The North Carolina Senate race is far from decided. Currently, Senator Richard Burr leads Elaine Marshall 38 to 33. But with 20% of voters currently undecided the candidates have a long way to go win this election.

Many voters have yet to form an opinion on either of the candidates. 28% of North Carolina voters are unsure of their opinion of Senator Burr and 58% of Marshall. 

While more voters know Senator Burr, more disapprove. 39% of North Carolinians give the Senator low marks and only 34% approve of his work in Washington. The North Carolinians who do know Marshall have a more favorable opinion than they do of the sitting Senator: 22 to 20%. 

Still Marshall is weak even amongst Democrats. 54% of Democrats have yet to form an opinion on their party’s nominee, even after a runoff election. Democrats represent the largest group of undecided voters; 22% of Democrats, 17% of Republicans and 18% of Independents are yet to make up their minds. In the upcoming months Marshall must connect with her base to have hopes of winning this election. 

While Burr enjoys the security of strong Republican support, North Carolinians think Senator Burr is less visible than Former Senator Elizabeth Dole. If history is telling, Burr will need to exponentially increase his visibility to win over the undecided voters and ultimately win the election.

Freshman Senator Kay Hagan isn’t enjoying high approval ratings from North Carolinas. 33% of voters approve of Senator Hagan, 41 disapprove and 26 are unsure.

“We are four months out from the election and with a fifth of voters undecided, it is anyone’s game at this point,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Both candidates, especially Marshall need to increase visibility and energize voters to ensure their victory.”

PPP surveyed 502 North Carolina voters from June 26-27.  The survey’s margin of error is +/- 4.4%.  Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

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 Democratic
Senator Kay Hagan’s job performance?
Approve ……………… 33%
Disapprove………….. 41%
Not Sure……………… 26%

Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Republican
Senator Richard Burr’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 34%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 39%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 28%

Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Elaine Marshall?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 22%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 20%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 58%

Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Michael Beitler? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 6%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 11%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 83%

Q5 The candidates for US Senate this fall are
Republican Richard Burr, Democrat Elaine
Marshall, and Libertarian Michael Beitler. If the
election was today, who would you vote for? If
Richard Burr, press 1. If Elaine Marshall, press
2. If Michael Beitler, press 3. If you’re
undecided, press 4
Burr……………………………………………………….. 38%
Marshall …………………………………………………. 33%
Beitler ……………………………………………………. 10%
Undecided………………………………………………. 20%

Q6 Who do you think has been a more visible
Senator in North Carolina: Elizabeth Dole or
Richard Burr? If Elizabeth Dole, press 1. If
Richard Burr, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Dole ………………………………………………………. 41%
Burr……………………………………………………….. 32%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 27%

Q7 Who did you vote for President last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 47%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 45%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 9%

Q8 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 38%
Conservative…………………………………………… 44%

Q9 Would you describe the community you live in
as urban, suburban, rural, or a small town?
Urban…………………………………………………….. 11%
Suburban ……………………………………………….. 27%
Rural ……………………………………………………… 29%
Small Town…………………………………………….. 32%

Q10 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 57%
Man……………………………………………………….. 43%

Q11 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 ……………………………………………….. 46%
Republican……………………………………………… 36%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 18%

Q12 If you are white, press one now. If you are
African-American, press two now. If other,
press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 75%
African-American …………………………………….. 20%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%

Q13 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………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 26%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 40%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%

Q14
252………………………………………………………… 14%
336………………………………………………………… 20%
704………………………………………………………… 18%
828………………………………………………………… 15%
910………………………………………………………… 13%
919………………………………………………………… 18%