Raleigh, N.C. – Most North Carolinians aren’t following the ongoing controversies with the Wake County School Board but most who are have an unfavorable opinion of the body and think that it’s hurting the state’s image.
61% of voters in the state don’t know enough about the situation with the School Board to have an opinion but among those who do 25% rate it unfavorably to only 14% with a positive view. There’s an even stronger sentiment that the body’s actions are damaging the state’s reputation in the eyes of the nation- 30% think North Carolina’s getting a bad image because of its actions to only 12% that believe it’s making the state look good.
Voters in the Triangle unsurprisingly have much stronger opinions on the School Board than folks statewide and their reviews are extremely negative. Just 29% of those being exposed to the controversy on a day to day basis in the media have a favorable opinion of the board to 51% who have a negative one. And 56% within the region think it’s making the state look bad on the national stage to only 22% who think it’s helping.
“Voters statewide who are paying attention- and particularly those in the Triangle- have a dim view of the Wake County School Board and think it’s hurting North Carolina’s reputation,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “It’s safe to say no one will be caught asleep at the wheel in regards to this fall’s elections the way many were in 2009.”
On another note North Carolinian continue to be very excited about the possibility of next year’s Democratic convention coming to the state. 63% support having the convention in Charlotte to only 18% who are opposed. Strong majorities of Democrats and independents hope the event will be held here and even a plurality of Republicans do as well.
North Carolinians have mixed views about what to do now with the health care bill that was passed last year. 33% want a full repeal but 36% want it to be kept and strengthened. 21% want a partial repeal and 7% wish for it to be kept exactly as it is.
PPP surveyed 575 North Carolina voters from January 20th to 23rd. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.1%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Republican
Senator Richard Burr’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 42%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 25%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Democratic
Senator Kay Hagan’s job performance?
Approve ……………… 37%
Disapprove………….. 40%
Not sure ……………… 23%
Q3 Do you think Kay Hagan is too liberal, too
conservative, or about right?
Too liberal ……………37%
Too conservative….. 10%
About right ………….. 40%
Not sure ……………… 13%
Q4 What would you like to see the new Congress
do with the health care reform bill that was
passed last year: keep the bill but make it
stronger, keep the bill exactly in its current
form, repeal certain parts of the bill, or repeal
the bill entirely?
Keep it, make it
stronger……………….36%
Keep it in current
form ……………………7%
Repeal certain parts 21%
Repeal entirely…….. 33%
Not sure ……………… 2%
Q5 Do you support or oppose holding the 2012
Democratic National Convention in North
Carolina?
Support ………………. 63%
Oppose ………………. 18%
Not sure ……………… 19%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the School Board in Wake County?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 14%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 25%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 61%
Q7 Do you think the School Board in Wake County
gives North Carolina a good image or a bad
image nationally?
Good image ……………………………………………. 12%
Bad image………………………………………………. 30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 58%
Q8 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 40%
Conservative…………………………………………… 44%
Q9 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 56%
Man……………………………………………………….. 44%
Q10 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 ……………………………………………….. 47%
Republican……………………………………………… 36%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 18%
Q11 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………….. 22%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q12 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………………………………………………….. 30%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 38%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q13
252………………………………………………………… 13%
336………………………………………………………… 20%
704………………………………………………………… 18%
828………………………………………………………… 15%
910………………………………………………………… 16%
919………………………………………………………… 19%
