Raleigh, N.C. – While Governor Perdue had slowly but steadily improved her position since March, her numbers are pretty stagnant this month. Just 34% of North Carolinians approve of Perdue’s performance compared to 49% who disapprove. While Republicans almost universally disapprove, 8-78, Democratic approval is only tepid, 55-25, and independents disapprove by a wide margin, 31-57.
As is true for the state legislature, few are enthusiastic about Perdue’s performance. Only 10% would give her an A, compared to 26% who give her a B, 24% a C, 18% a D, and 22% an F. Even among Democrats only 17% would give Perdue an A compared to 40% who would give her a B and 26% a C.
Perdue trails her 2012 opponent, Pat McCrory, 39-47 (39-45 in June). McCrory’s advantage is built on over twice as much support from Democrats, 17%, as Perdue earns from Republicans, 7%, and a massive lead among independents, 57-28. Luckily for Perdue, more Democrats are undecided than Republicans; nevertheless, Perdue will also have to reduce her deficit with independents to pull off a win.
North Carolinians are seeing Pat McCrory in a more favorable light. 29% express a favorable opinion compared to 23% who express an unfavorable opinion (30-29 in June). McCrory achieves strong favorability thanks to a united base, 44-5, strength with independents, 30-19, and some crossover support among Democrats, 17-37. However, perceptions of McCrory are hardly set in stone as almost half of North Carolinians have yet to form an opinion of him.
“Over the last 3 months Bev Perdue has settled into a 6-8 point deficit against Pat McCrory,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “She has a ways to go but it’s at least an improvement on the double digit leads he had on her earlier in the year.”
PPP surveyed 651 North Carolina voters from July 7th to 10th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.8%. 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 Bev
Perdue’s job performance?
Approve…………….. 34%
Disapprove………… 49%
Not sure ……………. 16%
Q2 If you had to give Governor Perdue a letter
grade for her job performance, would it be an
A, B, C, D, or F?
A………………………. 10%
B………………………. 26%
C ……………………… 24%
D ……………………… 18%
F………………………. 22%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Pat McCrory?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 29%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 48%
Q4 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Democrat Bev Perdue and Republican Pat
McCrory, who would you vote for?
Bev Perdue…………………………………………….. 39%
Pat McCrory……………………………………………. 47%
Undecided………………………………………………. 14%
Q5 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 47%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 5%
Q6 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 9%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 20%
Q7 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q8 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 ……………………………………………….. 46%
Republican……………………………………………… 33%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 21%
Q9 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 73%
African-American …………………………………….. 21%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q10 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………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
Q11
252………………………………………………………… 12%
336………………………………………………………… 21%
704………………………………………………………… 17%
828………………………………………………………… 13%
910………………………………………………………… 15%
919………………………………………………………… 23%
