Raleigh, N.C. – Barack Obama’s job approval among North Carolina voters remains unchanged overall from March, but his health care plan received a boost, and his executive order allowing oil exploration off the coast is overwhelmingly popular.

While his general approval rating is stagnant, at 46-50, Obama has dropped significantly in the eyes of independents, from 41-50 to 33-63.  Independents have also brought Democrats down slightly in the generic Congressional ballot, from a statistical tie to a 42-46 deficit, by supporting Republicans 46-19, versus 38-29 last month.

Voters’ views of Obama’s health care reform plan have drastically improved since it became law, however.  In February, North Carolinians were opposed to its passage, 38-53.  They are still down on it, 42-50, but the bill’s support improved among Democrats (from 68-21 to 73-18).

Quite unlike health care, oil drilling receives majority support almost across the board, and is most popular with conservatives, Republicans, and McCain voters.  In fact, while Democrats overall support oil exploration 52-33, liberals oppose it 38-46.  In the split sample labeling drilling as Obama’s plan, that cue leans liberals to support it 55-27 and ups support among both Democrats and Obama voters.

“Partisans are predictably mirror opposites on everything but oil drilling, which seems to be one of the most popular things Obama has done in some time,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.  “But independents remain a thorn in his side.”

PPP surveys in the last week found Bev Perdue and Richard Burr’s approval numbers on the decline, with Elaine Marshall continuing to hold a small lead in the Democratic primary.  The next primary poll will be released the week of April 26^th.

PPP surveyed 742 North Carolina voters from April 8^th to 11^th.  The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.6%.  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 President
Barack Obama’s job performance? If you
approve, press 1. If you disapprove, press 2.
If you’re not sure, press 3.
Approve …………………………………………………. 46%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 50%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 4%

Q2 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion? If you support it, press 1. If you
oppose it, press 2. If you don’t have an opinion,
press 3.
Support ………………………………………………….. 42%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 50%
No Opinion……………………………………………… 7%

Q3 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s
plan to drill for oil off the coast of North
Carolina? If you support it, press 1. If you
oppose it, press 2. If you’re not sure, press 3.
Support ………………………………………………….. 65%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 20%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 15%

Q4 Do you support or oppose drilling for oil off the
coast of North Carolina? If you support it,
press 1. If you oppose it, press 2. If you’re not
sure, press 3.
Support ………………………………………………….. 61%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 26%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 12%

Q5 If there was an election for Congress today,
would you vote Democratic or Republican? If
Democratic, press 1. If Republican, press 2. If
you’re undecided, press 3.
Democratic……………………………………………… 42%
Republican……………………………………………… 46%
Undecided………………………………………………. 12%

Q6 Who did you vote for President last year? If
John McCain, press 1. If Barack Obama, press
2. If someone else or you don’t remember,
press 3.
McCain…………………………………………………… 49%
Obama…………………………………………………… 48%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 3%

Q7 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative? If liberal, press 1. If
moderate, press 2. If conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 17%
Moderate………………………………………………… 39%
Conservative…………………………………………… 44%

Q8 I am going to name 7 issues. Which of these is
most important to you? The War in Iraq,
education, the economy and jobs, taxes, moral
or family values, health care, or immigration. If
the War in Iraq is most important, press 1. If
education, press 2. If the economy and jobs,
press 3. If taxes, press 4. If moral and family
values, press 5. If health care, press 6. If
immigration, press 7. If some other issue is
most important, press 8.
War in Iraq ……………………………………………… 6%
Education……………………………………………….. 12%
Economy and Jobs ………………………………….. 57%
Taxes…………………………………………………….. 3%
Moral and family values ……………………………. 12%
Health care …………………………………………….. 5%
Immigration…………………………………………….. 2%
Other……………………………………………………… 3%

Q9 Would you describe the community you live in
as urban, suburban, rural, or a small town? If
urban, press 1. If suburban, press 2. If rural,
press 3. If a small town, press 4.
Urban…………………………………………………….. 14%
Suburban ……………………………………………….. 28%
Rural ……………………………………………………… 28%
Small Town…………………………………………….. 30%

Q10 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 56%
Man……………………………………………………….. 44%

Q11 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……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 17%

Q12 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%

Q13 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………………………………………………….. 45%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%

Q14
252………………………………………………………… 15%
336………………………………………………………… 20%
704………………………………………………………… 24%
828………………………………………………………… 14%
910………………………………………………………… 11%
919………………………………………………………… 17%