Raleigh, N.C. – Despite the national profile he’s taken on this year Sheldon Adelson is still largely unknown in Nevada. 56% of voters don’t enough about him to have an opinion one way or the other. He gets negative reviews from the folks who are familiar with him- 17% rate him positively to 27% with a negative opinion. Republicans narrowly like him (22/16) but Democrats are considerably more unified in their dislike of him (10/41).
There’s one thing Nevada voters across party lines can agree on: they love them some brothels. 64% think brothels should be legal to only 23% who think they should be illegal. The most striking thing in these numbers is that an equal 66% of Democrats and Republicans each think that brothels should be legal. In late March we found that only 20% of Nevada GOP voters supported gay marriage so that’s an interesting take on family values there.
Nevada voters have a more positive image of Reno than they do of Las Vegas, although both cities poll pretty well. 58% have a favorable view of Reno to 13% with a negative one. Las Vegas comes down at 53% positive and 26% unfavorable. The cities have very similar numbers among Democrats and independents. What puts Reno ahead overall is that it’s at 65/7 with Republicans while Vegas gets a weaker 52/27 rating from them.
We’ve had a lot of bad news for John Ensign over the years so here’s a change of pace. The former Senator recently returned to his previous profession as a veterinarian, and 54% of Nevada pet owners say they would trust Ensign with their pets to only 29% who would not. Given that he left office with a 29/55 approval rating it’s clear voters like him a lot more as a vet than they did as a Senator.
Democrats lead the generic legislative ballot 43-39. Their voters are a little bit more united than the Republicans right now, and they also have a 32-30 advantage with independents.
PPP surveyed 500 Nevada voters from June 7th to 10th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.4%. 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 If the election for the state legislature was held
today, would you vote Democratic or
Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Sheldon Adelson?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 17%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 27%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 56%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Steve Wynn?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 30%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 42%
Q4 Do you think that brothels should be legal or
illegal in Nevada?
Legal……………………………………………………… 64%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Las Vegas?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 53%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 26%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Reno?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 58%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 30%
Q7 Do you believe in UFOs, or not?
Believe in UFOs………………………………………. 23%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 56%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q8 Do you own pets, or not?
Own pets ……………………………………………….. 66%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 34%
Q9 (Pet owners only:) Former Senator John
Ensign is now a veterinarian. Would you trust
your pets with him, or not?
Would trust pets with Ensign……………………… 54%
Would not……………………………………………….. 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q10 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 41%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 50%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 9%
Q11 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 12%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 17%
Moderate………………………………………………… 34%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 23%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 14%
Q12 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q13 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……………………………………………… 38%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 21%
Q14 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 12%
White …………………………………………………….. 72%
African-American …………………………………….. 7%
Other……………………………………………………… 9%
Q15 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………………………………………………….. 30%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 36%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
