Raleigh, N.C. – At the height of the beach tourism season, there has been a drastic reversal in North Carolinians’ attitudes toward oil drilling off the state’s coast, with a plurality now in opposition.  PPP last polled on the subject in early June, when a near majority were in favor.

Last month, 48% supported drilling off North Carolina’s coastline, and 39% were against it.  Now those numbers have almost flipped, with 46% opposed and 42% in favor—a 13-point marginal shift in 24 days. 

Opinion has declined across the board, but some of the largest shifts have come among moderates (who are now opposed, 33-57, versus 43-46 last time), men (53-42, 63-31), and African Americans (27-48, 48-33).  A 32% plurality of the state’s citizens live in small towns, and they are now against drilling, 49-34, a 30-point shift on the margin from the 51-36 favorable mark in the previous survey.  Perhaps most crucially, residents of the 252 area code, encompassing the coastal plains of northeastern North Carolina, have about-faced by a 24-point magnitude—38-52, to 45-35 a few weeks ago.

Bill Randall, the Republican nominee to face Congressman Brad Miller in the 13^th District, suggested at a recent press conference that there should be an investigation as to whether the federal government intentionally caused the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  74% of his state’s residents, however, disagree with that possibility, and only 11% think the government did such a thing.

“In previous surveys, oil drilling was perhaps a more abstract idea, but as Tar Heels head for the beaches, the reality of what’s happening in the Gulf is hitting home,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.

PPP surveyed 502 North Carolina voters from June 28^th to 30^th.  The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.4%.  Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

Complete results are attached, and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.

If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.

Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance? If you
approve, press 1. If you disapprove, press 2.
If you’re not sure, press 3.
Approve …………………………………………………. 46%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 50%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 5%

Q2 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion? If you support it, press 1. If you
oppose it, press 2. If you don’t have an opinion,
press 3.
Support ………………………………………………….. 41%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 48%
No Opinion……………………………………………… 11%

Q3 Do you support or oppose drilling for oil off the
coast of North Carolina?
Support ………………. 42%
Oppose ………………. 46%
Not Sure……………… 12%

Q4 Do you think the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
was intentionally caused by the federal
government? If yes, press 1. If no, press 2. If
you’re not sure, press 3.
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 11%
No …………………………………………………………. 74%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 15%

Q5 Who did you vote for President last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 47%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 45%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 9%

Q6 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 38%
Conservative…………………………………………… 44%

Q7 Would you describe the community you live in
as urban, suburban, rural, or a small town?
Urban…………………………………………………….. 11%
Suburban ……………………………………………….. 27%
Rural ……………………………………………………… 29%
Small Town…………………………………………….. 32%

Q8 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 57%
Man……………………………………………………….. 43%

Q9 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 46%
Republican……………………………………………… 36%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 18%

Q10 If you are white, press one now. If you are
African-American, press two now. If other,
press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 75%
African-American …………………………………….. 20%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%

Q11 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 26%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 40%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%

Q12
252………………………………………………………… 14%
336………………………………………………………… 20%
704………………………………………………………… 18%
828………………………………………………………… 15%
910………………………………………………………… 13%
919………………………………………………………… 18%