Raleigh, N.C. – There is no doubt David Vitter will be renominated by Louisiana Republicans to defend his seat against Democrat Charlie Melancon in the general election for U.S. Senate this fall. His two intraparty opponents, Nick Accardo and Chet Traylor, have virtually no support, and Vitter trounces them with 81% of the vote.
Perennial candidate Accardo, who has never held office, pulls 4%. Former state Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor, who has gotten much more attention than Accardo, gets barely more, 5%. 9% are undecided in this poll taken a week before all the votes are in.
Among the likely primary electorate, Vitter has a 78-17 job approval rating. Traylor, meanwhile, is unknown to 60% of these most faithful GOP voters, and those who do have an opinion disfavor him 3:1. With an 11-25 mark among the general electorate, Traylor, if anything, is slightly less liked among his own party than among everyone. It is no wonder, then, that with an 81-point favorability advantage on the margin, Vitter tops Traylor by 76 points in the horse race.
In an early measure of the 2012 presidential nomination contest, Louisiana Republicans are little more sold on any one candidate than anywhere else PPP has polled the field. Showing little change from the previous gauge in June, Newt Gingrich barely edges neighborning Arkansas’ former governor Mike Huckabee, 25% to 24%, with Sarah Palin at 20%, Mitt Romney at 16%, Ron Paul at 7%, “someone else” at 2%, and 8% undecided.
“For whatever reason, despite running for only his second term, David Vitter seems unbeatable in his own party and nearly so in the general election,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
PPP surveyed 358 likely Louisiana Republican primary voters on August 21st and 22nd. The margin of error for the survey is +/-5.2%. 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 The Republican candidates for US Senate are
Nick Accardo, Chet Traylor and David Vitter. If
the election was today, who would you vote
for?
Nick Accardo…………………………………………… 4%
Chet Traylor ……………………………………………. 5%
David Vitter …………………………………………….. 81%
Undecided………………………………………………. 9%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
David Vitter’s job performance?
Approve ………………78%
Disapprove…………..17%
Not sure ……………… 4%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Chet Traylor?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 10%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 59%
Q4 If the Republican candidates for President in
2012 were Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee,
Sarah Palin, Ron Paul, and Mitt Romney who
would you vote for?
Newt Gingrich …………………………………………. 25%
Mike Huckabee ……………………………………….. 24%
Sarah Palin …………………………………………….. 20%
Ron Paul ………………………………………………… 7%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 16%
Someone else…………………………………………. 2%
Undecided………………………………………………. 8%
Q5 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 2%
Moderate………………………………………………… 24%
Conservative…………………………………………… 74%
Q6 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 50%
Man……………………………………………………….. 50%
Q7 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………………………………………………….. 8%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 25%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 43%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 24%
