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Elon Poll gives McCain edge in N.C.: GOP candidate earns more favorable ratings than rival Obama
[September 20, 2008]

Elon Poll gives McCain edge in N.C.: GOP candidate earns more favorable ratings than rival Obama


(Times-News (Burlington, NC) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sep. 20--Republican presidential candidate John McCain fared better than his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, when North Carolinians were asked about their opinions of the two candidates.



Fifty-four percent of people surveyed in an Elon University Poll view McCain favorably, compared to 37 percent who view Obama favorably.

Asked about the vice presidential candidates, Republican Sarah Palin was viewed favorably by 49 percent. The Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, was viewed favorably by 41 percent.


Sixty-seven percent of people surveyed said the vice presidential candidates will have at least some impact on how they vote.

Asked which party they plan to support in the presidential race, 40.5 percent said they plan to support the Republican Party and 35 percent plan to support the Democratic Party. Twenty percent were undecided.

The poll was conducted Monday through Thursday, with results released Friday. The poll was taken by the Elon University Institute for Politics and Public Affairs and surveyed 411 North Carolina residents. It is a sample of the general population and does not restrict participation based on voter eligibility or likelihood to vote.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.

The poll did not include a direct question about how people would vote in a match-up between McCain and Obama. Five surveys taken in North Carolina in September show McCain leading Obama, with the margin ranging from one percentage point to 20 percentage points, according to polling information available at realclearpolitics.com.

The poll also asked people about their opinions in this year's U.S. Senate race and governor's race: In the Senate race between Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole and Democratic challenger Kay Hagan, people were split evenly as to which party they plan to support. Thirty-five percent said they plan to support the Democratic Party in the race, and 35 percent plan to support the Republican Party.

Forty percent of people said they approve of Dole, compared to 45 percent who said they disapprove. Thirty-six percent said they approve of Hagan, with 34.5 percent disapproving.

In the governor's race between Democratic candidate Bev Perdue and Republican candidate Pat McCrory, 37 percent said they plan to support the Republican Party and 35 percent plan to support the Democratic Party.

McCrory had the approval of 37 percent of people surveyed and had a disapproval rating of 33.5 percent. Perdue had the approval of 37 percent of people surveyed and a disapproval rating of 34 percent.

The poll asked people about what issues they think are most important nationally and statewide: People asked about the top issues nationally most often mentioned the economy. Ninety-two percent of people surveyed said the economy will affect how they vote. Eighty-six percent mentioned health care, 84 percent mentioned the Iraq war and 83 percent mentioned taxes.

Top issues facing North Carolina were the economy (47 percent) energy and gas prices (10.5 percent) and elementary and secondary education (10 percent).

Eighty-one percent of people surveyed think the country is "on the wrong track," up slightly from a little more than 79 percent in April.

People were also asked about the role of race, age and gender in the presidential election: Asked about the role of race in presidential elections, 96 percent said it makes no difference in how they will vote, up from 90 percent in April. With "all other things being equal," 3 percent said they'd prefer to vote for a white person and less than 1 percent said they'd prefer to vote for a black person.

Results were similar to an Elon Poll taken in April, when people were asked if they know someone who won't vote for a presidential candidate who is black. Nearly 55 percent said they do.

Asked about age, with "all other things being equal," 74 percent said a candidate's age would make no difference, up from 66 percent in April.

Fifteen percent said they'd prefer to vote for a young person and 7.5 percent said they'd rather vote for an old person.

Asked if they "know people that will not vote for a presidential candidate because the candidate for vice-president is a woman," 72 percent said no and 23.5 percent said yes.

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Copyright (c) 2008, Times-News, Burlington, N.C.
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