Raleigh, N.C. – Despite growing support for legal gay marriage nationwide, a majority of Pennsylvanians are still opposed. 51% oppose legal same-sex marriage, while 38% support it. However, there is majority support among those 18 to 29, for whom 51% support legal same-sex marriage. Pennsylvania’s opposition comes from only tepid support among Democrats, who support legal same-sex marriage 53-32. On the other hand, Pennsylvania does support some form of recognition for same sex couples. When civil unions are included as an option, 36% favor civil unions, 32% favor legal same-sex marriage, and only 31% are opposed to all recognition.
Governor Tom Corbett remains unpopular with only 35% approving of his performance compared to 46% who disapprove, similar to his 34-44 spread in April. While Corbett is not in Rick Scott territory, he would still lose in a do-over of last year’s governor’s race. Dan Onorato would lead Corbett 47-44 (49-44 in April). Corbett could also prove a drag on the Republican presidential nominee. Only 25% say Corbett’s actions have made them more likely to support the GOP nominee compared to 33% who say his actions have made them less likely to support the nominee. Pat Toomey is doing a bit better, but is hardly beloved. 30% approve of his performance while 29% disapprove (32-31 in April). He has yet to make an impression on many voters as 41% do not venture an opinion.
Congressional Democrats took a beating in Pennsylvania last November, losing five out of the twelve seats they held. Democrats may have an opportunity to regain a few of these seats as they now lead the generic ballot 46-40.
The Steelers are the most popular pro sports team of Pennsylvania voters; 30% choose the Steelers as their favorite team. They are followed by the Phillies at 22%, the Eagles and Penguins at 12%, the Pirates at 6%, and the Flyers at 4%. While only 12% choose the Penguins, they are actually more popular than the Steelers among those 18-29, with 27% choosing the Penguins as their favorite sports team, to 22% who pick the Steelers.
PPP surveyed 545 Pennsylvania voters from June 30th to July 5th. No interviews were conducted on July 3rd or 4th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.2%. 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
Tom Corbett’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 35%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 46%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 20%
Q2 If you could do last fall’s election for Governor
over again, would you vote for Republican Tom
Corbett or Democrat Dan Onorato?
Tom Corbett ……………………………………………. 44%
Dan Onorato …………………………………………… 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q3 Have Tom Corbett’s actions as Governor made
it more or less likely that you’ll vote for a
Republican for President next year, or has it
not made a difference?
More likely………………………………………………. 25%
Less likely ………………………………………………. 33%
Hasn’t made a difference ………………………….. 43%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Pat
Toomey’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 30%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 41%
Q5 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 38%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 51%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q6 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 …………………………………………………….. 32%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry ………………………………… 36%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship ………………………………… 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 1%
Q7 If there was an election for the US House
today, would you vote for the Democratic or
Republican candidate from your district?
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 46%
Republican……………………………………………… 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q8 Is your favorite pro sports team in
Pennsylvania the Philadelphia Eagles,
Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Phillies,
Philadelphia 76ers, Pittsburgh Penguins,
Pittsburgh Pirates, or Pittsburgh Steelers?
Eagles……………………………………………………. 12%
Flyers…………………………………………………….. 4%
Phillies …………………………………………………… 22%
76ers……………………………………………………… 2%
Penguins………………………………………………… 12%
Pirates …………………………………………………… 6%
Steelers………………………………………………….. 30%
Someone else/Not sure ……………………………. 13%
Q9 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 41%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 50%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 9%
Q10 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 22%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 21%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 17%
Q11 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 49%
Man……………………………………………………….. 51%
Q12 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 ……………………………………………….. 50%
Republican……………………………………………… 39%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 11%
Q13 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 86%
African-American …………………………………….. 10%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q14 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………………………………………………….. 14%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 20%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 24%
