Raleigh, N.C. — Wisconsin voters believe by a 47% to 43% margin that gay marriage should be illegal, according to the latest PPP poll in the state. That represents an increase in support for gay marriage since last August when 50% of voters opposed it and only 39% were in support. When more specific positions were offered, 69% believed that gay couples should either be able to marry or form a civil union, while 28% opposed any sort of legal recognition for gay couples.
Green Bay emerged as the state’s most popular city, scoring a 68% to 7% favorability rating. Republicans in the state gave Green Bay their highest marks with a +67 net favorable score for the home of the Packers. Democrats gave the city a slightly more tepid +47 mark, reserving their best for Madison, which they approved of by 66 points. GOP voters disapproved of the capital more than 2 to 1.
Both beer and cheese asserted their overwhelming popularity in Wisconsin, with beer scoring a net favorable rating of +47 and cheese barely outpacing it at +52. However, when forced to decide between the two, voters chose cheese in a landslide, 64% to 18%. Beer saw its highest unfavorables come from young voters, with 32% of Wisconsinites aged 18 to 29 expressing an unfavorable opinion of the beverage, compared to 19% for the population as a whole.
As he heads toward retirement, Herb Kohl remains Wisconsin’s more popular senator, with 46% of voters approving of him to 38% who disapprove. Voters are closely divided on Ron Johnson, with 38% approving of him, to 37% who disapprove.
PPP surveyed 1,057 Wisconsin voters from July 5th to 8th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.0%. 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 Ron
Johnson’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .38%
Disapprove…………. .37%
Not sure …………….. .25%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Herb
Kohl’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .46%
Disapprove…………. .38%
Not sure …………….. .16%
Q3 If there was an election for the state legislature
today, would you vote Democratic or
Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 45%
Republican……………………………………………… 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q4 In general, do you think Wisconsin should have
recall elections, or not?
Wisconsin should have recalls…………………… 51%
It should not ……………………………………………. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q5 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 43%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q6 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 ……………………………………………………..39%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry …………………………………30%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………28%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 4%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Milwaukee?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 35%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 37%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Madison?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 50%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 33%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Green Bay?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 68%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 7%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 25%
Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Kenosha?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 26%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 27%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%
Q11 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Racine?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 23%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 35%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 41%
Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Appleton?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 64%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 7%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 29%
Q13 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Oshkosh?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 57%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 8%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 35%
Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of Eau Claire?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 57%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 7%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 36%
Q15 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the city of La Crosse?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 60%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 7%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 34%
Q16 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of cheese?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 56%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 4%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 39%
Q17 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of beer?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 66%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q18 What do you like better: cheese or beer?
Cheese ………………………………………………….. 64%
Beer ………………………………………………………. 18%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q19 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ryan Braun?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 55%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 37%
Q20 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 46%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 46%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 8%
Q21 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 10%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 28%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 26%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 18%
Q22 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%
Q23 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 ……………………………………………….. 30%
Republican……………………………………………… 32%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 38%
Q24 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White …………………………………………………….. 90%
Other……………………………………………………… 10%
Q25 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%
