Raleigh,
N.C. – Pat McCrory
continues to be popular despite strong disapproval of the Republicans running
state government, according to PPP’s latest North Carolina poll.
With 49%
approving and 36% disapproving of his job performance, voters still have a
positive view of McCrory—in large part because 31% of registered Democrats
approve of him. Public opinion of Republicans as a whole running state
government is roughly reversed with just 38% approving and 52% disapproving. Just
20% of voters approve of the job the General Assembly is doing in Raleigh,
while 56% are opposed. Democrats lead the general state legislative ballot 45%
to 41% against Republicans.
Voters don’t
support any of the GOP-sponsored bills that PPP tested. They narrowly oppose making
Christianity the official state religion with 45% against the bill and 42% in
favor, including 53% of Republicans, 41% of Democrats and 30% of independents.
Other GOP-sponsored bills in the
legislature prove to be much less popular. 57% of voters oppose
and 25% support a bill making it harder for college students to vote. 39%
oppose and 22% support ending the state’s renewable energy standard for power
companies. 59% oppose and 33% support reducing the number of early voting days.
88% oppose and just 6% support a bill allowing state lawmakers to receive gifts
from lobbyists. 49% believe the state Senate’s proposal to eliminate tax
deductions for businesses making donations to charity is unfair against 28% who
believe it is fair.
“The Republican-controlled
legislature’s unpopular policy agenda is hurting public approval for their
party in North Carolina,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
“These bills attracting so much attention just aren’t favored by voters.”
In
hypothetical presidential match-ups for 2016, Hillary Clinton would lead Marco
Rubio by 7 points (49/42) and Rand Paul by 12 points (52/40) in North Carolina.
Only 16% of voters, including 25% of Republicans, agree with a GOP lawmaker’s recent
comment that she would consider a prayer to Allah to be an act of terrorism.
PPP surveyed 601 North Carolina voters from April 11th
to 14th. The margin of error for the sample is +/-4%. This poll was
not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP
surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Pat
McCrory’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .49%
Disapprove…………. .36%
Not sure …………….. .15%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of the job
Republicans as a whole are doing of running
state government?
Approve …………….. .38%
Disapprove…………. .52%
Not sure …………….. .10%
Q3 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican
Marco Rubio, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton……… .49%
Marco Rubio ………. .42%
Not sure …………….. . 9%
Q4 If the candidates for President next time were
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Rand
Paul, who would you vote for?
Hillary Clinton……… .52%
Rand Paul ………….. .40%
Not sure …………….. . 8%
Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of the job the
General Assembly is doing?
Approve …………….. .20%
Disapprove…………. .56%
Not sure …………….. .24%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 34%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 22%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in the North Carolina
Legislature?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 34%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 53%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q8 Generally speaking, if there was an election for
the state legislature today, would you vote for
the Democratic or Republican candidate from
your district?
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 45%
Republican……………………………………………… 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q9 Would you support or oppose a bill making
Christianity the official state religion of North
Carolina?
Support ……………… .42%
Oppose ……………… .45%
Not sure …………….. .13%
Q10 Would you support or oppose a bill prohibiting
parents from claiming children who are
registered to vote at college as dependents on
their tax returns?
Support ……………… .25%
Oppose ……………… .57%
Not sure …………….. .18%
Q11 Would you support or oppose a bill allowing
legislators to receive gifts from lobbyists?
Support ……………… . 6%
Oppose ……………… .88%
Not sure …………….. . 7%
Q12 Do you support or oppose a bill that would
eliminate North Carolina’s renewable energy
standards for power companies?
Support ……………… .22%
Oppose ……………… .39%
Not sure …………….. .39%
Q13 Do you support or oppose a bill that would
make it a misdemeanor for law enforcement
officers to enforce federal gun laws on firearms
made in North Carolina?
Support ……………… .28%
Oppose ……………… .42%
Not sure …………….. .29%
Q14 Do you support or oppose a bill that would
reduce the numbers of days open for early
voting in North Carolina from 17 to 10?
Support ……………… .33%
Oppose ……………… .59%
Not sure …………….. . 8%
Q15 Do you consider a prayer to Allah to be an act
of terrorism, or not?
Consider it an act of
terrorism………………16%
Do not ……………….. .67%
Not sure …………….. .17%
Q16 The North Carolina Senate has proposed
abolishing tax deductions business get for
making donations to charity. However,
individuals get tax deductions for their
donations to religious groups, and churches
don’t pay property taxes. Do you think it’s fair
or unfair to abolish business tax deductions for
charitable donations while allowing tax breaks
for religious donations?
Fair …………………… .28%
Unfair ………………… .49%
Not sure …………….. .22%
Q17 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 12%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 17%
Moderate………………………………………………… 29%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 17%
Q18 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 57%
Man……………………………………………………….. 43%
Q19 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……………………………………………… 34%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 24%
Q20 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 72%
African-American …………………………………….. 22%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q21 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………………………………………………….. 16%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 22%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 41%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 21%
Q22 Area Code
252………………………………………………………… 13%
336………………………………………………………… 18%
704………………………………………………………… 19%
828………………………………………………………… 13%
910………………………………………………………… 13%
919………………………………………………………… 23%
