Raleigh, N.C. – ACC fans are rather divided over the recent addition of Pittsburgh and Syracuse to their conference. Overall, 32% of North Carolina voters support the new recruits, with 26% opposing them. A 42% plurality are still not sure how they feel, with the schools not set to begin play against their new, mostly Southern rivals until at least next season, and likely 2013. Among the ACC fan bases, Dukies (45-30) and Demon Deacons (29-13) are most excited, with Pack Backers (31-27) and Tar Heels (34-33) pretty tepid.
The state is much more encouraging of ECU’s bid to help replace Pitt and ‘Cuse in the Big East. 49% say it is a good idea, and only 10% a bad one. Among Pirates fans, that is a resounding 57-3, though 40% still have no opinion.
A quarter of the state roots for Carolina, with 19% backing NC State, 17% Duke, 8% East Carolina, and 5% Wake Forest. 13% cheer for some other school, and another 13% support no school at all.
Richard Burr’s numbers have slipped a lot in the last month, and now only three of the 74 senators on which PPP has polled this year are seen more negatively by their constituents: Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson, and John McCain. Only 32% approve of their senior senator’s job performance, and 43% disapprove. That is down ten points from 36-37 last month because he has declined 18 points with Democrats (19-52 to 11-62) and 19 with independents (from 39-30 to 32-42). Burr can take solace in the fact that at least those who root for his alma mater, Wake, see him well (44-31). None of the other schools’ fans do.
Kay Hagan’s numbers have slipped as well, but only five points from 40-39 to 39-43. That still puts her near the bottom of the list of senators.
PPP surveyed 760 North Carolina voters, including 671 primary voters, from September 30th to October 3rd. The margin of error for the entire survey is +/-3.6%, and +/-3.8% for the primary portion. 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 approve or disapprove of Senator
Richard Burr’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 32%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 43%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 25%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Kay
Hagan’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 39%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 43%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q3 Do you consider yourself to be a Duke, East
Carolina, NC State, UNC, or Wake Forest fan?
Duke ……………………………………………………… 17%
ECU………………………………………………………. 8%
NCSU ……………………………………………………. 19%
UNC………………………………………………………. 25%
WFU ……………………………………………………… 5%
Another school………………………………………… 13%
Not a fan of any of these schools……………….. 13%
Q4 Do you support or oppose the addition of
Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the ACC?
Support ………………………………………………….. 32%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 26%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 42%
Q5 Would you support or oppose the Big East
adding East Carolina as a member?
Support ………………………………………………….. 49%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 10%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 41%
Q6 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 28%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 22%
Q7 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%
Q8 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……………………………………………… 36%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 16%
Q9 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 76%
African-American …………………………………….. 20%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q10 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………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 40%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q11
252………………………………………………………… 13%
336………………………………………………………… 19%
704………………………………………………………… 19%
828………………………………………………………… 15%
910………………………………………………………… 13%
919………………………………………………………… 22%
