Raleigh, N.C. – As he prepares to exit his only term in the U.S. Senate, Jim Webb has seen his approval rating drop significantly in the less than three months since PPP last surveyed Virginia. 42% approved and 31% disapproved of his job performance in late April, but that spread is only 38-34 now. The decline is almost entire due to Democrats. Their already tepid 59-14 mark has slipped to 48-21. Republicans have also soured a little more on Webb, though independents are up from 43-33 to 48-27.
Democrats have a four-point generic Congressional ballot advantage statewide (45-41). 90% or more of each party is behind their respective unnamed candidates, and independents favor Democrats by eight points (38-30).
Unlike in some states, Virginians pretty much love all of their major cities, and there are few differences of opinion along demographic lines. The most popular, though, is the home of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, which is seen favorably by 63% of Virginia voters and unfavorably by only 6%. That is followed by Roanoke (50-5), Washington, D.C. suburbs Alexandria (48-12) and Arlington (46-13), Virginia Beach (43-14), Lynchburg (39-14), Richmond (45-22), Chesapeake (32-10), Norfolk (37-16), Danville (29-9), Hampton (27-15), and Newport News (27-17).
Although not technically part of the state, D.C. is not seen nearly as well as its two prominent suburbs that are within the state’s borders. Only 39% view the nation’s capital positively, and 41% see it negatively. It is by far the most polarizing of these cities, as can be expected. 52% of Democrats like it, but 59% of Republicans dislike it. Independents are slightly split against it (37-42). Perhaps surprisingly, there is no such discord over state capital Richmond, with 48% of Democrats, 44% of independents, and 42% of Republicans seeing it in a good light.
Lynchburg, home to the late Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University, is liked by Democrats, but only by a net eight points, versus 29 for independents and 41 for Republicans.
Neighbor cities Newport News and Hampton are slightly disliked by Republicans (19-21 and 18-19, respectively) but liked quite a bit by Democrats (30-14, 33-7) and independents (32-16, 28-18).
PPP surveyed 647 Virginia voters from July 5th to 8th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.9%. 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 Senator Jim
Webb’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .38%
Disapprove…………. .34%
Not sure …………….. .28%
Q2 If there was an election for the Congress today,
would you vote Democratic or Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 45%
Republican……………………………………………… 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Virginia Beach?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 43%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 44%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Norfolk?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 37%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Chesapeake?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 32%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 10%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 58%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Arlington?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 46%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 41%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Richmond?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 45%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 33%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Newport News?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 27%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 17%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 56%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Alexandria?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 48%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 12%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 40%
Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Hampton?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 27%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 58%
Q11 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Roanoke?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 50%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 5%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 46%
Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Lynchburg?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 39%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%
Q13 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Charlottesville?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 63%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 6%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 31%
Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Danville?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 29%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 61%
Q15 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Washington, D.C.?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 39%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 20%
Q16 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 44%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 8%
Q17 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 9%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 29%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 26%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 17%
Q18 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
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 ……………………………………………….. 33%
Republican……………………………………………… 33%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 34%
Q20 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 73%
African-American …………………………………….. 18%
Other……………………………………………………… 9%
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………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
