January 20, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Demi Dowdy (919) 834-2099 demi.dowdy@nccivitas.org
RALEIGH – A Civitas Poll to be presented at lunch on Thursday, Jan. 21 will show a dramatic split in public opinion this election year: stark differences between the way Democrats and Republicans view the direction the United States and North Carolina are headed.
The latest Civitas Poll, interviewing likely North Carolina primary voters, shows that 88 percent of Republican primary voters think the nation is headed on the wrong track, and only 9 percent think it is going in the right direction. Meanwhile, 49 percent of Democratic voters think the nation is going in the right direction, while 41 percent think the nation is on the wrong track.
For North Carolina, the Republican view was 55% right direction/33% wrong track, with the Democratic view 26% right direction/65% wrong track.
“The vast majority of Republicans are alarmed by national and international news and trends they see happening now, while Democrats hold the same, though not as dramatic, view of events here in North Carolina,” Civitas President Francis De Luca said. “This unprecedented divergence in party opinions will help shape the March elections – how the nominees will campaign in the fall, and how the winners govern beginning next year.”
This special polling consists of two distinct surveys: one of 500 likely Republican voters and a separate survey of 500 likely Democrat voters. They were asked who they would support in the primary elections for their party on March 15, including elections for president, U.S. senator, governor, and other statewide offices. Both groups were also asked about other important issues and views.
The texts of the above questions referred to above are as follows:
Asked of likely Republican primary voters:
Do you feel things in the United States are generally heading in the right direction, or have things gotten off on the wrong track?
9% Right Direction
88% Wrong Track
3% Don’t Know/Unsure
Do you feel things in North Carolina are generally heading in the right direction, or have things gotten off on the wrong track?
55% Right Direction
33% Wrong Track
11% Don’t Know/Unsure
1% Refused
Thinking, for a moment, back to 2010…In your opinion are things in North Carolina today better or worse than they were in 2010, or are things about the same?
42% Better
24% Worse
30% About the Same
4% Don’t Know/ Refused
Asked of likely Democratic primary voters:
Do you feel things in the United States are generally heading in the right direction, or have things gotten off on the wrong track?
49% Right Direction
41% Wrong Track
9% Don’t Know/Unsure
Do you feel things in North Carolina are generally heading in the right direction, or have things gotten off on the wrong track?
26% Right Direction
65% Wrong Track
9% Don’t Know/Unsure
Thinking, for a moment, back to 2010 … In your opinion are things in North Carolina today better or worse than they were in 2010, or are things about the same?
27% Better
41% Worse
30% About the Same
2% Don’t Know/ Refused
(Percentages may not add up to 100 because of rounding.)
For Republican crosstabs, click here. For Democratic crosstabs, click here.
At the Poll Lunch Thursday, Brad Crone, President of Campaign Connections, and Bob Rosser of Impact Strategies, Inc., will provide commentary along with Civitas President Francis De Luca. They will walk attendees through the results and offer insights into what the numbers say about current public opinion in NC.
The survey of 500 likely Democratic voters took place on Jan. 13, 14 and 16, and had a margin of error of plus/minus 4 points. Thirty percent of the sample was contacted via cellphone.
The survey of 500 likely Republican voters took place on Jan. 13, 14 and 16, and had a margin of error of plus/minus 4 points. Thirty percent of the sample was contacted via cellphone.
Civitas conducts the only regular live-caller voting in North Carolina, and is the sole organization offering independent, nonpartisan data on current opinion. For the last decade, our polls have provided vital insights into what North Carolina voters truly think of the leaders and issues facing the state and nation.
Thursday’s Poll Lunch will take place 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton hotel, 1707 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27605.
More information on the luncheon is available here.
Civitas President Francis De Luca will be available for interviews after the luncheon. To arrange an interview, email Demi Dowdy at demi.dowdy@nccivitas.org or call 919.834.2099.
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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