Raleigh, N.C. – With thousands of school teachers and other government employees across the state already handed pink slips in the wake of the General Assembly’s budget passage last month, North Carolinians are overwhelmingly convinced the Republicans’ funding scheme will lead to job losses, with 45% saying that and only 18% believing it will create jobs. The budget bill’s title was, in part, “An Act to Spur the Creation of Private Sector Jobs.” Republicans even think, by a 32-22 margin, that the G.A. will have killed more jobs than it creates. Part of the reason for this belief is that almost half of the state’s voters (48%) know someone who has laid off or forced to retire from a government job.
Only 20% of the state approves of the budget, and 47% disapprove. Again, Republican voters disapprove by a 35-26 spread. Voters are also opposed to the Congressional district map unveiled on the 1st. 37% are against it, and only 25% for it. Another 37% are not sure. The two parties are predictably polarized, with Democrats (59%) more against it than Republicans for (51%), and independents mirroring the overall results.
Legislative Republicans remain just as unpopular as they were last month, with only a third seeing them favorably and 45% unfavorably. That compares to Democrats’ 36-44 spread. When asked to give them a letter grade, a 29% plurality of voters give the legislative leadership a “C,” with 23% giving them a “B” and another 23% an “F.” Only 9%, including 18% of Republicans and 6% of independents, give them an “A.”
Few voters are aware enough of the two chambers’ leaders to have an opinion on them, but Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger are not seen positively by many. Tillis posts a 16-30 favorability rating and Berger a 12-27.
“The detrimental effects of the budget are already being felt, and voters are holding Republicans’ feet to the fire,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
PPP surveyed 651 North Carolina voters from July 7th to 10th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.8%. 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 House
Speaker Thom Tillis’ job performance?
Approve…………….. 16%
Disapprove………… 30%
Not sure ……………. 55%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senate
President Pro Tem Phil Berger’s job
performance?
Approve…………….. 12%
Disapprove………… 27%
Not sure ……………. 61%
Q3 If there was an election for the state legislature
today, would you vote Democratic or
Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 43%
Undecided………………………………………………. 14%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 36%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 33%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 22%
Q6 If you had to give the Republicans in the
Legislature a letter grade for their job
performance, would it be an A, B, C, D, or F?
A………………………. 9%
B………………………. 23%
C ……………………… 29%
D ……………………… 15%
F………………………. 23%
Q7 Do you have more faith in Governor Perdue or
Legislative Republicans to lead the state?
Governor Perdue …………………………………….. 42%
Legislative Republicans ……………………………. 43%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q8 Do you support or oppose the budget that the
General Assembly passed last month?
Support ………………………………………………….. 20%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 33%
Q9 Do you think the General Assembly’s budget
will create jobs or lead to job losses?
Will create jobs ……………………………………….. 18%
Will lead to job losses ………………………………. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 37%
Q10 Have you or do you know anyone who’s been
laid off or forced to retire from a state
government, local government, or teaching job
in the last six months?
Yes………………………………………………………… 48%
No …………………………………………………………. 52%
Q11 Do you support or oppose the proposed
Congressional redistricting map legislative
Republicans unveiled last week?
Support ………………………………………………….. 25%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 37%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 37%
Q12 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 47%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 5%
Q13 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 9%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 20%
Q14 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q15 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……………………………………………… 33%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 21%
Q16 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 73%
African-American …………………………………….. 21%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q17 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%
Q18
252………………………………………………………… 12%
336………………………………………………………… 21%
704………………………………………………………… 17%
828………………………………………………………… 13%
910………………………………………………………… 15%
919………………………………………………………… 23%