August 2012 Poll Results

This poll of 400 registered, unaffiliated 2012 general election voters in North Carolina was conducted Aug.20-21, 2012 by National Research, Inc. of Holmdel, NJ. All respondents were part of a fully representative sample of registered 2012 general election voters in North Carolina. For purposes of this study, voters interviewed had to have voted in at least one of the past three general elections (2006, 2008, 2010) or be newly registered to vote since November 2, 2010. The poll had a margin of error of plus/minus 4.9 percent.

1. And on a scale of one to ten, how likely do you think you are to vote in the November 2012 General election? One means you are not at all likely to vote, five means there is a 50-50 chance you will vote, and ten means it is certain that you will vote in the election in November. Remember you can use any number between one and ten.
   • 86.4%
     10
   • 2.7%
     9
   • 3.7%
     8
   • 3.5%
     7
   • 0.2%
     6
   • 2.5%
     5
   • 0.5%
     2
   • 0.5%
     1
2. As you may know, the General Election for President, Governor and Congress is going to be held in November this year. How much attention have you been paying to the various campaigns so far? Would you say you have been paying…
   • 46.7%
     A great deal of attention
   • 41.4%
     A moderate amount of attention
   • 11.7%
     Only a little bit of attention
   • 0.2%
     No attention at all
3. Do you feel things in North Carolina are generally headed in the right direction or have gotten off on the wrong track?
   • 30%
     Right Direction
   • 56.8%
     Wrong Track
   • 13.2%
     Don't Know/Refused
4. And if the election for State Legislature were held today, would you be voting for the...
   • 39.5%
     Republican candidate
   • 31%
     Democratic candidate
   • 6.2%
     Neither
   • 23.3%
     Don't Know/Refused
5. When you think about voting for North Carolina offices like the state legislature, what issue or problem should be their highest priority?
   • 45.4%
     Economy and jobs
   • 17.1%
     Improving public education
   • 2.7%
     Holding down taxes
   • 5%
     Reducing healthcare costs
   • 4.7%
     Government corruption
   • 2.5%
     Moral issues
   • 14.4%
     Budget/spending
   • 4.2%
     Illegal immigration
   • 2.2%
     Other
   • 1.7%
     Don't Know/Refused
6. Now I am going to read you a list of people active in politics. After I read each name, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of that person. If you have never heard of them just tell me and we’ll go on to the next one... the first one is: Barack Obama
   • 45.2%
     Favorable
   • 48.9%
     Unfavorable
   • 5.5%
     Heard of, no opinion
   • 0.5%
     Never heard of
7. Mitt Romney
   • 44.7%
     Favorable
   • 43.9%
     Unfavorable
   • 10.7%
     Heard of, no opinion
   • 0.7%
     Never heard of
8. Bev Perdue
   • 34.2%
     Favorable
   • 53.6%
     Unfavorable
   • 9.7%
     Heard of, no opinion
   • 2.5%
     Never heard of
9. Pat McCrory
   • 47.9%
     Favorable
   • 22.3%
     Unfavorable
   • 21.8%
     Heard of, no opinion
   • 7.9%
     Never heard of
10. Walter Dalton
    • 21.8%
      Favorable
    • 21.3%
      Unfavorable
    • 30%
      Heard of, no opinion
    • 26.8%
      Never heard of
11. Do you approve or disapprove of the job that Barack Obama is doing as President?
    • 25.6%
      Strongly Approve
    • 21.1%
      Somewhat Approve
    • 8.2%
      Somewhat Disapprove
    • 42.2%
      Strongly Disapprove
    • 2.2%
      Undecided/don't know
    • 0.7%
      Don't Know/Refused
12. Some people decide early in a campaign how they will vote. Others make their decisions just before the election. When would you say you will make your FINAL decision on which candidate you are going to vote for?
    • 5.2%
      On election day
    • 12.4%
      The last few days before the election
    • 3.5%
      During one-stop voting the last 3 weeks of October
    • 6%
      During the last two weeks in October
    • 5%
      Before one-stop voting starts October 16
    • 3%
      In September
    • 61.8%
      Already have
    • 3.2%
      Don't Know/Refused
13. If the election for President of the United States were being held today and you had to make a choice, for whom would you vote if the candidates were: Mitt Romney, the Republican, and Barack Obama, the Democrat?
    • 42.9%
      Definitely Romney
    • 4.7%
      Probably Romney
    • 1.2%
      Lean Romney
    • 6.9%
      Undecided
    • 2%
      Lean Obama
    • 4.5%
      Probably Obama
    • 35%
      Definitely Obama
    • 2.7%
      Don't Know/Refused
14. If the election for Governor were held today and you had to make a choice, for whom would you vote if the candidates were: Pat McCrory the Republican, Walter Dalton the Democrat, and Barbara Howe the Libertarian
    • 35.2%
      Definitely McCrory
    • 12.2%
      Probably McCrory
    • 1.5%
      Lean McCrory
    • 16.9%
      Definitely Dalton
    • 7.7%
      Probably Dalton
    • 2%
      Lean Dalton
    • 2.7%
      Definitely Howe
    • 5.2%
      Probably Howe
    • 1.5%
      Lean Howe
    • 12.2%
      Hard undecided
    • 1%
      Other
    • 2%
      Don't Know/Refused
15. On fiscal issues, like taxes and government spending, do you generally consider yourself to be a liberal, moderate or a conservative?
    • 12.4%
      Liberal
    • 35.7%
      Moderate
    • 45.2%
      Conservative
    • 6.7%
      Don't Know/Refused
16. On social issues, like abortion and marriage, do you generally consider yourself to be a liberal, moderate or a conservative?
    • 31.3%
      Liberal
    • 27.5%
      Moderate
    • 36%
      Conservative
    • 5.2%
      Don't Know/Refused
17. And, in partisan elections, which of the following would best describe the way you vote?
    • 8.9%
      Always Vote Democrat
    • 28%
      Vote Democrat more often than Republican
    • 33.5%
      Vote Republican more often than Democrat
    • 5%
      Always Vote Republican
    • 17.1%
      Both Equally - Split Ticket
    • 7.4%
      Don't Know/Refused
18. Which of the following most reflects your beliefs regarding the impact of taxes:
    • 49.6%
      Tax increases harm economic growth and cause jobs to be lost
    • 16.6%
      Tax increases have no real effect on the economy and job creation
    • 23.1%
      Tax increases will improve the economy by adding revenue to government
    • 10.7%
      Don't Know/Refused
19. Please tell me which of the following opinions about government spending comes closer to your own.
    • 42.9%
      Some people say now is not the time to ask taxpayers to fund more government spending. They say that in an ideal world, more funding would be available for important programs, but during these difficult economic times, sacrifices need to made, including capping, reducing or even de-funding some state government services.
    • 46.7%
      Other people say that funding state programs such as education and medical services is such a vital and important role that taxes should be increased to fully fund them. They say that funding these programs now will save us money in the long term, for example, by investing in education to train a competitive workforce, and by funding medical services now so that the needs of seniors and the poor don't multiply due to lack of medical care.
    • 10.4%
      Don't Know/Refused
20. Do you support or oppose exploring for oil and natural gas on land and off the coast of North Carolina?
    • 36%
      Strongly Support
    • 29%
      Somewhat Support
    • 10.9%
      Somewhat Oppose
    • 13.6%
      Strongly Oppose
    • 10.4%
      Don't Know/Refused
21. North Carolina has passed legislation authorizing Tax Credits for parents of special needs children to allow them to attend schools that charge tuition. Some people argue that giving parents choice will improve educational outcomes for all students while others argue that taking students away from traditional public schools weaken those schools. Which of the following statements comes closer to your opinion on the issue of school choice and public schools?
    • 66.3%
      Giving parents more choice in K-12 education will improve education for students. North Carolina should move towards allowing more choice in K-12 education for parents and children.
    • 25.3%
      The state should be the primary educator of all K-12 children. Any legislation that allows parents the ability to move children out of the traditional K-12 public school system will weaken public education.
    • 8.4%
      Don't Know/Refused
22. In May 2012, North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between one man and one woman and as the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. Do you agree or disagree with that vote?
    • 39.7%
      Strongly Agree
    • 10.2%
      Somewhat Agree
    • 8.7%
      Somewhat Disagree
    • 36.7%
      Strongly Disagree
    • 4.7%
      Don't Know/Refused
23. Do you support or oppose the death penalty for First-degree murder?
    • 42.9%
      Strongly Support
    • 20.6%
      Somewhat Support
    • 12.4%
      Somewhat Oppose
    • 13.2%
      Strongly Oppose
    • 10.9%
      Don't Know/Refused
24. Do you support or oppose President Obama’s Health Care law?
    • 25.1%
      Strongly Support
    • 16.9%
      Somewhat Support
    • 8.4%
      Somewhat Oppose
    • 42.4%
      Strongly Oppose
    • 7.2%
      Don't Know/Refused
25. Who did you vote for or support in the 2008 Presidential Election?
    • 48.1%
      Barack Obama
    • 39.7%
      John McCain
    • 3.5%
      Someone Else
    • 6%
      Don't remember/didn't vote
    • 2.7%
      Don't Know/Refused
26. In what year were you born?
    • 6%
      18-25
    • 21.3%
      26-40
    • 32.5%
      41-55
    • 18.9%
      56-65
    • 18.1%
      66+
    • 3.2%
      Don't Know/Refused
27. If you were to label yourself, would you say you are a liberal, a moderate, or a conservative in your political beliefs?
    • 8.7%
      Very Liberal
    • 8.2%
      Somewhat Liberal
    • 40.7%
      Moderate
    • 17.4%
      Somewhat Conservative
    • 20.1%
      Very Conservative
    • 5%
      Don't Know/Refused
28. In terms of political party, do you identify more with the Republican Party, the Democratic Party or something else?
    • 16.6%
      Strong Republican
    • 17.9%
      Not So Strong Republican
    • 14.1%
      Not So Strong Democrat
    • 14.9%
      Strong Democrat
    • 34.2%
      Independent/unaffiliated/other
    • 2.2%
      Don't Know/Refused
29. Which of the following statements comes closest to describing your own opinion on the issue of abortion :
    • 8.9%
      I am pro-life and oppose abortions under all circumstances
    • 46.2%
      I am pro-life but believe exceptions should be made in cases such as rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.
    • 14.1%
      I am pro-choice, but I believe in parental notification and banning partial birth abortion and government funding
    • 25.3%
      I am pro-choice without exception
    • 4.7%
      Don't know/something else
    • 0.7%
      Don't Know/Refused
30. In terms of your current employment status, would you say you…
    • 11.9%
      Are self-employed
    • 30.5%
      Work for a private company
    • 1.5%
      Work for the federal government
    • 6%
      Work for state or local government
    • 4.5%
      Work in public education
    • 4.7%
      Are a Homemaker
    • 25.3%
      Are Retired
    • 12.7%
      Are Unemployed
    • 3%
      Don't Know/Refused
31. Which category best describes your race or ethnicity?
    • 85.6%
      White or Caucasian
    • 10.2%
      African-American or Black
    • 0.7%
      Hispanic or Latino
    • 1.2%
      Native American
    • 0.5%
      Asian or Pacific Islander
    • 0.2%
      Middle Eastern
    • 0.5%
      Other
    • 1%
      Don't Know/Refused
32. In what area of the country did you live prior to moving to North Carolina?
    • 25.6%
      Northeast
    • 11.2%
      Midwest
    • 5.2%
      West coast
    • 19.9%
      South
    • 4.7%
      Other
    • 31.5%
      Always lived in North Carolina
    • 2%
      Don't Know/Refused
33. Gender
    • 48.9%
      Men
    • 51.1%
      Women
34. Geographic Area
    • 21.8%
      Charlotte
    • 14.6%
      Western
    • 17.4%
      Piedmont Triad
    • 23.1%
      Triangle
    • 9.7%
      Northeast
    • 13.4%
      Southeast