Raleigh, N.C.— For the first time in a PPP poll, North
Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has a net-negative approval rating, seeing a
15-point net decline in just the last month, and 22 points over the last three. Now only 40% of voters approve of the
Republican’s job performance, and 49% disapprove. By comparison, McCrory’s approval margins
over the last few months were +6, +10, +13, and +14.
This decline in public esteem is a result of the policies proposed by the
General Assembly, which itself is in even worse shape than the governor. Only 20% approve of their performance, with
56% disapproving. Voters differentiate
starkly between the two parties, with GOP legislators at a 35-55 favorability
spread, versus the Democrats’ 40-45. As
a result, Democrats now lead the generic legislative ballot by a 51-42 margin,
up slightly from a 48-41 edge in mid-June.
The abortion bill passed by the General Assembly last week, which McCrory
promised to sign, is supported by only 34% of voters, with 47% opposing
it. By a similar 48-33 margin, voters
would prefer that McCrory actually veto the bill than sign it into law. 51% of independents, 64% of Democrats, and
even 25% of Republicans want a veto.
North Carolinians are even more upset about the G.A.’s actions on
unemployment benefits. Just 29% support
the decision which resulted in 70,000 citizens being cut off from benefits on
July 1st and the state becoming the first in the country to lose
federal UI benefits. 55% are against
this overall, including 78% of Democrats and 55% of independents but only 24%
of Republicans. The legislature is also considering a bill which would not
require shale gas drilling companies to disclose chemicals used in
fracking. Only 13% side with the
Republicans on this, and 76% are against them.
There is bipartisan support for disclosure.
“The abortion bill seems to be the final straw for a lot of voters when it
comes to the Republicans in state government,” said Dean Debnam, President of
Public Policy Polling. “Voters don’t like the process that led to it and
they’re starting to really take it out on Pat McCrory.”
PPP surveyed 600
North Carolina voters between July 12th and 14th. The
margin of error for the survey is +/- 4.0%. This poll was not authorized or
paid for by any campaign or political organization. PPP’s 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 Pat
McCrory’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .40%
Disapprove…………. .49%
Not sure …………….. .11%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of the job
Republicans as a whole are doing of running
state government?
Approve …………….. .35%
Disapprove…………. .55%
Not sure …………….. .10%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of the job the
General Assembly is doing?
Approve …………….. .20%
Disapprove…………. .56%
Not sure …………….. .24%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 40%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 35%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 55%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q6 Generally speaking, if there was an election for
the state legislature today, would you vote for
the Democratic or Republican candidate from
your district?
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 51%
Republican……………………………………………… 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q7 Do you think the General Assembly is
transparent, or not?
It is ………………………………………………………… 19%
It is not …………………………………………………… 51%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 29%
Q8 Do you think that the General Assembly is
causing North Carolina national
embarrassment, or not?
It is ………………………………………………………… 46%
It is not …………………………………………………… 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q9 Do you support or oppose the abortion bill
passed by the General Assembly this week?
Support ………………………………………………….. 34%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q10 Do you think Governor McCrory should sign or
veto this bill?
Sign it…………………………………………………….. 33%
Veto it…………………………………………………….. 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q11 Do you think it is appropriate or inappropriate
for the General Assembly to combine abortion
laws with bills about motorcycle safety or
Sharia Law?
Appropriate …………………………………………….. 8%
Inappropriate…………………………………………… 80%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q12 Do you think Sharia Law is a pressing issue
state government should address, or not?
It is ………………………………………………………… 17%
It is not …………………………………………………… 46%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 37%
Q13 Do you support or oppose the legislation
passed earlier this year that resulted in 70,000
North Carolinians losing unemployment
benefits on July 1st?
Support ………………………………………………….. 29%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 55%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q14 Do you think shale gas drilling companies
engaging in fracking in North Carolina should
have to disclose all the toxic chemicals they
plan to inject into the ground, or not?
Support ………………………………………………….. 76%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q15 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the protesters who have been getting
arrested at the General Assembly opposing the
Republican agenda?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 47%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q16 Who do you have a higher opinion of: the
members of the General Assembly or the
people protesting them?
The General Assembly …………………………….. 41%
The people protesting them………………………. 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q17 Are the protesters at the General Assembly
making you more or less likely to support their
agenda, or does it not make a difference?
More likely………………………………………………. 41%
Less likely ………………………………………………. 36%
Doesn’t make a difference ………………………… 21%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q18 Would you support or oppose mandatory drug
testing for members of the General Assembly?
Support ………………………………………………….. 78%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 12%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q19 In the last presidential election, did you vote for
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 48%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 4%
Q20 Who did you vote for Governor last year:
Walter Dalton or Pat McCrory?
Walter Dalton ………………………………………….. 41%
Pat McCrory……………………………………………. 52%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 7%
Q21 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 20%
Moderate………………………………………………… 26%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 22%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 21%
Q22 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q23 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……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 20%
Q24 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 77%
African-American …………………………………….. 17%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q25 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………………………………………………….. 15%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 21%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q26 Area Code
252………………………………………………………… 11%
336………………………………………………………… 22%
704………………………………………………………… 18%
828………………………………………………………… 15%
910………………………………………………………… 14%
919………………………………………………………… 20%
