Raleigh, N.C. – While Virginia has been trending blue at the presidential level, it is still quite socially conservative when it comes to same-sex marriage. Only 35% of voters feel same-sex marriage should be legal compared to 52% who feel it should be illegal. Republicans are much more united in their opposition, 14-80, than Democrats are in their support, 54-31. However, nearly twice as many Virginians prefer some form of recognition as prefer none. When civil unions are included, 33% of Virginias support each of civil unions and no recognition while 32% support marriage.
Governor Bob McDonnell gets good marks from voters with a 50-31 approval rating (50-35 in May). McDonnell locks in his base 83-8, wins over a few Democrats, 18-56, and does quite well with independents, 49-29. Nevertheless, if he is added to the Republican ticket as their VP candidate, only 24% of voters would be more likely to support the GOP nominee compared to 31% who would be less likely to and 44% for whom it would make no difference.
As for Virginia’s senators, Mark Warner has retained his popularity as a senator with a strong 54-28 approval rating. Jim Webb isn’t quite as popular, but still rates a respectable 45-36. On the other hand, House Majority Leader Eric Canter, who has been in the thick of the debt ceiling conflict, is slightly underwater in Virginia, rating 29-31. Virginia is divided over the state legislature, but voters give the narrow edge to the Republicans who garner a 45-42 edge on the generic legislative ballot.
When it comes to baseball, Virginians support teams across the eastern seaboard. 19% favor a southern team, picking the Braves. There’s also a healthy chunk of support for teams from the Northeast with 14% favoring the Yankees and 11% the Red Sox. The Baltimore/DC Metro area teams also are pretty popular with 11% preferring the Nats and 10% preferring the O’s. Less popular are the Phillies at 4%, and the Cubs and Mets at 3%. As for college sports, voters pick Virginia Tech over Virginia 32-21.
PPP surveyed 500 Virginia voters from July 21th to 24th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.4%. 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 Bob
McDonnell’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 50%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q2 If Bob McDonnell was the Republican
candidate for Vice President next year, would
that make you more or less likely to vote for the
Republican Presidential nominee, or would it
not make a difference?
More likely………………………………………………. 24%
Less likely ………………………………………………. 31%
Wouldn’t make a difference……………………….. 44%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mark
Warner’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 54%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 28%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jim
Webb’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 45%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q5 In this fall’s legislative elections, do you think
you will generally vote for Democratic or
Republican candidates?
Democrats ……………………………………………… 42%
Republicans ……………………………………………. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Eric Cantor?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 29%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 39%
Q7 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 35%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 52%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q8 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should be allowed to legally
marry ……………………………………………………..32%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry …………………………………33%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………33%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q9 What is your favorite Major League Baseball
team: the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles,
Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, New York
Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies,
Washington Nationals, or someone else?
Braves …………………………………………………… 19%
Orioles …………………………………………………… 10%
Red Sox…………………………………………………. 11%
Cubs ……………………………………………………… 3%
Mets………………………………………………………. 3%
Yankees …………………………………………………. 14%
Phillies …………………………………………………… 4%
Nationals………………………………………………… 11%
Someone else…………………………………………. 25%
Q10 Are you a fan of Virginia or Virginia Tech, or are
you not a fan of either school?
Virginia…………………………………………………… 21%
Virginia Tech …………………………………………… 32%
Neither school…………………………………………. 46%
Q11 (35-36 Virginia fans only) Do you approve or
disapprove of football coach Mike London’s job
performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 39%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 7%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 53%
Q12 Do you approve or disapprove of basketball
coach Tony Bennett’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 34%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 4%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 63%
Q13 (37-38 Virginia Tech fans only) Do you approve
or disapprove of football coach Frank Beamer’s
job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 70%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 5%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 25%
Q14 Do you approve or disapprove of basketball
coach Seth Greenberg’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 39%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 5%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 56%
Q15 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 47%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 47%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%
Q16 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 11%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 21%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 20%
Q17 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q18 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 ……………………………………………….. 35%
Republican……………………………………………… 36%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 30%
Q19 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 76%
African-American …………………………………….. 19%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q20 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………………………………………………….. 22%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%
