Monday, October 27, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2003

Contact:

Dr. Walt De Vries

The Institute of Political Leadership

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

910/962-7585

devriesw@uncw.edu

New Hanover County Poll – Statewide Issues and Candidates

The Fall, 2003 Class of the Institute of Political Leadership at UNCW interviewed 224 New Hanover County voters on Friday, October 24. The IOPL classes have conducted 32 polls—since February, 1988—with 8,300 New Hanover County voters.

New Hanover County is a “bellwether” county (along with 10 other counties) for statewide voting in North Carolina, i.e., as New Hanover County votes, so votes the state.

Forty-six percent (46%) of the most important county issues cited by voters in this survey deal with problems of growth—traffic, roads, uncontrolled growth and lack of planning. With each IOPL poll—done every six months—the growth issue increases in importance among the voters.

Voters’ perceptions of the way the New Hanover County Commission does its jobs have become less positive over the past six months. Their approval rating has dropped 15 percentage points from 42% to 27% while the disapproval rating has increased 18 percentage points from 15% to 33%. Indecision on the Commissioners’ job performance remains high at 23%.

Governor Easley’s approval rating (54%) has remained about the same since April, 2003—as has his disapproval rating-within the poll’s margin of error (6%).

Voters’ ratings of the performance of the North Carolina State Legislature have dropped 9 percentage points from 44% to 35% within the past six months and the disapproval rating has remained the same (24%).

New Hanover County voters have strong opinions on how the state’s one billion dollar deficit could be reduced.

Six out of ten (61%) voters would approve an increase in the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 5 to 75 cents while 33% disapprove of the tax and only 5% say that they aren’t sure. That tax would raise $400 million.

An even greater number of voters (78%) approve of a proposal to raise the tax on a can of beer from 5 to 10 cents, which would raise $83 million.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of New Hanover County voters say they would vote for a lottery, which represents an increase in support of 6% over the last IOPL poll done in April, 2003. In the September, 2003 MRI statewide poll done for NCFREE, 71% say they would support the lottery if the money were used to help education.

New Hanover County voters split evenly in the race for U.S. Senate; 33% for Bowles and 33% for Burr. One third (34%) say they have not decided about this race. In the September, 2003 MRI statewide poll, 42% say they will vote for Erskine Bowles,

31% for Richard Burr and 27% say they aren’t sure.

Governor Mike Easley leads the Republican party’s candidate for governor by 45% to 26% with three out of ten (29%) say they have not committed themselves in the 2004 general election. In the September, 2003 MRI statewide poll, 43% say they are more likely to vote for Easley, 29% say the will vote for someone else and 28% say they are uncertain how they will vote.

If the 2004 Presidential election were held today, 54% say they would vote for George W. Bush, 40% say they are more likely to vote for the Democratic party’s candidate for President and 18% say they aren’t sure. In the September, 2003 MRI statewide poll, 42% say they will vote to re-elect George W. Bush, 40% say they more likely to vote for the Democratic party’s candidates for President and 18% say they aren’t sure how they will vote.

For a copy of the complete survey report, executive summary or cross-tabs of the demographics on the questions, call the IOPL office at 910/962-7585.