|
WINTHROP/ETV POLL RESULTS
Some people seem to follow what's going on in government and
public affairs most of the time, whether there's an election
or not. Others aren't that interested. How often would you
say that you follow what is going on in government and
public affairs: Most of the time, Some of the time, Only now
and then, or Hardly at all?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Most of the time |
66.7 |
65.5 |
67.7 |
|
Some of the time |
22.8 |
24.8 |
21.2 |
|
Only now and then |
6.9 |
6.5 |
7.1 |
|
Hardly at all |
3.5 |
2.9 |
4 |
|
Don't know/ Refused |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is
handling his job as president of the United States?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Approve |
90.1 |
89 |
91 |
|
Disapprove |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
|
Not sure |
9.1 |
9.8 |
8.5 |
|
Refused |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way the United States
Congress is handling its job?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Approve |
35.9 |
34.4 |
37.1 |
|
Disapprove |
43.6 |
44.3 |
43 |
|
Not sure |
20 |
21.1 |
19.2 |
|
Refused |
0.5 |
0.2 |
0.7 |
Thinking about the current path that our nation is taking,
do you think our country is on the right track or headed in
the wrong direction?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Right track |
70 |
71.1 |
69.1 |
|
Wrong direction |
16.2 |
15.8 |
16.5 |
|
Not sure |
13.4 |
12.7 |
14 |
|
Refused |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
Is your opinion of Michelle Obama favorable, not favorable,
undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Michelle Obama
yet to have an opinion?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Favorable |
74.9 |
73.1 |
76.3 |
|
Not favorable |
0.1 |
0 |
0.2 |
|
Undecided |
5.3 |
4.9 |
5.7 |
|
Haven’t heard enough |
18.8 |
21.1 |
17.1 |
|
Refused |
0.8 |
1 |
0.7 |
When thinking about which party you trust more to handle the
issues that you care about which of the following best
describes you?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Trust Democrats more on all issues |
65.4 |
62.6 |
67.5 |
|
Trust Democrats on some issues and Republicans on
others |
24.1 |
26.6 |
22.1 |
|
Trust Republicans more on all issues |
3.4 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
|
Trust Neither [volunteered] |
4.9 |
5.1 |
4.7 |
|
Don't know/Refused |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
What do you think is the most important problem facing the
country today?
**Nothing else higher than 3.2 percent**
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Economy/ Economic-Financial Crisis |
51.4 |
49.9 |
52.2 |
|
Unemployment/ Jobs |
20.9 |
21.1 |
20.8 |
Do you feel that the Republican Party is currently working
to attract African American voters?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Yes |
30.4 |
31.4 |
29.7 |
|
No |
56.2 |
52.5 |
59.1 |
|
Not sure |
12.8 |
15.6 |
10.7 |
|
Refused |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
Do you think the Republican Party's efforts to attract
African American voters is very effective, somewhat
effective, not very effective, or not at all effective?
**Only asked of respondents who believed the Republican
Party WAS currently working to attract African American
voters**
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Very effective |
12.5 |
20.8 |
5.8 |
|
Somewhat effective |
42.6 |
39.7 |
44.9 |
|
Not very effective |
21.6 |
18.9 |
23.8 |
|
Not at all effective |
16.7 |
13.7 |
19.2 |
|
Not sure |
6.6 |
6.9 |
6.3 |
|
Refused |
0 |
0 |
0 |
How much do you think Barack Obama cares about the needs and
problems of people like yourself — a lot, some, not much, or
not at all?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
A lot |
88.1 |
84.3 |
90.9 |
|
Some |
9.6 |
12.7 |
7.2 |
|
Not much |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
|
Not at all |
0.3 |
0.6 |
0 |
|
Don’t know/ refused |
1.3 |
1.7 |
0.9 |
Do you think Barack Obama says what he believes most of the
time, or does he say what he thinks people want to hear?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Says what believes |
87.2 |
87.5 |
87 |
|
Says what he thinks people want to hear |
7.3 |
7 |
7.5 |
|
Don’t know/ refused |
5.5 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
How likely do you think it is that Barack Obama will be an
effective commander-in-chief of the nation's military —
would you say it is very likely, somewhat likely, not very
likely, or not likely at all?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Very likely |
71.8 |
67.7 |
75 |
|
Somewhat likely |
22.5 |
24.7 |
20.9 |
|
Not very likely |
1.4 |
2.1 |
0.9 |
|
Not likely at all |
0.6 |
0 |
1 |
|
Don’t know/ refused |
3.7 |
5.6 |
2.2 |
How much confidence do you have in Barack Obama's ability to
handle the issue of illegal immigration — a lot, some, not
much, or none at all?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
A lot |
59.6 |
56.9 |
61.7 |
|
Some |
31.3 |
34.1 |
29.1 |
|
Not much |
3.3 |
2.9 |
3.6 |
|
None at all |
1.4 |
1.6 |
1.2 |
|
Don’t know/ refused |
4.5 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
Do you think the policies of Barack Obama’s administration
will favor whites over blacks, favor blacks over whites, or
would they treat both groups the same?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Whites over blacks |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
|
Blacks over whites |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Treat both the same |
96.2 |
94.9 |
97.1 |
|
Not sure |
2.8 |
3.2 |
2.5 |
|
Refused |
0.7 |
1.7 |
0 |
Do you think the policies of Barack Obama’s administration
will favor rich over poor, favor poor over rich, or would
they treat both groups the same?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Rich over poor |
1.8 |
1.2 |
2.3 |
|
Poor over rich |
25.6 |
26.4 |
25 |
|
Treat both the same |
66.7 |
65.7 |
67.5 |
|
Not sure |
5.1 |
5 |
5.2 |
|
Refused |
0.7 |
1.7 |
0 |
Do you think race relations in the South are
generally good or generally bad?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Generally good |
31.6 |
33.4 |
30.3 |
|
Generally bad |
50.3 |
52.4 |
48.8 |
|
Not sure |
16.7 |
12.4 |
19.9 |
|
Refused |
1.4 |
1.7 |
1.1 |
Do you think race relations in the United States as a
whole are generally good or generally bad?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Generally good |
48.4 |
48.3 |
48.4 |
|
Generally bad |
37.1 |
35.7 |
38.2 |
|
Not sure |
14 |
15.1 |
13.1 |
|
Refused |
0.6 |
0.9 |
0.3 |
In general, who do you think has a better chance of getting
ahead in today’s society — white people, black people, or do
white people and black people have about an equal chance of
getting ahead?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
White |
41.6 |
37 |
45.1 |
|
Black |
1.6 |
1.2 |
1.9 |
|
Equal |
52 |
56.8 |
48.4 |
|
Not sure |
4 |
4.4 |
3.8 |
|
Refused |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
Do you think the election of Barack Obama will open up more
opportunities for blacks in America?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Yes |
73.9 |
71.9 |
75.4 |
|
No |
15.1 |
15.3 |
14.9 |
|
Not sure |
10.3 |
11.3 |
9.6 |
|
Refused |
0.7 |
1.5 |
0 |
In order to make up for past discrimination, do you favor or
oppose programs which make special efforts to help
minorities get ahead?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Favor |
72.3 |
68.8 |
74.9 |
|
Oppose |
16.2 |
17 |
15.5 |
|
Not sure |
10 |
12 |
8.4 |
|
Refused |
1.6 |
2.1 |
1.2 |
Do you favor or oppose programs that make special efforts to
help people get ahead who come from low-income backgrounds,
regardless of their gender or ethnicity?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Favor |
89.6 |
87.1 |
91.6 |
|
Oppose |
5.4 |
7.9 |
3.5 |
|
Not sure |
4.8 |
4.6 |
4.9 |
|
Refused |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0 |
Some have indicated that Barack Obama plans on repealing
the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy which prevents
gays from openly serving in the military. Do you agree or
disagree that this should be done?
Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Strongly agree |
30.2 |
28.7 |
31.4 |
|
Somewhat agree |
14.8 |
16.1 |
13.7 |
|
Somewhat disagree |
15.2 |
17.9 |
13.2 |
|
Strongly disagree |
21.6 |
20 |
22.9 |
|
Don't know/Refused |
18.2 |
17.4 |
18.8 |
Several of Barack Obama’s cabinet appointments previously
served in Bill Clinton’s administration. Which of the
following comes closest to your view?
**Order in which options were read was rotated**
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
It's good to have people with experience |
86.5 |
85.5 |
87.2 |
|
This undercuts the message of change |
8.4 |
8.3 |
8.5 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
5.1 |
6.2 |
4.2 |
As Secretary of State, do you believe Hillary Clinton will
project a positive image of America to the world, a negative
image of America to the world, or make no difference in
America’s image to the world?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Positive |
79.6 |
76.7 |
81.8 |
|
Negative |
1.3 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
|
No difference |
14.4 |
16.1 |
13.1 |
|
Not sure |
4.2 |
4.8 |
3.8 |
|
Refused |
0.5 |
1 |
0 |
Do you think Barack Obama changed his position on any
important issues in order to get elected, or not?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Strongly acceptable |
15.8 |
13.2 |
17.7 |
|
Somewhat acceptable |
8.2 |
10.3 |
6.6 |
|
Somewhat unacceptable |
9.6 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
|
Strongly unacceptable |
61.5 |
61.9 |
61.3 |
|
Don’t know/Not sure |
4.2 |
4.9 |
3.6 |
|
Refused |
0.8 |
0.2 |
1.2 |
I’m going to read a list of things that some people do. For
each, thinking about your own values and morals, I’d like
you to tell me whether you think it is acceptable or
unacceptable.
The first is sex between two adults of the same sex. Is
that acceptable or unacceptable? Do you feel that way
strongly or somewhat?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Strongly acceptable |
15.8 |
13.2 |
17.7 |
|
Somewhat acceptable |
8.2 |
10.3 |
6.6 |
|
Somewhat unacceptable |
9.6 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
|
Strongly unacceptable |
61.5 |
61.9 |
61.3 |
|
Don’t' know/ not sure |
4.2 |
4.9 |
3.6 |
|
Refused |
0.8 |
0.2 |
1.2 |
The next is marriages between blacks and whites. Is that
acceptable or unacceptable? Do you feel that way strongly
or somewhat?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Strongly acceptable |
73.5 |
69.2 |
76.8 |
|
Somewhat acceptable |
18.5 |
20.6 |
16.9 |
|
Somewhat unacceptable |
1.8 |
2.6 |
1.3 |
|
Strongly unacceptable |
2.8 |
3 |
2.7 |
|
Don’t know/Not sure |
2.8 |
3.8 |
2.1 |
|
Refused |
0.5 |
0.8 |
0.3 |
The next is having a child without being married. Is that
acceptable or unacceptable? Do you feel that way strongly
or somewhat?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Strongly acceptable |
27.1 |
24.2 |
29.3 |
|
Somewhat acceptable |
28.8 |
28.1 |
29.4 |
|
Somewhat unacceptable |
15.6 |
17.3 |
14.3 |
|
Strongly unacceptable |
24.6 |
24.6 |
24.6 |
|
Don’t know/Not sure |
3.1 |
4.8 |
1.8 |
|
Refused |
0.8 |
0.9 |
0.7 |
Blacks using the “N-word” in everyday conversation? Is that
acceptable or unacceptable? Do you feel that way strongly
or somewhat?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Strongly acceptable |
7.1 |
5 |
8.7 |
|
Somewhat acceptable |
7.8 |
6.9 |
8.5 |
|
Somewhat unacceptable |
9.9 |
10.8 |
9.3 |
|
Strongly unacceptable |
72.7 |
73.6 |
72.1 |
|
Don’t know/Not sure |
2 |
3 |
1.2 |
|
Refused |
0.5 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
Whites using the “N-word” in everyday conversation? Is that
acceptable or unacceptable? Do you feel that way strongly
or somewhat?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Strongly acceptable |
2.7 |
1.7 |
3.5 |
|
Somewhat acceptable |
3.4 |
2.8 |
3.8 |
|
Somewhat unacceptable |
6.3 |
6.3 |
6.2 |
|
Strongly unacceptable |
85.2 |
85.5 |
85 |
|
Don’t know/Not sure |
1.9 |
2.9 |
1.1 |
|
Refused |
0.5 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
Which of the following best represents your feelings: What
happens generally to black people in this country…
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Has a GREAT DEAL of impact on what happens in my own
life |
34.9 |
33.3 |
36.1 |
|
Has SOME IMPACT on what happens in my own life |
52.3 |
52 |
52.4 |
|
Has ALMOST NO impact on what happens in my own life
|
12.9 |
14.7 |
11.5 |
Do you think abortion should be legal under any
circumstances, legal only under certain
circumstances, or illegal in all circumstances?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Any |
17.4 |
17.6 |
17.2 |
|
Certain |
52.7 |
50 |
54.8 |
|
Illegal |
25.3 |
27.8 |
23.3 |
|
Not sure |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
|
Refused |
1.4 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
Some people say that since the 1960s there has been a lot of
real progress in getting rid of racial discrimination
against blacks in the South. Others say that there
hasn’t been much real progress for blacks over that time.
Which do you agree with more? Would you say there’s been a
lot of real progress getting rid of racial discrimination or
hasn’t there been much real progress?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
A lot of real progress |
52.2 |
50.6 |
53.3 |
|
Hasn’t been much real progress |
40.5 |
44 |
37.8 |
|
Not sure |
7.3 |
5.3 |
8.9 |
|
Refused |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Now thinking about the country as a whole, some people say
that since the 1960s there has been a lot of real progress
in getting rid of racial discrimination against blacks in
America. Others say that there hasn’t been much real
progress for blacks over that time. Which do you agree with
more? Would you say there’s been a lot of real progress
getting rid of racial discrimination or hasn’t there been
much real progress?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
A lot of real progress |
60.3 |
58.6 |
61.6 |
|
Hasn’t been much real progress |
33.7 |
33.9 |
33.5 |
|
Not sure |
5.9 |
7.2 |
4.9 |
|
Refused |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0 |
What about for other minority groups? Would you say there’s
been a lot of real progress getting rid of discrimination
in America or hasn’t there been much real progress?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
A lot of real progress |
43.1 |
41 |
44.6 |
|
Hasn’t been much real progress |
43.7 |
46.6 |
41.5 |
|
Not sure |
12.7 |
11.8 |
13.5 |
|
Refused |
0.5 |
0.7 |
0.4 |
Do you think that the election of Barack Obama as president
will lead to more real progress in getting rid of
discrimination in America?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Yes |
74.3 |
72.6 |
75.6 |
|
No |
14.7 |
16.1 |
13.7 |
|
Not sure |
11 |
11.4 |
10.7 |
|
Refused |
0 |
0 |
0 |
How comfortable do you think most people feel when they do
have conversations ABOUT race with someone of
another race — very comfortable, somewhat comfortable,
somewhat uncomfortable or very uncomfortable?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Very comfortable |
11.4 |
10.7 |
12 |
|
Somewhat comfortable |
34.5 |
34.6 |
34.3 |
|
Somewhat uncomfortable |
37.9 |
38.8 |
37.3 |
|
Very uncomfortable |
12.5 |
11.8 |
12.9 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
3.7 |
4.1 |
3.4 |
Did the 2008 presidential election make it easier or more
difficult to have conversations about race with people of
another race?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Easier |
57.8 |
56.3 |
59 |
|
More difficult |
20.7 |
21.5 |
20.1 |
|
Don't know/Refused |
21.4 |
22.1 |
20.9 |
How would you rate the condition of the national economy
these days? Is it very good, fairly good, fairly bad or very
bad?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Very good |
1.8 |
1.4 |
2 |
|
Fairly good |
10.7 |
12.4 |
9.3 |
|
Fairly bad |
21.2 |
18.6 |
23.1 |
|
Very bad |
63.8 |
64.6 |
63.2 |
|
Don't Know/Refused |
2.5 |
2.9 |
2.2 |
How would you rate the condition of your personal
finances these days? Is it very good, fairly good,
fairly bad or very bad?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Very good |
9.1 |
8.7 |
9.4 |
|
Fairly good |
52.6 |
54.2 |
51.4 |
|
Fairly bad |
21 |
19.1 |
22.5 |
|
Very bad |
15.5 |
16.2 |
15 |
|
Don't know/Refused |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
How important would you say religion is in your own life:
Very important, fairly important, or not very important?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Very important |
88.8 |
88.1 |
89.3 |
|
Fairly important |
7.7 |
8.1 |
7.4 |
|
Not very important |
2.8 |
3.5 |
2.3 |
|
Refused |
0.7 |
0.2 |
1 |
How would you describe your political beliefs: Very Liberal,
Somewhat Liberal, Moderate, Somewhat Conservative, Very
Conservative?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Very liberal |
15.1 |
12.3 |
17.2 |
|
Somewhat liberal |
18.8 |
16.6 |
20.6 |
|
Moderate |
30.6 |
32.5 |
29.1 |
|
Somewhat conservative |
16.6 |
19.9 |
14.2 |
|
Very conservative |
11.8 |
10.8 |
12.6 |
|
Not sure |
6 |
7.4 |
5 |
|
Refused |
1 |
0.5 |
1.3 |
Which of the following best describes your regional
identity?
***The order of the responses was rotated***
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Non-southern |
9.3 |
7.1 |
11 |
|
Converted southerner |
9.8 |
7.2 |
11.8 |
|
Native southerner |
75.2 |
79.6 |
71.9 |
|
Not sure [volunteered] |
4.5 |
4.6 |
4.4 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1.2 |
1.6 |
1 |
Regardless of how you voted in the last election, in
general, do you consider yourself a Democrat, Republican,
Independent, or something else?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Democrat |
80.1 |
74.5 |
84.3 |
|
Republican |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
|
Independent |
12.3 |
17.5 |
8.3 |
|
Something else |
3.4 |
3.1 |
3.6 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
2.1 |
2.7 |
1.7 |
Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the
Republican Party or the Democratic Party is more likely to
ensure a strong economy?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Republican |
5 |
6.6 |
3.8 |
|
Democratic |
79.8 |
73.1 |
85 |
|
Both [volunteered] |
5 |
6.8 |
3.7 |
|
Neither [volunteered] |
4.9 |
7.2 |
3.2 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
5.2 |
6.3 |
4.4 |
Right now, do you think that economic conditions in the
country as a whole are getting better or getting worse?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Getting better |
20.1 |
20.9 |
19.5 |
|
Getting worse |
69.2 |
67.8 |
70.3 |
|
Don't know/Refused |
10.7 |
11.2 |
10.2 |
How concerned are you about the possibility of losing your
job in the next year? Are you very concerned, somewhat
concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned...
***Among those who reported working outside the home***
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Very concerned |
38.7 |
39.6 |
38 |
|
Somewhat concerned |
22.9 |
26.2 |
20.4 |
|
Not very concerned |
12.1 |
12.1 |
12.2 |
|
Not at all concerned |
26.3 |
22.2 |
29.4 |
Thinking about the economy, do you think things are better
for blacks than other groups, about the same for blacks, or
worse for blacks in the current economic environment?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Better |
8.3 |
8.1 |
8.5 |
|
Same |
48.5 |
53.2 |
45 |
|
Worse |
38.7 |
34.6 |
41.8 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
4.5 |
4.1 |
4.8 |
Right now do you think that your financial situation as a
whole is getting better or getting worse?
|
|
All |
Deep South |
Peripheral South |
|
Better |
39.1 |
37.7 |
40.2 |
|
Worse |
43.3 |
44.9 |
42 |
|
Don't know/Refused |
17.6 |
17.4 |
17.8 |
For more information, contact Rob Schaller at (803) 446-0753
or
rschaller@scetv.org. |
