Raleigh, N.C. – After getting a little boost in January, Governor Bev Perdue’s standing against likely 2012 GOP challenger Pat McCrory has receded to the same 49-37 deficit she faced last November. In a state with a 45-37 Democrat-to-Republican ratio, Perdue has a built-in advantage, but she continues to be weak with her own party and with independents. McCrory has the support of three times as many Democrats as Perdue does Republicans, and twice as many Democrats are undecided as Republicans. The former Charlotte mayor also wins unaffiliated voters, 44-29.
Democrats want her to stand firm on their budget priorities, but independents will likely want Perdue to show she can make smart cuts and get the financial house in order. Right now, voters trust the new Republican majority to lead the state more than they do the governor, 44-37. 82% of Republicans choose their party leadership, but Perdue is again weak with her own side, only 62% of whom say they trust her most. 13% say the Republicans. Independents also side narrowly, 41-35, with the GOP legislators.
But there is a silver lining: when asked who is doing more to bring jobs to the state, voters are split pretty evenly three ways. A 35% plurality are not sure, but almost as many, 34%, say Perdue, and only 31% say the Republicans. The two parties are polarized, with over 55% of each siding with their respective leaders, while independents think Perdue has done more, 34-29. This week, Perdue vetoed a bill which would have depleted funds to incentivize companies to create jobs in the state.
Voters also stand with Perdue on two of her specific budget proposals. 48% favor cutting the corporate tax rate from 6.9% to 4.9%, while 30% oppose that, and 22% are not sure. Unsurprisingly, she gets a boost from across the aisle on this issue, with Republicans at 59-24 in support, independents at 53-28, and her own party split at 36% in support and opposition. The governor’s stand against cutting any teachers or teaching assistants has support across the board, from 77% of Democrats, 59% of independents, and even 58% of Republicans. Overall, two-thirds of voters are with her on the issue. If she can communicate her stances and see them enacted, she may see a boost in her numbers.
“Several of Bev Perdue’s most recent policy initiatives are quite popular,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Her challenge is figuring out how to make that translate into personal popularity for her. Right now it’s not happening.”
PPP surveyed 650 North Carolina voters from February 16th to 21st. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.8%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Bev
Perdue’s job performance?
Approve…………….. 30%
Disapprove………… 48%
Not sure ……………. 22%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Pat McCrory?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 31%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%
Q3 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Democrat Bev Perdue and Republican Pat
McCrory, who would you vote for?
Bev Perdue…………………………………………….. 37%
Pat McCrory……………………………………………. 49%
Undecided………………………………………………. 15%
Q4 If there was an election for the state legislature
today, would you vote Democratic or
Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 42%
Republican……………………………………………… 46%
Undecided………………………………………………. 12%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 35%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 24%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 36%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 27%
Q7 Do you have more faith in Governor Perdue or
Legislative Republicans to lead the state?
Governor Perdue …………………………………….. 37%
Legislative Republicans ……………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q8 Do you think that Governor Perdue or
Legislative Republicans are doing more to
bring jobs to North Carolina?
Governor Perdue …………………………………….. 34%
Legislative Republicans ……………………………. 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 35%
Q9 Do you support or oppose cutting the state’s
corporate tax rate from 6.9 percent to 4.9
percent?
Support ………………………………………………….. 48%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 22%
Q10 Do you support or oppose eliminating any K-12
teachers and teacher assistants as part of this
year’s budget?
Support ………………………………………………….. 20%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 67%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q11 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 46%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 47%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 7%
Q12 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
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 ……………………………………………….. 45%
Republican……………………………………………… 37%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 18%
Q14 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………….. 22%
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………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 30%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 40%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q16
252………………………………………………………… 13%
336………………………………………………………… 18%
704………………………………………………………… 20%
828………………………………………………………… 15%
910………………………………………………………… 16%
919………………………………………………………… 18%
