Raleigh, N.C. – Despite recognizing his personal failings, Louisiana voters continue to give Republican Senator David Vitter one of the highest approval ratings of any senator PPP has polled this year. Vitter is also still favored for re-election over Democrat Charlie Melancon, leading 51-41 among likely voters. He led 46-37 among registered voters the last time PPP polled the race in June.
In a much more conservative and Republican electorate compared to two months ago, 53% now approve of Vitter’s job performance, with 41% disapproving. In June, the figure was 45-43. While the proportion of independents has decreased significantly in that time, they now approve, 65-33, after disapproving, 48-40, previously. Melancon’s personal favorability, only 29-34 in June, is now 26-48. Independents liked him by a 37-30 margin then, but dislike him now, 31-41. Republicans have moved severely from 18-44 to 8-69.
Despite these trends, Melancon has treaded water in the horse race by significantly boosting his support among his own party members, from 56% in June to 77% now. But Vitter still gets a worrisome 17% of Democrats. He has also upped his support among the GOP, from 76% to 86%, and independents now prefer him, 48-38, after favoring Melancon, 40-37, in June.
By a 44-21 margin, voters do not view Vitter as a good model of Christian living; of Melancon, they say that only 23-21. 32% say Melancon is a better representative of Christian values, to 22% who say Vitter. And Louisianans, 22-17, would prefer their daughters be married to Melancon over Vitter.
“If even voters who see him as a better role model than David Vitter still prefer Vitter, Charlie Melancon is going to have a very difficult time closing this persistent gap between now and November,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
PPP surveyed 403 likely Louisiana voters on August 21st and 22nd. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.9%. 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 President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 35%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 61%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mary
Landrieu’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 41%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 53%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
David Vitter’s job performance?
Approve ……………… 53%
Disapprove………….. 41%
Not sure ……………… 6%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Charlie Melancon?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 26%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 26%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Chet Traylor?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 11%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 25%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 64%
Q6 If the candidates for US Senate this fall were
Democrat Charlie Melancon and Republican
David Vitter, who would you vote for?
Charlie Melancon…………………………………….. 41%
David Vitter …………………………………………….. 51%
Undecided………………………………………………. 8%
Q7 If the candidates for US Senate this fall were
Democrat Charlie Melancon and Republican
Chet Traylor, who would you vote for?
Charlie Melancon…………………………………….. 40%
Chet Traylor ……………………………………………. 39%
Undecided………………………………………………. 21%
Q8 Would you say that Charlie Melancon is or is
not a good model of Christian living?
Is a good Christian model …………………………. 21%
Is not a good Christian model ……………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 56%
Q9 Would you say that David Vitter is or is not a
good model of Christian living?
Is a good Christian model …………………………. 21%
Is not a good Christian model ……………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 35%
Q10 Who do you think is a better representative of
Christian values: Charlie Melancon or David
Vitter?
Charlie Melancon…………………………………….. 32%
David Vitter …………………………………………….. 22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 45%
Q11 Hypothetically speaking, if you had a daughter,
would you rather she was married to Charlie
Melancon or David Vitter?
Charlie Melancon…………………………………….. 24%
David Vitter …………………………………………….. 17%
Wouldn’t want daughter married to any
politician………………………………………………….55%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 4%
Q12 Who did you vote for president in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 57%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 37%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%
Q13 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 14%
Moderate………………………………………………… 36%
Conservative…………………………………………… 50%
Q14 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 56%
Man……………………………………………………….. 44%
Q15 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 ……………………………………………….. 44%
Republican……………………………………………… 45%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 11%
Q16 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 71%
African-American …………………………………….. 25%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q17 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………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 22%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 44%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 25%
