Civitas Poll Reveals North Carolina Voters’ Primary Choices for White House, Senate, Council of State

RALEIGH – The Civitas poll to be released Thursday will have the latest, best information on who North Carolina voters prefer in the March 15 primary elections – including the leaders in the races for the White House, U.S. Senate, and Council of State offices.

The poll comprises two separate polls of likely Republican and Democratic primary voters to determine who they plan to vote for in their respective primaries, plus their views of key topics on the public scene.

Though there is much talk about the polarization in politics, a number of voters say they are open to considering voting in the November General Election for a candidate from the other party. A third of Republican voters said they were willing to consider Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. More than half of Democratic voters said they were willing to consider one of the top four GOP contenders.

The complete poll information, plus commentary, will be provided on Thursday at three special Civitas Poll Presentations in Winston-Salem, Raleigh and Wilmington. For more information, visit the Civitas events calendar.

Text of actual questions:

(Asked of ALL Republican primary voters)

Of the following candidates in the Democrat Presidential Primary field – which candidate could you see yourself possibly voting for in November: (ROTATE)

22%     Bernie Sanders
11%     Hillary Clinton
62%     None/Don’t Know
5%       Refused

(Asked of ALL Democratic primary voters)

Of the following candidates in the Republican Presidential Primary field – which candidate could you see yourself possibly voting for in November: (ROTATE)

24%     John Kasich
13%     Marco Rubio
8%       Donald Trump
8%       Ted Cruz
47%     None/ Don’t Know
—          Refused

Civitas conducts the only regular live-caller voting in North Carolina, and we are the only organization offering independent, nonpartisan data on current opinion. In the decade we’ve been conducting them, our polls have provided vital insights on what North Carolina voters truly think of the leaders and issues facing the state and nation.

For more information, email Demi Dowdy at demi.dowdy@nccivitas.org or call 919.747.8059.

Founded in 2005, the Civitas Institute is a Raleigh, NC-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy organization committed to creating a North Carolina whose citizens enjoy liberty and prosperity derived from limited government, personal responsibility and civic engagement. To that end, Civitas develops and advocates for conservative policy solutions to improve the lives of all North Carolinians.

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