CIVITAS POLL GIVES SOLID LEAD TO McCRORY OVER DEMOCRAT HOPEFULS.

March 27, 2012
CONTACT: Jim Tynen (919) 834-2099
James.Tynen@NCCivitas.org

Raleigh, N.C. – The latest poll from the John W. Pope Civitas Institute shows former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory maintaining a solid lead over all likely Democratic challengers.

Registered voters were asked who they'd vote for if the election were held today and the candidates were McCrory, a Republican, and former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, a Democrat. Forty-nine percent picked McCrory; 34 percent chose Etheridge.

McCrory, the favorite for the GOP nomination, also bested Lt. Governor Walter Dalton by 48 percent to 32 percent in the poll. State Rep. Bill Faison (D-Orange) was supported by 28 percent of respondents, with McCrory the choice of 51 percent of voters.
The results showed little change from last month's Civitas Poll.

"Primary campaigns usually boost one candidate's profile compared to the other party's hopefuls," Civitas President Francis X. De Luca said. "That hasn't happened here yet. McCrory will start the general election race with a base of voters being 'definitely' in support of him. After the May 8 primary, the Democratic nominee will likely have a steep hill to climb."

The Civitas Poll is the only regular live-caller poll of critical issues facing North Carolina.  For more information on Civitas polling see http://www.nccivitas.org/category/poll/.

Full text of questions: 


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 or Walter Dalton, the Democrat?

2/12     3/12
49%    48%    Total McCrory
30%    32%    Total Dalton
37%     36%     Definitely McCrory
10%     10%     Probably McCrory
2%       2%       Lean McCrory
20%     18%     Undecided (DO NOT READ)
2%       2%       Lean Dalton
7%       9%       Probably Dalton
20%     21%     Definitely Dalton
2%       2%       Refused

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 or Bob Etheridge, the Democrat?

2/12     3/12
46%    49%    Total McCrory
32%    34%    Total Etheridge
36%     36%     Definitely McCrory
9%       10%     Probably McCrory
2%       3%       Lean McCrory
19%     15%     Undecided
2%       3%       Lean Etheridge
9%       9%       Probably Etheridge
21%     23%     Definitely Etheridge
2%       2%       Refused

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 or Bill Faison, the Democrat?

2/12     3/12
48%    51%    Total McCrory
27%    28%    Total Faison
38%     37%     Definitely McCrory
9%       11%     Probably McCrory
1%       3%       Lean McCrory
22%     19%     Undecided
2%       2%       Lean Faison
8%       7%       Probably Faison
18%     20%     Definitely Faison
3%       2%       Refused

Civitas Poll: Cain leads Obama in North Carolina. (Yay!)

Raleigh, N.C. – A new poll by the Civitas Institute shows Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain leading Democratic incumbent Barack Obama by five percent among North Carolina voters.

Cain is the choice of 46 percent of North Carolina voters if the election for President of the United States was today and the candidates were Herman Cain the Republican, and Barack Obama the Democrat.  Forty-one percent said they would vote for Obama, and 10 percent said they are undecided.

Cain has the support of 81 percent of Republicans along with 50 percent of unaffiliated voters.  Democratic voters would vote for Obama by a 68 percent to 19 percent margin.

“Just as is happening nationally, we are seeing a swell of support for Herman Cain in North Carolina,” said Civitas Institute President Francis De Luca.

Voters age 18-25 (52 percent) and 56-65 (50 percent) would vote for Obama if the election was today.  Forty-four percent of those age 26-40 and 55 percent of voters age 41-55 would vote for Cain.

In the key 66+ demographic, the margin narrows to 45 percent Cain - 42 percent Obama.  Regionally, Cain garners the most support in Charlotte and the Piedmont Triad, while voters in the Triangle and Northeast are most likely to vote for Obama.

“To borrow a pun that is going around, this seems to be one HermanCain that Carolinians would not mind blowing into the state,” added De Luca.

The Civitas Poll is the only regular live-caller poll of critical issues facing North Carolina.  For more information on Civitas polling see http://www.nccivitas.org/category/poll/.
Full Text of Question:

“If the election for President of the United States was being held today and you had to make a choice, for whom would you vote if the candidates were: Herman Cain the Republican, and Barack Obama the Democrat?”

Total Cain – 46%
Total Obama – 41%
Definitely Cain – 35%
Probably Cain – 7%
Lean Cain – 4%
Undecided – 10%
Lean Obama – 1%
Probably Obama – 4%
Definitely Obama – 37%
Refused – 3%