Raleigh, N.C. – More Nevadans are in favor of legalizing prostitution across the state than allowing online poker gambling. 56%, including 65% of independents, 56% of Democrats, and even 51% of Republicans, believe prostitution should be legal, and 32% think it should not. Meanwhile, only 40% think online poker should be legal, while 42% believe it should be illegal. Nevadans may see it as a threat to casino tourism.
Voters are also just narrowly in support of same-sex marriage, 45% wanting it to be legal and 44% still illegal. Two-thirds of Democrats and a 45% plurality of independents support it, but 73% of Republicans are against it. 77% of voters, however, including 83% of independents and 61% of Republicans, support at least civil unions, which feature the legal rights associated with marriage and Nevada’s domestic partnerships.
Brian Sandoval continues to defy the trend of massive unpopularity facing most new Republican governors in swing states. In fact, his approval rating has risen a little in the three months since PPP last polled the state, from 44% approving and 38% disapproving to 46-36. As such, he would still defeat Democrat Rory Reid in a do-over of last fall’s election, something few other Republican governors can say—and he would do it, despite a less Republican-heavy turnout, by the same margin as his actual victory, 53-42. Voters do not think Sandoval would make the GOP presidential ticket more attractive if he were the running mate, however. 46% say his nomination for vice president would have no impact on their vote, and 34% say it would actually make them less likely to support the Republican candidate.
Reid’s father Harry, on the other hand, would only up his edge over Sharron Angle if there were a re-do for Senate today. He surprised many by beating her by almost six points last fall, but Angle is almost universally disliked now, with a 17-70 favorability rating, even in negative territory with her own party (31-52). Reid would prevail, 53-40, 54-34 with independents.
PPP surveyed 601 Nevada voters from July 28th to 31st. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.0%. 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 Governor
Brian Sandoval’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 46%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q2 If Brian Sandoval was the Republican
candidate for Vice President next year would
that make you more or less likely to vote for the
Republican Presidential nominee, or would it
not make a difference?
More likely………………………………………………. 20%
Less likely ………………………………………………. 34%
Wouldn’t make a difference……………………….. 46%
Q3 If you could do last fall’s election for Governor
over again would you vote for Republican Brian
Sandoval or Democrat Rory Reid?
Rory Reid……………………………………………….. 42%
Brian Sandoval ……………………………………….. 53%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Harry
Reid’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 44%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 51%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Sharron Angle?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 17%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 70%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q6 If you could do last fall’s election for the Senate
over again would you vote for Democrat Harry
Reid or Republican Sharron Angle?
Harry Reid………………………………………………. 53%
Sharron Angle…………………………………………. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q7 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 45%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q8 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should be allowed to legally
marry ……………………………………………………..39%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry …………………………………38%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of John Ensign?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 22%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 58%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 20%
Q10 Do you think that prostitution should be legal or
illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 56%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 32%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q11 Do you think that online poker should be legal
or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 40%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q12 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 43%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 51%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%
Q13 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 11%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 29%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 17%
Q14 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
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 ……………………………………………….. 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 38%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 19%
Q16 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 16%
White …………………………………………………….. 71%
African American……………………………………… 8%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
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………………………………………………….. 8%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%