August 2008 DecisionMaker Poll

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How likely are you to vote in the November election for President and other state offices:
- 82.2%
  Definitely Voting
- 14%
  Very Likely
- 3.8%
  Somewhat Likely
Will you cast your vote during early voting or on Election Day?
- 57%
  Election Day
- 32.8%
  Early Voting
- 10.2%
  Don't Know/Refused
Do you feel things in North Carolina are generally headed in the right direction or have gotten off on the wrong track?
- 33%
  Right Direction
- 48.7%
  Wrong Track
- 18.3%
  Don't Know/Refused
What specific issue in North Carolina needs the most attention from State government?
- 20.3%
  Lower Health Care Costs
- 21%
  Improve Public Education
- 34.2%
  Create Jobs and Improve Economy
- 16.2%
  Hold Down Taxes
- 4.5%
  Improve Roads and Highways
- 3.8%
  Don't Know/Refused
Do you think there are major differences between North Carolina Democrats and Republicans on the issue you most care about?
- 66.7%
  Yes
- 19.5%
  No
- 13.8%
  Don't Know/Refused
If the election for State Legislature were held today, would you be voting:
- 43.2%
  Democratic
- 39.5%
  Republican
- 2.7%
  Neither
- 14.7%
  Don't Know/Refused
If the election for President were held today, would you be voting for:
- 41.2%
  Democrat Barack Obama
- 45.2%
  Republican John McCain
- 1.5%
  Libertarian Bob Barr
- 12.2%
  Don't Know/Refused
If the election for U.S. Senate were held today, would you be voting for:
- 42%
  Democrat Kay Hagan
- 42.7%
  Republican Elizabeth Dole
- 3.8%
  Libertarian Chris Cole
- 11.5%
  Don't Know/Refused
If the election for Governor were held today, would you be voting for:
- 43.2%
  Democrat Bev Perdue
- 41.3%
  Republican Pat McCrory
- 2.3%
  Libertarian Michael Munger
- 13.2%
  Don't Know/Refused
If the election for North Carolina Supreme Court were held today, would you be voting for:
- 12%
  Robert (Bob) Edmunds
- 14%
  Suzanne Reynolds
- 74%
  Don't Know/Refused
Which political party, Republican or Democrat, controls the office of Lieutenant Governor?
- 48.7%
  Democrat
- 10%
  Republican
- 41.3%
  Don't Know/Refused
Who is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina?
- 28%
  Beverly Perdue
- 4.2%
  Someone Else
- 67.8%
  Don't Know/Refused
The maximum sentence for a person convicted for sexually abusing [taking indecent liberties with] a child is 20 months in prison. Is this sentence too long, too short or just about right?
- 0.8%
  Too Long
- 92.5%
  Too Short
- 3.7%
  About Right
- 3%
  Don't Know/Refused
Do you support the death penalty for first-degree murder in North Carolina?
- 63.2%
  Yes
- 24.2%
  No
- 12.7%
  Don't Know/Refused
Do you think state and local government has too much control or influence over your life?
- 48.5%
  Yes
- 45.8%
  No
- 5.7%
  Don't Know/Refused
When you think about your friends, neighbors or people you know, do you think they consider themselves liberal, moderate or conservative in their political beliefs?
- 4.3%
  Very Liberal
- 8.8%
  Somewhat Liberal
- 28.5%
  Somewhat Conservative
- 17.2%
  Very Conservative
- 25.2%
  Moderate
- 16%
  Don't Know/Refused
Is the best way to improve public education in North Carolina, more government spending on the current system or allowing parents more choice over which school to attend?
- 29.5%
  More on Current System
- 54.2%
  More Parental Choice
- 16.3%
  Don't Know/Refused
Which of the following is the best way to stimulate the economy in North Carolina:
- 17%
  Cut the Gasoline Tax
- 29.7%
  Cut Income Taxes for both Individuals and Businesses
- 14.3%
  Give Cash Incentives to new Businesses who Locate in North Carolina
- 3%
  Increase State Spending on Capital Projects such as Building New Government Buildings
- 25.8%
  Raise the Minimum Wage
- 10.2%
  Don't Know/Refused
Should gas tax revenue be used exclusively for road construction and maintenance or should a portion of it be used for bicycle paths, airports and ferries?
- 58.7%
  Roads Only
- 33.5%
  Paths, Airports
- 7.8%
  Don't Know/Refused
Currently, there is a $4,000 limit on the amount of money any individual can give to a political campaign. Do you think this limit is too high, too low or just about right?
- 21.2%
  Too High
- 4.8%
  Too Low
- 63.7%
  About Right
- 10.3%
  Don't Know/Refused
Would you support raising or eliminating the contribution limit if politicians were required to immediately disclose every contribution they receive?
- 54.2%
  Yes
- 30.2%
  No
- 15.7%
  Don't Know/Refused
Should car insurance be more expensive for drivers with poor driving records or should all drivers be asked to pay just a little bit more to make insurance more affordable for everyone?
- 84.7%
  More Expensive
- 12.5%
  All Drivers Pay More
- 2.8%
  Don't Know/Refused
Would you be more or less likely to vote for a candidate who supports allowing illegal immigrants to enroll in North Carolina's community colleges?
- 18.8%
  More
- 69.7%
  Less
- 7%
  No Difference
- 4.5%
  Don't Know/Refused
What amount would you say is the right amount to pay public school teachers:
- 7%
  Over $70,000
- 5.8%
  $60,000 - $70,000
- 28.5%
  $50,000 - $60,000
- 37.5%
  $40,000 - $50,000
- 10%
  $25,000 - $40,000
- 11.2%
  Don't Know/Refused
If the average compensation for a public school teacher was approximately $48,000 per year plus health benefits, would you say that is too high, too low, or just about right?
- 7%
  Too High
- 25.2%
  Too Low
- 62.3%
  About Right
- 5.5%
  Don't Know/Refused
Should some government benefits like health insurance or college scholarships be totally free of charge or should each recipient have to pay some amount, no matter how small, in order to receive the benefit?
- 27.5%
  Free
- 62.8%
  Pay Some Amount
- 9.7%
  Don't Know/Refused
Should children in families making up to $63,000 be able to attend community college free of charge?
- 38.2%
  Yes
- 54.2%
  No
- 7.7%
  Don't Know/Refused
Should North Carolina adopt stricter vehicle emission standards, like those of California, which reduced air pollution but resulted in decreased fuel mileage for cars?
- 38.2%
  Yes
- 49.8%
  No
- 12%
  Don't Know/Refused
A top North Carolina labor union official recently said they wish to create a movement to change who is in the legislature and the policies they create. Do you think this would be good or bad for North Carolina?
- 35%
  Good
- 36.3%
  Bad
- 28.7%
  Don't Know/Refused
How often do you read the opinion or Op-Ed page of your newspaper:
- 29.7%
  Daily
- 24.3%
  Couple of Times a Week
- 9.5%
  Couple of Times a Month
- 17.7%
  Rarely
- 17.7%
  Never
- 1.2%
  Don't Know/Refused
Into which of the following categories does your age fall:
- 5.2%
  18-25
- 14.4%
  26-40
- 32.2%
  41-55
- 21.7%
  56-65
- 26.2%
  66+
- 0.3%
  Don't Know/Refused
Would you say you are a liberal, moderate or conservative in your political beliefs?
- 6.5%
  Very Liberal
- 10.2%
  Somewhat Liberal
- 21.8%
  Somewhat Conservative
- 23.3%
  Very Conservative
- 34.5%
  Moderate
- 3.7%
  Don't Know/Refused
Regardless of your party affiliation do you:
- 15.8%
  Always Vote Democrat
- 25%
  Vote Democrat more than Republican
- 30.2%
  Vote Republican more than Democrat
- 7%
  Always Vote Republican
- 17.2%
  Both Equally - Split Ticket
- 4.8%
  Don't Know/Refused
What is the highest level of schooling you completed?
- 5.3%
  Less than HS Graduate
- 23.2%
  High School Graduate
- 25.8%
  2 yr. College/Technical School
- 28.3%
  4 yr. College Graduate
- 16.3%
  Post-Graduate
- 1%
  Don't Know/Refused
In your current employment status, are you:
- 10.8%
  Self-Employed
- 30.8%
  Working for a Private Company
- 12.8%
  Work for Government
- 7.3%
  Spouse (housewife)
- 32%
  Retired
- 5.2%
  Unemployed
- 1%
  Don't Know/Refused
Finally, do you consider your ethnicity or national heritage to be:
- 77.7%
  Caucasian
- 18.9%
  African American
- 0.2%
  Hispanic
- 1.2%
  Native American
- 0.2%
  Asian
- 1.8%
  Other
Affiliation
- 50.3%
  Democrat
- 36.8%
  Republican
- 12.8%
  Unaffiliated
Gender
- 47%
  Male
- 53%
  Female
Geographic Area
- 20.7%
  Charlotte
- 14.2%
  Western
- 20.5%
  Piedmont Triad
- 19.5%
  Triangle
- 11.3%
  Northeast
- 13.8%
  Southeast
Voting History
- 9.8%
  New
- 19.5%
  One of Three
- 21.7%
  Two of Three
- 49%
  Three of Three

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This article can be found at http://www.nccivitas.org/2008/august-2008-decisionmaker-poll/