Raleigh, N.C. – -Although they dislike him and think he’s guilty of the charges that have been brought against him, North Carolinians think the prosecution of John Edwards has been a waste of taxpayer money.
56% of voters in the state believe the efforts against Edwards have been a waste compared to just 27% who think they’ve been a good use of public resources. There’s actually a bipartisan consensus on that front. Democrats (66/18), independents (48/32), and Republicans (47/37) all concur that this has not been money well spent.
That sentiment certainly isn’t a reflection of sympathy for Edwards though. 57% of voters think he’s guilty of the crimes he’s been charged with to only 11% who believe he’s innocent. Despite the fact that he’s already been convinced in the court of public opinion, 59% of North Carolinians still think he can get a fair trial in the state to only 24% who think he can not.
Edwards, although still one of the most unpopular figures in the history of PPP polling, has actually seen some minor improvement in his personal image over the last year. His net favorability is -62 at 11/73…but last June it was -72 at 9/81.
North Carolinians agree with Speaker Thom Tillis- they think gay marriage will be legal in the state 20 years from now. 45% think the state will have gay marriage a generation from now compared to 41% who think it will continue to be illegal.
Fracking gets a lot of attention these days but the reaction for a plurality of North Carolinians when asked about it is ‘huh?’ 49% of voters in the state have no opinion on the issue while those who do have one are pretty evenly divided with 24% in favor of fracking and 27% opposed. The party lines on the issue are pretty predictable- Republicans support it, Democrats and independents are opposed.
PPP surveyed 975 North Carolina voters from April 4th to 7th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.14%. 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 …………….. .33%
Disapprove…………. .39%
Not sure …………….. .28%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Kay
Hagan’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .38%
Disapprove…………. .42%
Not sure …………….. .21%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of the job the
General Assembly is doing?
Approve …………….. .18%
Disapprove…………. .53%
Not sure …………….. .29%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 33%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 29%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%
Q6 If there was an election for the state legislature
today, would you vote Democratic or
Republican?
Democratic…………. .43%
Republican…………. .44%
Not sure …………….. .14%
Q7 Do you think that the Supreme Court should
rule the Affordable Care Act to be constitutional
or unconstitutional?
Constitutional ……… .36%
Unconstitutional ….. .41%
Not sure …………….. .23%
Q8 Do you support or oppose fracking?
Support ……………… .24%
Oppose ……………… .27%
Not sure …………….. .49%
Q9 20 years from now, do you think gay marriage
will be legal or illegal?
Legal …………………. .45%
Illegal ………………… .41%
Not sure …………….. .14%
Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of John Edwards?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 11%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 73%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q11 Do you think John Edwards is guilty or innocent
of the crimes with which he’s been charged?
Guilty …………………………………………………….. 57%
Innocent …………………………………………………. 11%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 32%
Q12 Do you think John Edwards can receive a fair
trial, or not?
He can receive a fair trial ………………………….. 59%
He cannot ………………………………………………. 24%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q13 Do you think the money that’s been spent on
prosecuting John Edwards has been a good
use of taxpayer money or a waste?
It’s been a good use of taxpayer money ……… 27%
It’s been a waste……………………………………… 56%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q14 Do you think John Edwards has been charged
with unlawfully using his campaign
organization’s official contributions, or not?
Yes………………………………………………………… 56%
No …………………………………………………………. 12%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 33%
Q15 Have you, a family member, or a close friend
lost your job during the recession?
Yes………………………………………………………… 47%
No …………………………………………………………. 53%
Q16 (Asked of those who said ‘yes’ to Q41:) Have
you or the person close to you who lost their
job found other employment, or not?
Yes………………………………………………………… 46%
No …………………………………………………………. 54%
Q17 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 24%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 22%
Q18 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q19 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 ……………………………………………….. 46%
Republican……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 20%
Q20 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 72%
African-American …………………………………….. 23%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q21 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………………………………………………….. 14%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 38%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q22
252………………………………………………………… 14%
336………………………………………………………… 18%
704………………………………………………………… 17%
828………………………………………………………… 15%
910………………………………………………………… 13%
919………………………………………………………… 23%