Raleigh, N.C. – Senator Richard Burr (R) trails rumored challenger state Attorney General Roy Cooper (D) by three-points in the race for the North Carolina 2010 U.S. Senate seat, despite the incumbent receiving stronger favorability ratings and broader name recognition across the state. According to the latest poll from the Civitas Institute, 41 percent of respondents would cast their ballot for Cooper versus 38 percent who would vote for Burr with leaning votes included in the results.
“It appears that having an R in front of your name on a statewide ballot in North Carolina is still a net liability,” said Civitas Institute Executive Director Francis De Luca.
When 600 live callers were surveyed regarding their opinion of Burr and Cooper, 37 percent of voters indicated a favorable opinion of Burr to Cooper’s 29 percent. Both candidates enjoyed low unfavorable ratings with Cooper receiving only a six percent unfavorable rating, which was less than the 12 percent who viewed Burr in the same vein. Peak name recognition crested at 50 percent for Burr while 66 percent indicated they had no opinion of Cooper or were unaware of his name.
“It is clear that using just his name Richard Burr does well when compared to Roy Cooper. When you put them on a partisan ballot, the results are much closer and within the margin of error,” said De Luca.
Civitas polled Burr and Cooper in January 2009. When comparing those results with Civitas’ most recent poll, Burr’s numbers increased two percent among those who viewed him unfavorably and he gained a four percent increase in name recognition. Meanwhile, Cooper’s numbers over the last two months fluctuated as well. The state Attorney General sustained a three percent decline among voters who viewed him favorably and a four percent increase of those who viewed him unfavorably. His name recognition also decreased one percent.
Full Text of Questions:
“If the election for United States Senate were held today and the candidates were republican Richard Burr and democrat Roy Cooper, for which would you be voting? If not sure/unsure/refused…which candidates are you leaning toward: republican Richard Burr or democrat Roy Cooper?”
Burr- 25%
Lean Burr- 13%
Lean Cooper- 8%
Cooper- 33%
Not Sure- 21%
“I am now going to read you a list of names. After I read each name, please tell me if you have heard of that person and then if you have, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of that person.”
“Opinion of Richard Burr?”
Very Favorable- 13%
Somewhat Favorable- 24%
Somewhat Unfavorable- 7%
Very Unfavorable- 5%
No Opinion- 31%
Not Aware- 19%
“Opinion of Roy Cooper?”
Very Favorable- 11%
Somewhat Favorable- 18%
Somewhat Unfavorable- 3%
Very Unfavorable- 3%
No Opinion- 28%
Not Aware- 38%
Click here for full results and crosstabs.
Results from January Poll-
“Opinion of Richard Burr?”
Very Favorable- 14%
Somewhat Favorable- 23%
Somewhat Unfavorable- 7%
Very Unfavorable- 3%
No Opinion- 30%
Not Aware- 24%
“Opinion of Roy Cooper?”
Very Favorable- 14%
Somewhat Favorable- 18%
Somewhat Unfavorable- 1%
Very Unfavorable- 1%
No Opinion- 21%
Not Aware- 44%
Click here for the January 2009 Poll
The Civitas Poll is the only monthly live-caller poll of critical issues and policies facing North Carolina.
The study of 600 registered voters was conducted Mar.16-19, 2009. All respondents were part of a fully representative sample of registered voters in North Carolina. For purposes of this study, voters we interviewed had to have voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections or were newly registered voters since 2008.
The confidence interval associated with a sample of this size is such that: 95 percent of the time, results from 600 interviews (registered voters) will be within +-4% of the “True Values.” True Values refer to the results obtained if it were possible to interview every person in North Carolina who had voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections or were newly registered voters since 2008.
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If you would like more information regarding this topic or to schedule an interview with Chris Hayes, please contact Gabe Dellinger at 919.747.8065 or Gabe.Dellinger@nccivitas.org.
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