Raleigh, N.C. – While its neighbor to the south rejected legalized same-sex marriage in 2008, Oregonians would support it now 48-42. A plurality of voters also support gay marriage when civil unions, similar to Oregon’s domestic partnerships, are included. 43% of Oregon voters favor gay marriage, 33% civil unions, and 22% oppose all recognition. Legalized gay marriage is most popular among 18-29 and 30-45 year olds where it receives 55% and 57% support respectively when civil unions are included. However, even those over 65 would support civil unions with 44% supporting civil unions, 28% supporting legalized gay marriage, and 26% opposing all recognition.
Oregon’s newly elected and former governor, Democrat John Kitzhaber, is on solid ground with voters. 47% approve compared to 35% who disapprove. Kitzhaber garners strong ratings from Democrats 74-12, a bit of Republican support, 17-66, and breaks even with independents 38-38. This is enough for good ratings in Oregon where Democrats have a 45-33 partisan identificiation advantage.
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden is quite popular in Oregon with 55% approval and only 29% disapproval. Wyden locks in Democrats 75-9, earns good marks with independents 52-30, and achieves quite a bit of crossover support with Republicans, 30-52. On the other hand, Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley, who won in 2008 by only 3 points, has merely treaded water over the last two and a half years. 36% approve while 33% disapprove. 31% are still not familiar enough with Merkley to venture an opinion, so he has room to improve his rating.
Most of Oregon’s congressional delegation is on positive ground with Democrat Peter DeFazio most popular at 45-28 favorability. He is followed by Democrat Earl Blumenauer at 33-21, Republican Greg Walden at 30-19, and Democrat Kurt Schrader at 22-18. There is one notable exception though. Democrat David Wu, who has had a lot of recent controversy, is only viewed favorably by 16%, and unfavorably by 50%.
PPP surveyed 701 Oregon voters from June 19th to 21st. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.7%. 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
John Kitzhaber’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 47%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 35%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Ron
Wyden’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 55%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jeff
Merkley’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 36%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 33%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 31%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of David Wu?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 16%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 50%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 34%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Greg Walden?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 30%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 51%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Earl Blumenauer?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 33%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 21%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 46%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Peter DeFazio?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 45%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 28%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 27%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Kurt Schrader?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 22%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 18%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 60%
Q9 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 48%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q10 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 ……………………………………………………..43%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry …………………………………33%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 1%
Q11 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 37%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 53%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 10%
Q12 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 14%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 22%
Moderate………………………………………………… 27%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 20%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 17%
Q13 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q14 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 ……………………………………………….. 45%
Republican……………………………………………… 33%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 22%
Q15 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White …………………………………………………….. 90%
Other……………………………………………………… 10%
Q16 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%
