………………… 3%
Q14 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………………………………………………….. 8%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 25%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 47%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q15
252………………………………………………………… 12%
336………………………………………………………… 22%
18%
828………………………………………………………… 12%
910………………………………………………………… 14%
919………………………………………………………… 23%
