June 1, 2010 - More U.S. Voters Want Arizona-Like Immigration Law, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Support For Offshore Drilling Drops Word format American voters say 48 - 35 percent they want their state to pass an immigration law similar to Arizona's and by an overwhelming 76 - 12 percent they say that plans by those opposed to the law to boycott Arizona are a bad idea, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters approve 51 - 31 percent of the Arizona law; think 45 - 36 percent it will reduce illegal immigration and want 66 - 26 percent immigration reform to move in the direction of stricter enforcement rather than integrating immigrants into American society, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds. While voters say 49 - 44 percent that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico does not make them less likely to support offshore drilling, support for offshore drilling to help America become less dependent on foreign oil is at 53 - 40 percent, down from 62 - 32 percent in an August 20, 2008, Quinnipiac University survey. "The Arizona immigration law has emerged as a major divide in the country, but the numbers are on the side of those supporting it," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "The strong plurality who says they would like a similar law in their own state probably portends the law will be an issue in many, many campaigns this November across the country. Depending on how those elections and court challenges come out, copy cat Arizona laws could be a hot issue in state capitals after November." The support for the Arizona law comes despite the 45 - 40 percent belief by voters that it will lead to discrimination against Hispanics. Support for the Arizona law and the desire to have a similar statute in their own state follows a similar demographic pattern: More than two-thirds of Republicans; more than half of independents and less than a third of Democrats are in favor. On the desire to have a similar law in their own state, men agree 55 - 35 percent, while women agree 42 - 36 percent. The biggest gaps come along generational lines: Voters 18 to 34 years old oppose such a law in their state 43 - 36 percent, but voters 35 to 54 years old support such a law 52 - 33 percent and voters over 55 support such laws 55 - 32 percent. White voters back the idea 53 - 32 percent, while black voters oppose it 43 - 26 percent and Hispanic voters oppose it 52 - 37 percent. "Support for the Arizona law and its extension divides along political and racial lines, with much stronger support from men than women," Brown said. "While young voters are split on the law in Arizona, they don't want it in their state. "And no group believes a boycott is a good idea." On offshore drilling, there is a clear partisan hue to the data. Although 53 percent overall support new exploration, that breaks down to 78 percent of Republicans, 49 percent of independent voters and only 41 percent of Democrats. Republican voters say 72 - 25 percent that the Gulf oil spill has not reduced their support for offshore drilling. But Democrats are having second thoughts 54 - 38 percent, as are independent voters 48 - 45 percent. "Despite their support for continued offshore drilling, voters disapprove 42 - 39 percent of President Barack Obama's handling of the oil spill," said Brown. "Given that Democrats are generally preferred on issues like the environment; these numbers are a warning sign to the White House that the oil spill could become a political problem." From May 19 - 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,914 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.2 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, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 39% 23% 55% 39% 37% 41% 33% 69% 50% Disapprove 42 58 29 44 47 39 47 21 24 DK/NA 19 19 16 17 17 21 20 10 26 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 46% 38% 34% 38% 39% 43% 57% 43% 25% Disapprove 35 46 44 41 43 45 29 37 57 DK/NA 18 16 22 21 17 13 15 20 18 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 38% 41% 25% 31% 37% Disapprove 42 42 54 48 49 DK/NA 19 17 21 21 15 27. In general, how serious a problem do you think illegal immigration is in the United States? A very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not a problem at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Very serious 59% 77% 44% 59% 62% 57% 62% 50% 44% Smwht serious 26 18 34 26 23 29 26 27 30 Not very serious 10 3 14 11 11 9 9 10 15 Not a problem at all 4 2 6 2 3 4 2 9 11 DK/NA 1 - 1 2 1 2 1 4 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Very serious 45% 62% 68% 61% 62% 49% 36% 55% 76% Smwht serious 31 27 23 24 26 32 38 32 16 Not very serious 16 8 6 10 8 12 21 9 5 Not a problem at all 7 3 1 4 2 6 6 4 1 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 - 1 2 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Very serious problem 64% 47% 75% 68% 66% Smwht serious 24 33 22 25 26 Not very serious 8 15 3 7 5 Not a problem at all 3 5 - - 1 DK/NA 1 - - - 1 TREND: How serious a problem is illegal immigration into the United States - a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, not too serious a problem or not a problem at all? Jun 1 Mar 3 2010 2006 Very serious 59 57 Smwht serious 26 31 Not too serious 10 9 Not a problem at all 4 2 DK/NA 1 1 28. Do you think immigration reform should primarily move in the direction of integrating illegal immigrants into American society or in the direction of stricter enforcement of laws against illegal immigration? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Integration 26% 10% 41% 21% 24% 28% 22% 32% 47% Stricter enforcement 66 85 50 70 70 63 71 54 44 DK/NA 8 5 9 9 6 9 7 14 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Integration 39% 24% 18% 25% 29% 30% 52% 25% 11% Stricter enforcement 56 70 71 67 65 63 42 67 83 DK/NA 5 6 11 7 6 6 7 7 7 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Integration 23% 35% 12% 17% 24% Stricter enforcement 69 59 83 77 70 DK/NA 8 7 5 6 6 29. Based on what you've heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of Arizona's new immigration law? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve 51% 75% 28% 57% 59% 45% 58% 25% 34% Disapprove 31 12 49 26 30 31 26 40 54 DK/NA 18 13 23 16 11 24 16 35 12 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 39% 55% 58% 46% 57% 59% 28% 48% 71% Disapprove 38 29 26 30 31 33 55 33 14 DK/NA 23 16 17 24 12 8 17 19 14 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve 52% 49% 68% 66% 59% Disapprove 26 42 15 19 27 DK/NA 21 9 17 15 14 30. Would you want your state to pass a law similar to Arizona's new immigration law or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 48% 71% 29% 51% 55% 42% 53% 26% 37% No 35 16 51 33 35 36 32 43 52 DK/NA 17 13 20 15 11 22 15 31 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 36% 52% 55% 44% 54% 51% 23% 46% 68% No 43 33 32 35 34 40 62 37 17 DK/NA 21 15 14 20 12 9 16 16 14 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes 50% 42% 64% 61% 54% No 31 48 19 25 33 DK/NA 19 10 16 14 13 31. Do you think Arizona's new immigration law will or will not reduce illegal immigration? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Will 45% 63% 35% 47% 51% 40% 48% 30% 37% Will not 36 21 44 36 36 36 34 38 49 DK/NA 19 16 22 17 12 24 17 32 15 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Will 39% 50% 45% 39% 52% 54% 34% 41% 60% Will not 37 35 38 37 34 38 51 40 23 DK/NA 24 16 17 23 14 8 15 19 17 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Will 45% 46% 57% 52% 50% Will not 34 42 25 31 35 DK/NA 21 12 18 17 15 32. Do you think Arizona's new immigration law will or will not lead to discrimination against Hispanics? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Will 45% 26% 63% 41% 45% 45% 40% 57% 68% Will not 40 63 20 44 46 36 46 16 21 DK/NA 15 11 17 15 9 19 14 27 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Will 57% 45% 35% 45% 42% 53% 71% 51% 24% Will not 23 43 52 37 46 40 18 35 60 DK/NA 20 12 13 18 11 7 10 14 15 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Will 42% 54% 31% 35% 41% Will not 41 38 58 54 48 DK/NA 17 8 11 11 11 33. Some have suggested that Arizona should be boycotted because of its new immigration law. Do you think a boycott of Arizona is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Good idea 12% 5% 21% 7% 16% 9% 9% 22% 24% Bad idea 76 90 62 82 78 75 82 52 70 DK/NA 12 5 17 11 7 16 10 26 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Good idea 15% 12% 9% 12% 8% 16% 19% 15% 4% Bad idea 69 79 81 74 85 79 69 75 86 DK/NA 16 9 10 14 8 5 11 10 9 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Good idea 10% 17% 5% 6% 8% Bad idea 77 76 86 87 82 DK/NA 13 7 9 7 10 34. To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, do you support or oppose - drilling for new oil supplies in currently protected areas off shore? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 53% 78% 41% 49% 59% 49% 53% 55% 58% Oppose 40 18 52 45 37 42 42 33 31 DK/NA 7 5 7 6 4 9 5 11 11 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 50% 56% 55% 53% 58% 53% 31% 51% 72% Oppose 44 39 36 41 36 44 66 43 21 DK/NA 5 5 9 6 6 3 3 6 7 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Support 56% 45% 67% 61% 57% Oppose 36 51 27 33 40 DK/NA 8 4 7 6 4 TREND: To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, do you support or oppose drilling for new oil supplies in currently protected areas off shore? Jun 1 Aug 20 2010 2008 Support 53 62 Oppose 40 32 DK/NA 7 6 35. Does the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico make you less likely to support drilling for new oil supplies in currently protected areas off shore or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 44% 25% 54% 48% 43% 45% 44% 42% 52% No 49 72 38 45 53 47 51 43 40 DK/NA 7 3 7 7 5 8 5 15 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 48% 45% 42% 45% 43% 45% 62% 52% 25% No 46 51 50 47 53 53 34 43 68 DK/NA 6 4 8 7 4 1 4 6 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Support Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath DrillQ34 Yes 42% 52% 32% 35% 45% 19% No 51 45 62 59 53 76 DK/NA 8 3 6 6 2 5
