The DecisionMaker Poll was conducted on February 19-22 with live telephone interviews with 800 registered voters, who voted in the 2002 and 2004 general elections, were first time voters in the 2006 general election, or voted in 2004 and 2006 as newly registered voters. It has a margin of error of +-3.7 percent.
1. AFFILIATION
# %
1. DEMOCRAT 400 50
2. REPUBLICAN 296 37
3. OTHER 104 13
2. DO YOU FEEL THINGS IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE GENERALLY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR HAVE GOTTEN OFF ON THE WRONG TRACK?
# %
1. RIGHT DIRECTION 347 44
2. WRONG TRACK 314 39
--- NOT SURE 134 17
--- REFUSED 5
3. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ISSUES OR PROGRAMS NEEDS THE MOST ATTENTION FROM STATE GOVERNMENT:
# %
1. LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS 170 21
2. IMPROVE PUBLIC EDUCATION 144 18
3. CREATE JOBS 139 17
4. HOLD DOWN TAXES 80 10
5. IMPROVE ROADS/HIGHWAYS 52 7
6. GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION 50 6
7. CONTROL IMMIGRATION 128 16
--- NOT SURE 35 4
--- REFUSED 3
4. IF THE ELECTION FOR STATE LEGISLATURE WERE HELD TODAY, WOULD YOU BE VOTING:
# %
1. DEMOCRATIC 331 41
2. REPUBLICAN 277 35
3. NEITHER 34 4
--- NOT SURE 158 20
5. THINKING ABOUT NATIONAL ISSUES, DO YOU APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF THE JOB GEORGE W. BUSH IS DOING AS PRESIDENT?
# %
1. STRONGLY APPROVE 113 14
2. SOMEWHAT APPROVE 189 24
3. SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 164 21
4. STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 292 37
--- NOT SURE 41 5
6. DO YOU APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF THE JOB CONGRESS IS DOING?
# %
1. STRONGLY APPROVE 15 2
2. SOMEWHAT APPROVE 170 21
3. SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 267 33
4. STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 276 35
--- NOT SURE 72 9
7. IF THE 2008 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT WERE HELD TODAY, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DEMOCRATS WOULD YOU VOTE FOR:
# %
1. HILLARY CLINTON 121 24
2. BARACK OBAMA 193 38
--- NOT SURE 190 38
8. IF THE 2008 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT WERE HELD TODAY, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING REPUBLICANS WOULD YOU VOTE FOR:
# %
1. JOHN MCCAIN 200 50
2. MIKE HUCKABEE 92 23
3. RON PAUL 23 6
--- NOT SURE 85 21
9. IF THE ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT WERE HELD TODAY AND THE CANDIDATES WERE HILLARY CLINTON AND JOHN MCCAIN, FOR WHOM WOULD YOU BE VOTING?
# %
1. HILLARY CLINTON 286 36
2. JOHN MCCAIN 381 48
--- NOT SURE 133 17
10. IF THE ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT WERE HELD TODAY AND THE CANDIDATES WERE BARACK OBAMA AND JOHN MCCAIN, FOR WHOM WOULD YOU BE VOTING?
# %
1. BARACK OBAMA 286 36
2. JOHN MCCAIN 368 46
--- NOT SURE 146 18
11. DO YOU THINK THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL BE BETTER, WORSE OR ABOUT THE SAME ONE YEAR FROM NOW?
# %
1. BETTER 190 24
2. WORSE 113 14
3. ABOUT THE SAME 427 53
--- NOT SURE 70 9
12. DO YOU BELIEVE THE RECENTLY APPROVED ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE THAT GIVES $600 REBATE CHECKS TO MOST TAXPAYERS AND TARGETED TAX BREAKS TO SMALL BUSINESSES WILL ACTUALLY HELP THE ECONOMY?
# %
1. YES 260 33
2. NO 463 58
--- NOT SURE 77 10
13. AS PART OF THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE, MOST TAXPAYERS WILL RECEIVE A REBATE CHECK OF $600 PER PERSON AND AN EXTRA $300 PER CHILD IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO USE YOUR REBATE CHECK?
# %
1. PAY OFF BILLS/DEBTS 260 32
2. SPEND IT 166 21
3. SAVE IT 237 30
--- NOT SURE 138 17
14. TURNING YOUR ATTENTION TO STATE ISSUES, IF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR WERE HELD TODAY, WOULD YOU BE VOTING FOR:
# %
1. RICHARD MOORE 115 23
2. BEVERLY PERDUE 143 28
--- NOT SURE 246 49
15. TURNING YOUR ATTENTION TO STATE ISSUES, IF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR WERE HELD TODAY, WOULD YOU BE VOTING FOR:
# %
1. PAT MCCRORY 71 18
2. FRED SMITH 68 17
3. BOB ORR 15 4
4. BILL GRAHAM 21 5
--- NOT SURE 225 56
16. IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR, WHO WOULD BE YOUR SECOND CHOICE?
# %
1. PAT MCCRORY 16 9
2. FRED SMITH 18 10
3. BOB ORR 23 13
4. BILL GRAHAM 23 13
--- NOT SURE 94 54
17. DO YOU BELIEVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENROLL IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA?
# %
1. YES 199 25
2. NO 540 68
--- NOT SURE 61 8
18. REGARDLESS OF YOUR ANSWER ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, IF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE ALLOWED TO ENROLL IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, SHOULD THEY BE TREATED AS IN-STATE RESIDENTS AND GET LOWER TUITION OR SHOULD THEY PAY HIGHER OUT-OF-STATE TUITION?
# %
1. IN-STATE 107 13
2. OUT-OF-STATE 612 76
--- NOT SURE 81 10
19. DO YOU THINK THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE YOU RECEIVE IN NORTH CAROLINA IS:
# %
1. EXCELLENT 148 19
2. GOOD 370 46
3. ONLY FAIR 184 23
4. POOR 78 10
--- NOT SURE 20 3
20. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES THE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE YOU OR YOUR FAMILY HAVE:
# %
1. THRU YOUR/SPOUSE EMPLOYER 309 39
2. MEDICARE/MEDICAID 285 36
3. PURCHASE INS ON YOUR OWN 75 9
4. EMPLOYER AND PRIVATE 99 12
5. UNINSURED 12 1
--- NOT SURE 20 3
21. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HEALTH CARE, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS YOUR MAJOR CONCERN:
# %
1. COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE 315 39
2. ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE 62 8
3. QUALITY AVAILABLE TO YOU 96 12
4. INABILITY TO QUALIFY 24 3
5. NUMBER OF POOR W/O INS 259 32
--- NOT SURE 43 5
22. HOW FAMILIAR ARE YOU WITH HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS [HSAS]?
# %
1. VERY/ENROLLED IN ONE 37 5
2. FAMILIAR/NOT ENROLLED 148 18
3. HEARD/DON'T KNOW MUCH 205 26
4. NOT FAMILIAR AT ALL 392 49
--- NOT SURE 18 2
23. WHICH APPROACH DO YOU THINK IS BEST TO HELP THE WORKING POOR AND UNINSURED GAIN ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE:
# %
1. HELP W/TAX CREDITS/ASSIST 120 15
2. EXPAND GOVT PROGRAMS 164 20
3. LOWER COST/REFORM REG. 325 41
4. STATE REQUIRE/BUY INS 65 8
--- NOT SURE 126 16
24. CURRENT TAX LAW ALLOWS FOR BUSINESSES TO DEDUCT THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES FROM THEIR TAXES. SHOULD INDIVIDUALS WHO PURCHASE INSURANCE ON THEIR OWN BE ALLOWED THE SAME TAX DEDUCTION?
# %
1. YES 703 88
2. NO 45 6
--- NOT SURE 51 6
25. NORTH CAROLINA LAW MANDATES THAT HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES IN THE STATE PAY FOR ITEMS LIKE PASTORAL COUNSELING, DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT AND ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT, RAISING INSURANCE PREMIUMS BY 41%. SHOULD NORTH CAROLINIANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAILOR THEIR POLICIES TO THEIR OWN NEEDS TO REDUCE THE COST OF THE COVERAGE?
# %
1. YES 626 78
2. NO 90 11
--- NOT SURE 84 11
26. PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH EACH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: HEALTH INSURANCE IS GETTING SO EXPENSIVE THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD RAISE TAXES AND PAY FOR THE HEALTH CARE OF EVERYBODY?
# %
1. STRONGLY AGREE 94 12
2. SOMEWHAT AGREE 107 13
3. SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 188 23
4. STRONGLY DISAGREE 358 45
--- NOT SURE 53 7
27. ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS HEALTH INSURANCE IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE IS THAT THE PATIENT DOESN'T CARE WHAT HIS INSURANCE COMPANY OR THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO PAY FOR HIS HEALTH CARE.
# %
1. STRONGLY AGREE 139 17
2. SOMEWHAT AGREE 169 21
3. SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 172 21
4. STRONGLY DISAGREE 264 33
--- NOT SURE 56 7
28. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE TO PREVENT THE WATER SHORTAGES WE ARE NOW HAVING.
# %
1. STRONGLY AGREE 260 32
2. SOMEWHAT AGREE 168 21
3. SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 163 20
4. STRONGLY DISAGREE 134 17
--- NOT SURE 75 9
29. THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS EFFICIENTLY MANAGING ROAD BUILDING AND REPAIR IN THE STATE.
# %
1. STRONGLY AGREE 105 13
2. SOMEWHAT AGREE 189 24
3. SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 168 21
4. STRONGLY DISAGREE 293 37
--- NOT SURE 46 6
30. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF POLITICS AND DOT BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO RAISE POLITICAL FUNDS.
# %
1. STRONGLY AGREE 381 48
2. SOMEWHAT AGREE 193 24
3. SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 61 8
4. STRONGLY DISAGREE 50 6
--- NOT SURE 115 14
31. IN YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYMENT STATUS, ARE YOU:
# %
1. SELF-EMPLOYED 86 11
2. WORKING FOR A PRIVATE CO 202 25
3. WORK FOR GOVERNMENT 78 10
4. SPOUSE [HOUSEWIFE] 52 7
5. RETIRED 349 44
6. UNEMPLOYED 29 4
--- REFUSED 4