Raleigh, N.C. – Barack Obama and his health care plan are not very popular in Alabama, and as a result Senator Richard Shelby has nothing to worry about when it comes to winning reelection this year.
Only 42% of Alabama voters approve of the job Obama’s doing with 55% disapproving. He has the support of 88% of Democrats but stands at only 36% with independents and 5% with Republicans. There is a huge racial gap in how voters feel about him, with 96% of African Americans but only 23% of whites giving him good marks.
Obama’s health care plan is even less popular than the President himself. 56% of voters say they’re opposed to it with only 39% expressing support. There is also strong support to repeal the bill in the wake of its passage last week. 54% say they would support such a move with only 40% opposing it.
Richard Shelby’s reelection already looked like a foregone conclusion due to the lack of serious Democratic opposition, and his poll numbers back that up. 44% of voters approve of the job he’s doing to 34% disapproving. That’s an above average level of popularity in a time when Congress is very unpopular.
Tested against a generic Democratic opponent Shelby holds a 55-37 advantage. He predictably gets 93% of Republicans but only 11% of Democrats, while also holding a 54-29 edge with independents.
“There’s been very little change in how Alabama voters feel about Barack Obama since he was first elected,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “He continues to be very popular with blacks while getting little support from whites.”
PPP surveyed 1,270 Alabama voters from March 27th to 29th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-2.8%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Complete results are attached and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.
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 …………………………………………………. 42%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 55%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 4%
Q2 Do you think that Republicans should work to
repeal the health care bill that was passed this
week? If yes, press 1. If no, press 2. If you’re
not sure, press 3.
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 54%
No …………………………………………………………. 40%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 6%
Q3 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 ………………………………………………….. 39%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 56%
No Opinion……………………………………………… 5%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jeff
Sessions’ job performance? If you approve,
press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If you’re
not sure, press 3.
Approve …………………………………………………. 41%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 34%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 25%
Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
Richard Shelby’s job performance? If you
agree, press 1. If you disagree, press 2. If
you’re not sure, press 3.
Approve …………………………………………………. 44%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 34%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 22%
Q6 Generally speaking this fall would you vote for
Republican Senator Richard Shelby or his
Democratic opponent? If Richard Shelby,
press 1. If his Democratic opponent, press 2.
If you’re not sure, press 3.
Shelby………………… 55%
Democrat ……………. 37%
Not Sure……………… 8%
Q7 Who did you vote for President last year? If
John McCain, press 1. If Barack Obama, press
2. If someone else or you don’t remember,
press 3.
McCain…………………………………………………… 57%
Obama…………………………………………………… 41%
Someone Else/Don’t Remember………………… 3%
Q8 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative? If liberal, press 1. If
moderate, press 2. If conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 13%
Moderate ……………………………………………….. 37%
Conservative ………………………………………….. 50%
Q9 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 55%
Man……………………………………………………….. 45%
Q10 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 ……………………………………………….. 36%
Republican……………………………………………… 43%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 21%
Q11 If you are white, press one now. If you are
African-American, press two now. If other,
press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 72%
African-American …………………………………….. 24%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q12 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………………………………………………….. 14%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 26%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 18%
