Polls

MI against gay marriage, for Democrats on legislative ballot

| Tom Jensen

Header-poll-results
Raleigh, N.C. –
Despite Democrats outnumbering Republicans 40-30 in Michigan, only 33% of voters feel same-sex marriage should be legal compared to 53% of voters who feel it should be illegal. Michigan has the lowest support for same-sex marriage among Democrats of any state PPP has polled. Democrats only support same-sex marriage 48-36 compared to 10-78 among Republicans. Independents also come out against same-sex marriage with support at only 36-50. However, a strong majority of Michiganians support some form of recognition. When civil unions are included as an option, 35% oppose all recognition compared to 33% who favor civil unions and 29% who favor marriage.

Michigan’s Republican majorities elected in 2010 may have already overstayed their welcome as Michigan gives a 47-36 edge to the Democrats on the generic legislative ballot. While Democrats trail with Independents 24-30, Democrats have a larger lead their own voters, 94-3, than their deficit with Republicans, 8-88.

While Michigan has turned against Rick Snyder, they dislike his predecessor just as much. Only 39% view Granholm favorably compared to 54% who view her unfavorably. Nevertheless, this is an improvement over her 34-57 approval in January. Republicans are more united in their opposition, 7-89, than Democrats are in their support, 69-24, while Independents rate Granholm a very poor 31-58.

As for Detroit’s Mayors, current Mayor Dave Bing, is quite popular among those who express an opinion, rating 36-15. Though he is a Democrat, Bing actually rates better among Republicans, 37-9, than among Democrats, 31-21. Similarly, former Mayor Dennis Archer rates 36-16 with a 37-20 rating among Democrats and a 32-12 rating among Republicans. On the other hand, former Mayor Coleman Young rates only 17-49, and is even underwater with Democrats 32-33. However, this is nothing compared to Kwame Kilpatrick’s miserable 4-77 rating. With his -73 spread, Kilpatrick edges out John Edwards as the second least popular figure PPP has polled.

PPP surveyed 593 Michigan voters from July 21th to 24th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.

Topline results are below.  Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 33%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 53%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%

Q2 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should be allowed to legally
marry ……………………………………………………..29%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry …………………………………33%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………35%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 3%

Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jennifer Granholm?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 39%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 54%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%

Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Dave Bing?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 36%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 49%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Kwame Kilpatrick?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 4%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 77%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%

Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Dennis Archer?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 36%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 49%

Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Coleman Young?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 17%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 34%

Q8 If there was an election for the state legislature
today, do you think you would vote for the
Democratic or Republican candidate from your
district?
Democratic candidate ………………………………. 47%
Republican candidate ………………………………. 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%

Q9 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 42%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 53%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 4%

Q10 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 12%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 26%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 14%

Q11 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%

Q12 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 ……………………………………………….. 40%
Republican……………………………………………… 30%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 30%

Q13 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 82%
African-American …………………………………….. 13%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%

Q14 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………………………………………………….. 20%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 46%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 24%

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