Five months away from the Louisiana Senatorial election Senator David Vitter is ahead
of Democratic Congressman Charlie Melancon 46 to 37%. Vitter’s strength is partly due to his name recognition. Vitter is well known throughout the state, only 11% of voters have no opinion of the Senator.
Far fewer Louisianans know of Melancon, 37% have yet to form an opinion of the Congressman. Melancon is less known within the Democratic Party than amongst Republicans or Independents; 38% of Democrats have no opinion of the Congressman, in comparison to 37% of Republicans and 33% of Independents.
Of those who know Melancon, most have an unfavorable opinion. It is unclear if the heaps of national media exposure Melancon has received from the oil spill have paid off in his home-state.
Currently 22% of Democrats prefer Vitter over Melancon. Though a majority of Democrats, 56%, support Melancon, and 21% remain undecided, Vitter is still drawing a lot of support from the opposing party and away from Melancon.
“Melancon must do well amongst his own party,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “In a state that is a Republican stronghold, Melancon cannot win the election without at least winning over the Democratic Party outright and more importantly getting them out to the polls.”
PPP surveyed 492 Louisiana voters from June 12th– 13th. The survey’s margin of error is +/- 4.42%. 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 Senator
David Vitter’s job performance?
Approve ……………… 45%
Disapprove………….. 43%
Not Sure……………… 11%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Charlie Melancon?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 29%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 34%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 37%
Q3 The candidates for US Senate are Democrat
Charlie Melancon and Republican David Vitter.
If the election was today, who would you vote
for?
Charlie Melancon…………………………………….. 37%
David Vitter …………………………………………….. 46%
Undecided………………………………………………. 17%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of David Vitter’s
actions in response to the oil spill?
Approve …………………………………………………. 42%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%
Q5 Who did you vote for president last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 56%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 35%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 9%
Q6 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative? If liberal, press 1. If
moderate, press 2. If conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 11%
Moderate………………………………………………… 44%
Conservative…………………………………………… 46%
Q7 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q8 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 ……………………………………………….. 43%
Republican……………………………………………… 39%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 18%
Q9 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 76%
African-American …………………………………….. 20%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q10 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………………………………………………….. 11%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 27%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 43%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
