April 15, 2009 - Dems Like Florida Gov. Crist As Much As Republicans, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters 4-1 Reject Longer Terms For Lawmakers Word format The lousy economy is having no impact on Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's sky-high job approval, which remains 66 - 23 percent positive, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Republican Crist's 66 - 20 percent approval among Democrats and 68 - 23 percent approval with independent voters is as good as his 68 - 25 percent score among Republicans. Florida voters oppose 79 - 18 percent extending the current eight-year term limit on state senators and representatives to 12 years, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Opposition is strong among all political groups and throughout the state. Voters split 43 - 45 percent on whether they prefer a general tax increase or a hike in fees such as drivers, marriage and fishing licenses, if state revenue must be raised. Both Democrats and Republicans prefer raising fees, 51- 40 percent and 46 - 42 percent respectively. Independent voters prefer raising taxes 47 - 40 percent. While voters oppose cuts in Bright Futures scholarships, support is weakening. By a 70 - 27 percent margin, voters favor raising the state's tax on cigarettes $1 a pack. Voters split 48 - 48 percent on whether this tax hike would be fair to smokers, but 55 percent say it would be "very effective" or "somewhat effective" in reducing smoking. "There may be some GOP activists who think Gov. Charlie Crist isn't conservative enough, but they aren't striking a chord around the state," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Across America, an awful lot of governors are seeing their approval ratings dip as the recession requires higher taxes and cuts in government programs, but Teflon Charlie keeps chugging along with numbers that most of his fellow governors would die for." "Gov. Crist's approval rating remains not just lofty but lofty across the board. In fact his disapproval among Republicans, although small, is worse than his disapproval from Democrats and independent voters. He is also the unusual politician who has no gender gap," said Brown. "Voters like term limits and don't like the idea of career politicians." Florida voters approve 68 - 28 percent a deal negotiated by Crist with the Seminole Tribe to run gambling casinos. Voters oppose 65 - 24 percent cutting the state's Bright Futures scholarship program for college students as part of any effort to meet the state's budget deficit. But that margin is smaller than the 72 - 17 percent ratio when Quinnipiac University asked the same question in January. So too, the idea of raising the standards for the award, although voters oppose the idea 50 - 39 percent. The idea of means testing the award now gets a split decision with 45 percent supporting the idea and 48 percent opposing it, a change from 50 - 42 percent opposed in January. Looking at two state leaders who are thought to be the leading candidates for Governor if Crist decides to pass on a second term and run for the U.S. Senate, Republican Attorney General Bill MCollum gets a 48 - 18 percent job approval rating, compared to 33 - 22 percent for Democratic Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. But if Crist chooses to run for re-election, voters say 58 - 28 percent that he deserves to be reelected. Even Democrats say 52 - 29 percent that Crist deserves another term. But in a hypothetical race matching Crist against an unnamed Democrat, Democrats stay with the party 54 - 24 percent. From April 6 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,332 Florida voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charlie Crist is handling his job as Governor? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 66% 68% 66% 68% 68% 65% 66% Disapprove 23 25 20 23 24 23 28 DK/NA 11 6 14 9 8 13 7 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 60% 70% 63% 77% 68% Disapprove 31 19 24 15 22 DK/NA 9 11 12 8 10 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charlie Crist is handling his job as Governor? (*also High 73% on 3/29/07) APPROVE....... High Low Apr 15 Feb 18 Jan 21 Nov 18 Sep 8 Jul 19 Apr 10 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2007* 2008 Approve 66 67 65 68 61 73 59 Disapprove 23 22 24 18 25 11 25 DK/NA 11 11 11 13 14 16 15 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 40% 48% 39% 37% 41% 39% 42% Disapprove 42 36 44 46 45 39 37 DK/NA 18 16 17 18 13 22 20 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 43% 37% 37% 49% 41% Disapprove 39 46 44 33 41 DK/NA 18 17 19 18 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? APPROVE....... High Low Apr 15 Feb 18 Jan 21 Nov 18 Sep 8 Sep 23 Apr 10 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2004 2008 Approve 40 37 40 46 40 51 32 Disapprove 42 42 42 35 41 34 48 DK/NA 18 21 18 19 19 15 20 16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill McCollum is handling his job as Florida Attorney General? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 48% 58% 41% 48% 49% 47% 53% Disapprove 18 12 25 18 21 15 13 DK/NA 34 30 34 35 30 38 34 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 51% 46% 54% 41% 46% Disapprove 15 21 14 16 23 DK/NA 34 33 33 43 31 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill McCollum is handling his job as Florida Attorney General? Apr 15 Feb 18 Jan 21 Nov 18 Jun 3 Oct 24 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2007 Approve 48 48 51 51 52 44 Disapprove 18 17 16 17 20 17 DK/NA 34 35 33 32 28 39 17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Alex Sink is handling her job as Florida's chief financial officer? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 33% 33% 38% 28% 34% 32% 30% Disapprove 22 17 22 29 23 21 20 DK/NA 46 50 41 43 44 47 50 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 37% 36% 28% 35% 30% Disapprove 19 21 23 19 24 DK/NA 44 43 49 46 46 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Alex Sink is handling her job as Florida's chief financial officer? Apr 15 Feb 18 Jan 21 Nov 18 Jun 3 Oct 24 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2007 Approve 33 32 39 35 33 38 Disapprove 22 22 18 21 25 15 DK/NA 46 46 42 44 42 47 21. Looking ahead to the 2010 election for Governor, do you feel that Charlie Crist deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Yes/Deserves 58% 62% 52% 62% 58% 58% 58% No/Does not 28 29 29 26 28 29 30 DK/NA 14 8 19 12 13 14 12 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes/Deserves 52% 64% 54% 71% 57% No/Does not 34 26 29 19 30 DK/NA 14 10 17 11 14 TREND: Looking ahead to the 2010 election for Governor, do you feel that Charlie Crist deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Apr 15 Feb 18 Jan 21 Nov 18 2009 2009 2009 2008 Yes/Deserves 58 57 56 58 No/Does NOT 28 26 26 27 DK/NA 14 17 19 15 22. If the 2010 election for Governor were being held today, do you think you would vote for Charlie Crist the Republican candidate or for the Democratic candidate? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Crist 47% 76% 24% 50% 49% 46% 58% Democrat 27 7 54 20 24 30 16 DK/NA 26 18 22 30 27 24 26 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Crist 49% 47% 50% 60% 38% Democrat 26 31 23 12 35 DK/NA 24 22 28 27 27 TREND: If the 2010 election for Governor were being held today, do you think you would vote for Charlie Crist the Republican candidate or for the Democratic candidate? Apr 15 Feb 18 Jan 21 Nov 18 2009 2009 2009 2008 Crist 47 48 47 50 Democrat 27 25 27 28 DK/NA 26 27 27 23 24. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Florida today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Very satisfied 3% 5% 2% 2% 2% 4% 5% Smwht satisfied 43 52 41 38 47 40 46 Smwht dissatisfied 34 29 33 38 32 35 31 Very dissatisfied 19 13 23 22 18 20 17 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 1 1 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Very satisfied 3% 4% 2% 5% 2% Smwht satisfied 49 45 44 49 35 Smwht dissatisfied 31 31 36 33 35 Very dissatisfied 16 19 18 10 28 DK/NA 1 1 - 3 - TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Florida today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? (*combined High also 63% on 9/23/04) VERY+SMWHT.... High Low Apr 15 Feb 18 Jan 21 Nov 19 Sep 8 Feb 24 Apr 10 2009 2009 2009 2008 2008 2005* 2008 Very satisfied 3 3 4 7 7 15 5 Smwht satisfied 43 40 42 40 39 48 32 Smwht dissatisfied 34 33 34 33 29 22 34 Very dissatisfied 19 22 20 20 2 15 28 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 - 1 1 36. How much have you heard or read about Florida's lottery funded college scholarship program called Bright Futures - A lot, some, not much or nothing at all? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl A lot 23% 23% 22% 25% 26% 21% 20% Some 32 36 33 29 29 34 36 Not much 21 24 20 20 22 21 22 Nothing at all 23 17 25 25 22 23 22 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 HvKids INCOME............. NoColl College <18 <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree A lot 30% 16% 28% 36% 19% 34% Some 34 29 37 31 31 33 Not much 19 24 18 20 23 17 Nothing at all 16 29 17 14 26 16 DK/NA - 1 1 - 1 - TREND: How much have you heard or read about Florida's lottery funded college scholarship program called Bright Futures - A lot, some, not much or nothing at all? Apr 15 Jan 22 2009 2009 A lot 23 23 Some 32 30 Not much 21 21 Nothing at all 23 25 DK/NA 1 1 37. As you may be aware, the merit based Bright Futures program helps pay college tuition for Florida students who meet required high school grades and S.A.T. test scores. Do you think the Bright Futures scholarship program is a good thing or a bad thing for Florida? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Good thing 85% 84% 89% 85% 84% 87% 82% Bad thing 5 7 4 5 6 5 6 DK/NA 9 9 7 10 10 8 12 HvKids HrdLot INCOME............. NoColl College <18 OrSmQ36 <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Good thing 92% 91% 85% 88% 88% 84% 89% Bad thing 4 6 5 3 8 6 5 DK/NA 4 3 10 8 4 10 7 TREND: As you may be aware, the merit based Bright Futures program helps pay college tuition for Florida students who meet required high school grades and S.A.T. test scores. Do you think the Bright Futures scholarship program is a good thing or a bad thing for Florida? Apr 15 Jan 22 2009 2009 Good thing 85 85 Bad thing 5 6 DK/NA 9 10 38. Some have suggested reducing state funding to the Bright Futures scholarship program. In general do you support or oppose reducing funding to the Bright Futures program? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 24% 25% 22% 24% 24% 23% 24% Oppose 65 63 69 62 64 65 58 DK/NA 12 12 9 14 12 11 18 HvKids HrdLot INCOME............. NoColl College <18 OrSmQ36 <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 27% 22% 27% 18% 22% 25% 20% Oppose 67 73 61 73 68 62 71 DK/NA 6 5 13 9 10 13 9 TREND: Some have suggested reducing state funding to the Bright Futures scholarship program. In general do you support or oppose reducing funding to the Bright Futures program? Apr 15 Jan 22 2009 2009 Support 24 17 Oppose 65 72 DK/NA 12 12 39. To help lower the cost of the Bright Futures Scholarship program do you support or oppose - raising the required level of high school grades and S.A.T. test scores so that fewer students would qualify for scholarship money? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 39% 47% 28% 40% 45% 33% 43% Oppose 50 40 63 49 42 57 45 DK/NA 12 12 9 11 13 10 11 HvKids HrdLot INCOME............. NoColl College <18 OrSmQ36 <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 37% 42% 40% 36% 45% 37% 43% Oppose 58 53 49 55 47 50 48 DK/NA 6 5 11 9 9 13 9 TREND: To help lower the cost of the Bright Futures Scholarship program do you support or oppose - raising the required level of high school grades and S.A.T. test scores so that fewer students would qualify for scholarship money? Apr 15 Jan 22 2009 2009 Support 39 32 Oppose 50 54 DK/NA 12 13 40. To help lower the cost of the Bright Futures Scholarship program do you support or oppose - only giving scholarship money to students whose family income is below a certain level? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 45% 41% 50% 47% 44% 46% 45% Oppose 48 53 42 48 47 48 50 DK/NA 8 6 8 5 10 6 5 HvKids HrdLot INCOME............. NoColl College <18 OrSmQ36 <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 41% 44% 54% 38% 36% 46% 43% Oppose 55 52 39 55 61 46 52 DK/NA 4 3 7 7 3 8 5 TREND: To help lower the cost of the Bright Futures Scholarship program do you support or oppose - only giving scholarship money to students whose family income is below a certain level? Apr 15 Jan 22 2009 2009 Support 45 42 Oppose 48 50 DK/NA 8 8 41. Florida's cigarette tax is now 34 cents a pack. Some legislators and public health groups are suggesting raising the cigarette tax an additional dollar a pack. Do you support or oppose raising cigarette taxes in Florida one dollar a pack? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 62% 58% 67% 62% 58% 65% 58% Oppose 35 39 28 37 38 33 40 DK/NA 3 2 4 1 4 2 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE SMOKERS Q45 Support 59% 52% 66% 62% 68% 29% Oppose 38 45 33 37 25 71 DK/NA 3 2 1 - 7 - TREND: Florida's cigarette tax is now 34 cents a pack. Some legislators and public health groups are suggesting raising the cigarette tax an additional dollar a pack. Do you support or oppose raising cigarette taxes in Florida one dollar a pack? Apr 15 Jan 22 2009 2009 Support 62 71 Oppose 35 26 DK/NA 3 3 42. Would you support or oppose raising the cigarette tax one dollar a pack if the money was used for health care programs? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 70% 62% 80% 71% 63% 77% 64% Oppose 27 35 19 27 33 22 34 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 4 1 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE SMOKERS Q45 Support 70% 62% 71% 73% 76% 52% Oppose 26 37 27 26 20 46 DK/NA 3 1 1 1 4 2 TREND: Would you support or oppose raising the cigarette tax one dollar a pack if the money was used for health care programs? Apr 15 Jan 22 2009 2009 Support 70 77 Oppose 27 21 DK/NA 2 3 43. How effective do you think a one dollar increase in the cigarette tax would be in reducing smoking among current smokers - very effective, somewhat effective, not too effective, or not effective at all? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Very effective 13% 14% 16% 11% 8% 17% 9% Smwht effective 42 40 44 42 43 40 44 Not too effective 25 26 24 24 26 24 28 Not effective 19 20 16 21 21 17 18 DK/NA 1 1 - 2 1 1 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE SMOKERS Q45 Very effective 10% 13% 12% 6% 19% 19% Smwht effective 45 38 42 47 39 37 Not too effective 24 27 27 24 22 20 Not effective 19 22 18 21 17 24 DK/NA 1 1 1 3 2 - TREND: How effective do you think a one dollar increase in the cigarette tax would be in reducing smoking among current smokers - very effective, somewhat effective, not too effective, or not effective at all? Apr 15 Jan 22 2009 2009 Very effective 13 13 Smwht effective 42 37 Not too effective 25 26 Not effective 19 22 DK/NA 1 2 44. Regardless of whether you personally favor or oppose an increase in the tax on cigarettes, overall do you think an increase in this tax is fair or unfair to smokers? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Fair 48% 43% 59% 44% 43% 53% 45% Unfair 48 55 37 52 52 44 53 DK/NA 4 2 4 4 5 3 3 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE SMOKERS Q45 Fair 49% 41% 45% 40% 61% 30% Unfair 45 56 51 58 35 70 DK/NA 5 4 3 1 5 - TREND: Regardless of whether you personally favor or oppose an increase in the tax on cigarettes, overall do you think an increase in this tax is fair or unfair to smokers? Apr 15 Jan 22 2009 2009 Fair 48 52 Unfair 48 43 DK/NA 4 5 45. Do you currently smoke cigarettes? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Yes 18% 13% 23% 18% 15% 21% 16% No 82 86 76 81 84 79 84 DK/NA - - - 1 1 - - North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes 20% 19% 19% 15% 16% No 80 81 81 84 82 DK/NA - - - 1 2 TREND: Do you currently smoke cigarettes? Apr 15 Jan 22 2009 2009 Yes 18 16 No 82 84 DK/NA - - 46. Generally speaking, do you favor or oppose setting limits on the number of years elected officials can hold office? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Favor 82% 89% 79% 79% 83% 81% 87% Oppose 14 10 18 16 14 14 9 DK/NA 4 - 3 5 2 5 4 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Favor 88% 79% 85% 74% 80% Oppose 10 18 13 18 14 DK/NA 3 3 1 8 6 47. Currently, there is an 8 year time limit for state representatives and state senators in Florida. Do you favor or oppose extending this limit to 12 years in the house and 12 years in the senate? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Favor 18% 18% 21% 16% 18% 18% 13% Oppose 79 80 76 80 80 78 84 DK/NA 3 2 3 4 2 4 3 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Favor 14% 19% 17% 24% 19% Oppose 83 78 81 73 76 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 4 48. Florida lawmakers and Governor Crist have been opposed to a general tax increase but in order to meet the state's budget gap they are considering raising a number of fees on such things as drivers, fishing and marriage licenses. If more government revenue is needed do you prefer a general tax increase or raising fees on people for specific purposes? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Tax increase 43% 42% 40% 47% 45% 40% 45% Raising fees 45 46 51 40 40 49 40 DK/NA 13 12 9 13 15 11 15 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Tax increase 44% 41% 51% 45% 34% Raising fees 41 43 40 46 54 DK/NA 15 16 9 9 13 49. Governor Crist has proposed increasing legalized gambling in Florida to help finance public education and avoid additional budget cuts. In general do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Good idea 62% 57% 65% 64% 64% 60% 49% Bad idea 35 41 32 33 33 37 49 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Good idea 57% 63% 59% 71% 62% Bad idea 40 34 36 27 35 DK/NA 3 3 4 2 2 TREND: Governor Crist has proposed increasing legalized gambling in Florida to help finance public education and avoid additional budget cuts. In general do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Apr 15 Feb 18 Apr 10 2009 2009 2008 Good idea 62 59 55 Bad idea 35 36 40 DK/NA 3 4 4 50. Governor Crist has negotiated a deal with the Seminole Indian tribes to allow them to operate Las Vegas style slot machines and card games like blackjack in casinos around Florida. Supporters project that the state will receive almost 300 million dollars initially and could receive 100 million dollars a year in the future. The plan requires legislative approval. Do you think this plan for Las Vegas style casino games should be approved by the legislature or not? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Yes 68% 64% 70% 72% 70% 66% 55% No 28 34 25 25 27 29 43 DK/NA 4 2 5 3 3 5 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes 63% 73% 63% 75% 69% No 35 23 33 22 25 DK/NA 3 4 4 3 6 TREND: Governor Crist has negotiated a deal with the Seminole Indian tribes to allow them to operate Las Vegas style slot machines and card games like blackjack in casinos around Florida. Supporters project that the state will receive almost 300 million dollars initially and could receive 100 million dollars a year in the future. The plan requires legislative approval. Do you think this plan for Las Vegas style casino games should be approved by the legislature or not? Apr 15 Feb 18 2009 2009 Yes 68 63 No 28 33 DK/NA 4 4
