April 7, 2011 - Obama Hits Losing Trifecta In Florida, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Increased Support For Offshore Drilling Word format President Barack Obama hits a losing trifecta with Florida voters: They disapprove 52 - 44 percent of the job he is doing; they prefer an unnamed Republican challenger by a too-close-to- call 41 - 38 percent in the 2012 presidential election and say 51 - 42 percent that the president does not deserve a second term, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Today's numbers compare to results of a February 3 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, when the President was almost dead even in the trifecta: 47 percent job approval, with 49 percent disapproving; 40 percent for Obama, compared to 42 percent for an unnamed GOP challenger; 45 percent saying four more years compared to 48 percent saying no. Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who like Obama is on the 2012 ballot, is in better shape, with a 47 - 26 percent approval rating, a 43 - 39 percent lead over an unidentified Republican and voters saying 43 - 35 percent that he deserves another term in the Senate. Florida voters support 51 - 44 percent a proposal before the Legislature that would require a woman seeking an abortion to first undergo an ultrasound procedure and be offered a chance to view the results. Women support the measure 53 - 43 percent, while men support it 48 - 46 percent. "With President Barack Obama formally announcing his re-election campaign this week, one can expect that his team will be focusing on Florida, one of the nation's preeminent swing states and one that the president carried in 2008," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "He has some work to do in the Sunshine State. On job approval, re-election and the matchup against an unnamed republican he does a good deal better among women than he does among men." "Despite questions about his policies, the president is personally popular with Floridians," said Brown. Given four choices to describe their feelings about Obama: 40 percent like him personally and like his policies; 30 percent like him personally but not his policies; 1 percent like his policies but not him; 24 percent don't like him or his policies. Taken together, 70 percent of voters like Obama, but only 41 percent like his policies. By comparison, when voters are asked the same questions about Gov. Rick Scott, whose overall 48 - 35 percent disapproval rating makes him less popular than Obama, only 40 percent like him personally, while 34 percent like his policies. Although by 65 - 30 percent, Florida voters back the U.S. Supreme Court decision establishing a woman's right to have an abortion, their support for requiring an ultrasound reflects strong Republican support and more modest opposition from Democrats and independents. Republicans approve of the ultrasound requirement 68 - 28 percent, while opposition is 54 - 41 percent among Democrats and 52 - 43 percent among independent voters. On energy matters, voters support 60 - 35 percent increasing the amount of offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, with Republicans and independent voters behind the idea 82 - 16 percent and 58 - 38 percent respectively. Democrats are opposed 52 - 43 percent. The public attitudes on building new nuclear plants in the state reflect the "Not In My Backyard" view. Voters split 48 - 47 percent on support for new nuclear plants in Florida, but they oppose 58 - 39 percent building nuclear plants in their city or town. Support for the war in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, as Florida voters say 59 - 36 percent the United States should not be involved in the war there. Voters are divided 46 - 46 percent on whether they approve of the president's handling of the situation in Libya. Support for Congress repealing the "health care law" that passed last year is 49 - 41 percent, and 54 - 40 percent when the question is phrased "health care reform law." From March 29 - April 4, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,499 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. 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, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Marco Rubio is handling his job as United States Senator? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 47% 73% 26% 44% 50% 45% 65% Disapprove 23 8 39 21 25 22 12 DK/NA 30 19 35 35 25 34 23 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 47% 47% 51% 46% 45% Disapprove 27 23 19 23 25 DK/NA 26 31 30 31 30 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Marco Rubio is handling his job as United States Senator? Apr 7 Feb 3 2011 2011 Approve 47 42 Disapprove 23 20 DK/NA 30 37 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as United States senator? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 47% 33% 64% 46% 42% 51% 36% Disapprove 26 41 11 26 34 20 36 DK/NA 27 26 25 28 24 30 28 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 51% 48% 49% 35% 44% Disapprove 30 26 27 31 22 DK/NA 19 26 24 34 34 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... DIS.... High Low High Apr 7 Feb 03 Aug 19 Jul 30 Feb 06 Aug 12 Aug 19 2011 2011 2010 2010 2007 2004 2010 Approve 47 45 45 46 54 42 45 Disapprove 26 21 33 30 18 18 33 DK/NA 27 34 22 24 28 40 22 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 44% 13% 79% 39% 38% 49% 19% Disapprove 52 84 16 55 58 46 76 DK/NA 4 3 5 6 4 5 5 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 41% 40% 40% 35% 54% Disapprove 57 53 55 63 41 DK/NA 2 6 6 2 5 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? APPROVE....... High Low Apr 7 Feb 03 Aug 19 Jul 30 Jun 09 Feb 19 Jun 09 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 Approve 44 47 47 46 40 64 40 Disapprove 52 49 47 50 54 23 54 DK/NA 4 4 5 4 6 13 6 7. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President... If the 2012 election for President were being held today, do you think you would vote for Barack Obama the Democratic candidate, or the Republican candidate? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Obama 38% 4% 76% 34% 33% 41% 14% Republican 41 82 7 37 46 36 64 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 13 8 9 20 11 14 11 DK/NA 9 6 7 10 9 9 12 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Obama 39% 35% 36% 34% 41% Republican 43 46 42 48 32 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 10 11 14 7 16 DK/NA 8 8 7 12 11 TREND: Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President... If the 2012 election for President were being held today, do you think you would vote for Barack Obama the Democratic candidate, or the Republican candidate? Apr 7 Feb 3 2011 2011 Obama 38 40 Republican 41 42 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 13 12 DK/NA 9 6 8. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President... Do you feel that Barack Obama 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 42% 9% 79% 39% 35% 47% 17% No/Does not 51 87 14 51 58 44 77 DK/NA 8 5 7 10 7 9 6 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes/Deserves 38% 37% 38% 38% 52% No/Does not 52 53 53 57 43 DK/NA 10 9 9 5 5 TREND: Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President... Do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Apr 7 Feb 3 2011 2011 Yes/Deserves 42 45 No/Does not 51 48 DK/NA 8 8 9. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for United States Senator... If the 2012 election for United States Senator were being held today, do you think you would vote for Bill Nelson the Democratic candidate, or the Republican candidate? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Nelson 43% 7% 80% 42% 38% 48% 24% Republican 39 81 4 35 45 33 59 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 8 8 4 10 8 7 8 DK/NA 10 4 12 12 9 12 9 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Nelson 45% 41% 42% 38% 47% Republican 38 45 39 45 32 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 4 8 10 9 7 DK/NA 12 6 9 8 13 TREND: Looking ahead to the 2012 election for United States Senator...If the 2012 election for United States Senator were being held today, do you think you would vote for Bill Nelson the Democratic candidate, or the Republican candidate? Apr 7 Feb 3 2011 2011 Nelson 43 41 Republican 39 36 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 8 10 DK/NA 10 13 10. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for United States Senator... Do you feel that Bill Nelson 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 43% 19% 69% 43% 41% 45% 29% No/Does not 35 61 14 34 41 31 52 DK/NA 21 20 17 23 18 24 19 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes/Deserves 39% 46% 40% 37% 49% No/Does not 40 35 37 42 29 DK/NA 21 19 22 21 22 TREND: Looking ahead to the 2012 election for U.S. Senate... Do you feel that Bill Nelson deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Apr 7 Feb 3 2011 2011 Yes/Deserves 43 43 No/Does not 35 33 DK/NA 21 25 11. Which one of the following statements comes closest to the way you feel about Barack Obama - A. I like Barack Obama as a person and I also like most of his policies B. I like Barack Obama as a person but I don't like most of his policies C. I don't like Barack Obama as a person but I DO like most of his policies D. I don't like Barack Obama as a person and I also don't like most of his policies WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Person/Policies 40% 9% 74% 35% 36% 43% 19% Person/Not policies 30 41 18 34 31 30 37 Policies/Not person 1 2 - 1 1 1 1 Not Pol/Not person 24 45 4 24 27 22 38 DK/NA 4 2 3 5 4 4 5 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Person/Policies 37% 40% 37% 35% 45% Person/Not policies 32 33 29 24 30 Policies/Not person 2 2 1 2 1 Not Pol/Not person 24 23 26 35 21 DK/NA 5 2 7 5 3 12. Which one of the following statements comes closest to the way you feel about Rick Scott - A. I like Rick Scott as a person and I also like most of his policies B. I like Rick Scott as a person but I don't like most of his policies C. I don't like Rick Scott as a person but I DO like most of his policies D. I don't like Rick Scott as a person and I also don't like most of his policies WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Person/Policies 24% 40% 7% 22% 28% 20% 37% Person/Not policies 16 17 18 14 13 19 17 Policies/Not person 10 13 4 11 13 6 11 Not Pol/Not person 40 21 60 39 36 43 22 DK/NA 11 9 10 13 11 12 13 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Person/Policies 23% 24% 27% 29% 19% Person/Not policies 24 13 13 15 15 Policies/Not person 10 10 9 14 8 Not Pol/Not person 33 43 39 29 44 DK/NA 10 9 12 12 13 29. Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Legal all cases 26% 15% 35% 28% 26% 27% 7% Legal most cases 32 27 35 37 34 31 23 Illegal most cases 22 34 11 19 22 21 40 Illegal all cases 13 21 10 10 10 16 26 DK/NA 7 3 8 6 8 5 4 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Legal all cases 20% 25% 25% 22% 35% Legal most cases 34 35 30 31 32 Illegal most cases 21 21 23 27 19 Illegal all cases 16 12 15 12 10 DK/NA 9 7 7 7 3 30. In general, do you agree or disagree with the 1973 Roe versus Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to an abortion? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Agree 65% 43% 80% 71% 63% 67% 37% Disagree 30 52 14 25 31 29 56 DK/NA 5 5 6 4 6 4 7 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Agree 65% 62% 63% 67% 69% Disagree 30 32 31 32 27 DK/NA 6 7 6 1 5 31. The legislature is considering legislation that would require that a woman seeking an abortion first undergo an ultrasound procedure and be offered a chance to view the results. Do you approve or disapprove of this proposal? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 51% 68% 41% 43% 48% 53% 77% Disapprove 44 28 54 52 46 43 20 DK/NA 5 4 5 5 5 5 3 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 61% 44% 53% 46% 48% Disapprove 35 51 43 51 46 DK/NA 5 5 4 3 6 32. In general, do you support or oppose the United States increasing the amount of drilling for oil and natural gas in offshore waters? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 60% 82% 43% 58% 67% 55% 70% Oppose 35 16 52 38 31 39 27 DK/NA 4 2 5 4 2 6 3 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Support 54% 62% 64% 65% 59% Oppose 41 35 31 32 36 DK/NA 5 2 5 3 5 TREND: In general, do you support or oppose the United States increasing the amount of drilling for oil and natural gas in offshore waters? Apr 7 Jul 30 Jun 9 Apr 19 Jan 27 2011 2010 2010 2010 2010 Support 60 42 42 66 63 Oppose 35 51 51 27 33 DK/NA 4 7 6 8 4 33. Would you support or oppose the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Florida? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 48% 55% 36% 54% 60% 37% 50% Oppose 47 38 60 42 36 56 44 DK/NA 5 7 3 4 3 6 6 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Support 46% 45% 54% 49% 46% Oppose 49 49 42 48 48 DK/NA 5 5 4 3 5 TREND: Would you support or oppose the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Florida? Apr 7 May 25 2011 2006 Support 48 48 Oppose 47 45 DK/NA 5 7 34. Would you support or oppose the construction of a new nuclear power plant in your city or town? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 39% 47% 25% 45% 51% 28% 44% Oppose 58 49 73 53 47 69 54 DK/NA 3 4 2 2 2 3 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Support 38% 38% 45% 42% 33% Oppose 59 59 52 55 65 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 2 TREND: Would you support or oppose the construction of a new nuclear power plant in your city or town? Apr 7 May 25 2011 2006 Support 39 36 Oppose 58 60 DK/NA 3 4 35. Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Right thing 36% 50% 24% 36% 42% 30% 48% Shld't be invl 59 45 70 60 54 63 45 DK/NA 6 5 6 4 4 7 7 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Right thing 33% 33% 38% 38% 37% Shld't be invl 62 63 55 56 56 DK/NA 5 4 7 6 6 TREND: Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now? Apr 7 Feb 03 Aug 19 2011 2011 2010 Right thing 36 38 43 Shld't be invl 59 54 49 DK/NA 6 7 7 36. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Libya? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 46% 27% 69% 44% 45% 47% 31% Disapprove 46 66 21 48 49 42 63 DK/NA 8 7 10 8 6 11 6 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 47% 43% 42% 44% 52% Disapprove 45 49 50 49 38 DK/NA 9 8 8 7 10 37.(Split Sample A) Do you think Congress should repeal the new health care law, or should they let it stand? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Repeal it 49% 78% 21% 50% 51% 48% 67% Let it stand 41 16 67 39 42 39 23 DK/NA 10 6 12 11 7 12 10 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Repeal it 56% 48% 54% 54% 39% Let it stand 34 42 37 36 51 DK/NA 10 11 9 10 10 TREND: Do you think Congress should repeal the new health care law, or should they let it stand? Apr 7 Feb 3 2011 2011 Repeal it 49 50 Let it stand 41 43 DK/NA 10 7 38. (Split Sample B) Do you think Congress should repeal the new health care reform law, or should they let it stand? WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Repeal it 54% 78% 30% 53% 57% 51% 69% Let it stand 40 17 66 40 39 42 23 DK/NA 6 5 4 7 4 7 9 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Repeal it 60% 50% 54% 57% 52% Let it stand 35 44 40 32 44 DK/NA 4 6 6 11 4
