Raleigh, N.C. – Support for oil drilling off the North Carolina coast among the state’s voters has decreased significantly following the events in the Gulf of Mexico, while President Obama’s approval rating has drawn almost even with his disapproval.
In April, 61% of North Carolinians said they support drilling for oil off the state’s coastline, with 26% opposed. That has taken a sharp dive to 47-38 in one month. The largest drops come with moderates (36-45 now, 58-29 in April), independents (48-41 from 65-23), and Democrats (36-47 from 52-33). Disapproval among liberals went from 46% to 65%.
50% of the state’s voters say the Gulf oil spill makes them less likely to support drilling in NC. Across the ideological and partisan spectrum, more say it makes them less likely to support it than say it makes them more likely; among liberals, moderates, and Democrats, the margin is 3:1 or more, and among independents, 5:2.
Despite a lot of vocal activism and media coverage, few more support the goals of the Tea Party movement than oppose them, 40% to 36%. Naturally, Republicans and conservatives approve, 75-6 and 69-7, respectively. Overall, only 15% say they are members of the movement, to 66% who say no. Even 49% of Republicans and 45% of conservatives do not identify with the movement, to 32% and 31%, respectively, who do.
Obama now sits at 47-48 approval to disapproval after posting a 46-50 in April. On his job performance, independents moved from 33-63 to 45-49.
“It is rare to see such rapid change in public opinion on an issue like offshore drilling,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “The recent spill in the Gulf clearly has North Carolinians thinking twice about whether something like that could happen off of our coastline.”
PPP surveyed 631 North Carolina voters from May 8th to 10th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.9%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
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 …………………………………………………. 47%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 48%
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 ………………………………………………….. 43%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 49%
No Opinion……………………………………………… 8%
Q3 Do you support or oppose drilling for oil off the
coast of North Carolina?
Support ………………. 47%
Oppose ………………. 38%
Not Sure……………… 15%
Q4 Does the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico make
you more or less likely to support further oil
drilling off the North Carolina coast, or does it
not make a difference to you?
More likely………………………………………………. 22%
Less likely ………………………………………………. 50%
Makes no difference ………………………………… 28%
Q5 If there was an election for Congress today,
would you vote Democratic or Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 45%
Undecided………………………………………………. 12%
Q6 How excited are you about casting your vote in
the general election this fall?
Very excited……………………………………………. 52%
Somewhat excited …………………………………… 27%
Not very excited………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 4%
Q7 Generally speaking do you prefer to vote for
female candidates or male candidates, or does
it not make any difference to you?
Female candidates…………………………………… 4%
Male candidates………………………………………. 9%
Makes no difference ………………………………… 86%
Q8 Do you support or oppose the goals of the ‘Tea
Party’ movement?
Support ………………………………………………….. 40%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 36%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 24%
Q9 Do you personally identify as a member of the
‘Tea Party’ movement?
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 15%
No …………………………………………………………. 66%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 19%
Q10 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative? If liberal, press 1. If
moderate, press 2. If conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 41%
Conservative…………………………………………… 43%
Q11 Would you describe the community you live in
as urban, suburban, rural, or a small town? If
urban, press 1. If suburban, press 2. If rural,
press 3. If a small town, press 4.
Urban…………………………………………………….. 14%
Suburban ……………………………………………….. 30%
Rural ……………………………………………………… 27%
Small Town…………………………………………….. 29%
Q12 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q13 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 ……………………………………………….. 48%
Republican……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 16%
Q14 If you are white, press one now. If you are
African-American, press two now. If other,
press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………….. 22%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q15 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………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 22%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 24%
Q16
252………………………………………………………… 12%
336………………………………………………………… 18%
704………………………………………………………… 21%
828………………………………………………………… 14%
910………………………………………………………… 13%
919………………………………………………………… 22%
