Raleigh, N.C. – Just days after President Obama’s declaration of support for gay marriage, African Americans in North Carolina are showing a major shift in their views on the issue.
55% of African-Americans believe same-sex couples should either be allowed to marry or form civil unions, up 11 points from the last statewide same-sex marriage poll, conducted May 6. In the pre-primary poll, a majority (51%) of African-Americans said there should be no legal recognition of gay couples in North Carolina, but that number has dropped to 39%.
But same-sex marriage is still viewed unfavorably in the state as a whole, despite nationwide backlash from the passage of Amendment One. 58% of voters think same-sex marriage should be illegal, which is consistent with the 61% passage rate for Amendment One in last week’s primary.
Voters are more sympathetic to same-sex couples seeking civil unions, with 46% supporting civil unions and 46% opposing. A majority—55%—of voters believe gay couples should either be allowed to marry or form civil unions. This is up from 53% in the pre-primary poll.
Governor Bev Perdue’s approval ratings continue to slide as her political power wanes and the gubernatorial election strips her of media coverage. 31% approve of Perdue’s job performance, down from 35% in March, when the last statewide approval ratings poll was conducted. 50% of Democrats approve of her performance in her first and only term, and 64% of Independents disapprove.
Approval rating of N.C. General Assembly is 17%, down from 18% in April. Dismal ratings for the entire legislature notwithstanding, Democratic members of the General Assembly are viewed more favorably than their Republican colleagues. Voters would favor Democratic state legislative candidates over Republicans 46-41 if there was an election held today.
PPP surveyed 666 North Carolina voters from May 10th to 13th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.8%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP 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 Bev
Perdue’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .31%
Disapprove…………. .57%
Not sure …………….. .11%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Kay
Hagan’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .31%
Disapprove…………. .42%
Not sure …………….. .26%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of the job the
General Assembly is doing?
Approve …………….. .17%
Disapprove…………. .57%
Not sure …………….. .26%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 33%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 31%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 52%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q6 If there was an election for the state legislature
today, would you vote Democratic or
Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 46%
Republican……………………………………………… 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q7 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 34%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 58%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q8 Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex
couples to form civil unions with the same legal
rights as marriage?
Support ………………………………………………….. 46%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 46%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q9 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 …………………………………26%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 3%
Q10 Do you have any family members who are gay,
or not?
Have family members who are gay…………….. 33%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 59%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q11 Do you personally know any gay people, or
not?
Know gay people …………………………………….. 88%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 3%
Q12 Do you think being gay should be a felony, or
not?
Being gay should be a felony…………………….. 8%
It should not ……………………………………………. 85%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%
Q13 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 11%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 17%
Moderate………………………………………………… 29%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 19%
Q14 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q15 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 ……………………………………………….. 48%
Republican……………………………………………… 34%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 18%
Q16 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 73%
African-American …………………………………….. 23%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q17 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………………………………………………….. 16%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 36%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q18 Area Code
252………………………………………………………… 11%
336………………………………………………………… 21%
704………………………………………………………… 19%
828………………………………………………………… 12%
910………………………………………………………… 12%
919………………………………………………………… 25%
