Raleigh, N.C. – Andy Griffith cannot catch a break with his home-state voters. When PPP first tested him in June 2008, when he cut a TV spot endorsing then-Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue for Governor, 56% had a positive view of him and only 9% a negative one. That fell to 44-22 last September, after he had appeared on TV again, this time touting President Obama’s health care plan. But now only 32% see him favorably, and 23% unfavorably. Republicans have nose-dived from 57-11 to 35-31 to 24-39 on the Sheriff of Mayberry. Even his own Democrats have moved from 57-5 to 53-11 to 39-12, and independents from 50-12 to 40-27 to 28-23. His native region, the 336 area code, still sees him somewhat well, 39-28, as does the Charlotte area and Eastern part of the state. But not the Triangle or Western regions. Andy’s crowd, senior citizens, break even on him now, 28-28, down from 54-8 in 2008 and 37-22 last fall. They see Elizabeth Dole (42-39) and the Tea Party (41-35) better.
But Dole is still in worse shape overall than Griffith. More (34%) see her favorably, but far more (42%) unfavorably than the actor. More Republicans (26%) see her dimly than Democrats fondly (17%). Independents about break even, 38-39.
The Tea Party has little favor with voters either. 40% see it favorably, and 48% unfavorably. It may have exerted a lot of influence in riling up conservative voters and kicking a lot of Democrats out of office in the state legislature last fall, but voters overall do not see the movement positively now, probably because they are so down on the Republicans in the legislature and in Congress. A lot of the negativity is from Democrats. 13% of Democrats see the movement favorably, and 75% unfavorably. Republicans (68-18) and independents (55-38) both like it.
Even though he just got re-elected in that Tea Party wave, more voters still have an opinion of their newest senator, Kay Hagan, than Richard Burr, and they see her slightly more favorably, 40-39 versus his 36-37.
PPP surveyed 520 North Carolina voters from September 1st to 4th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.3%. 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 …………….. .36%
Disapprove…………. .37%
Not sure …………….. .27%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Kay
Hagan’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .40%
Disapprove…………. .39%
Not sure …………….. .21%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Elizabeth Dole?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 34%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 24%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Andy Griffith?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 32%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 45%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Tea Party?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 40%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q6 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 47%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 5%
Q7 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 11%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 28%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 22%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 22%
Q8 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q9 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……………………………………………… 34%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 19%
Q10 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 75%
African-American …………………………………….. 21%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q11 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………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q12
252………………………………………………………… 10%
336………………………………………………………… 19%
704………………………………………………………… 19%
828………………………………………………………… 12%
910………………………………………………………… 15%
919………………………………………………………… 23%
