October 17, 2011 - New Yorkers Back Wall St. Protesters 3 - 1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Stay As Long As You Want, Even Republicans Say Word format By a 67 - 23 percent margin, New York City voters agree with the views of the Wall Street protesters and say 87 - 10 percent that it is "okay that they are protesting," according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Agreeing with the protesters views are Democrats 81 - 11 percent and independent voters 58 - 30 percent, while Republicans disagree 58 - 35 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Even Republicans, however, agree 73 - 23 percent with the protesters right to be there. New York City voters say 72 - 24 percent, including 52 - 41 percent among Republicans, that if the protesters obey the law, they can stay as long as they wish. A total of 72 percent of voters say they understand the protesters' views "very well" or "fairly well," with 17 percent who say "not too well" and 10 percent who say "not well at all." Voters split 46 - 45 percent in their approval of the way police are handling the Wall Street protest, but approve 61 - 33 percent of how the police are doing their job overall. "It's a free country. Let them keep on protesting as long as they obey the law, New Yorkers say overwhelmingly," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Critics complain that no one can figure out what the protesters are protesting. But seven out of 10 New Yorkers say they understand and most agree with the anti-Wall Street views of the protesters. "For a while, the critics focused on the cops' use of pepper spray at the protests. Voters are divided on how police are handling the protesters, but they say almost 2-to-1 that police are doing a good job overall." Asked who is to blame for the current state of the nation's economy; 37 percent of New York City voters blame the administration of former President George W. Bush; 21 percent blame Wall Street and financial institutions; 18 percent blame Congress; 11 percent blame President Barack Obama. New York City voters support 61 - 28 percent an extension of the state's so-called 'Millionaire's Tax.' Even Republicans support the extension 55 - 38 percent. Voters also support 73 - 19 percent, including 48 - 40 percent among Republicans, tougher government regulation of banks and Wall Street firms. "New Yorkers, even Republicans, back the Wall Street protesters on at least two things they're talking about, a get-tough attitude toward banks and Wall Street and continuation of the state's 'Millionaire's Tax,'" Carroll said. From October 12 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,068 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 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, Virginia 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. 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are doing their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 61% 78% 60% 63% 67% 55% 77% 40% 59% Disapprove 33 18 35 33 27 39 18 55 35 DK/NA 6 3 6 4 5 6 5 5 6 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree Approve 59% 53% 64% 64% 72% 56% 65% Disapprove 35 41 32 27 28 38 30 DK/NA 6 6 5 9 - 6 5 AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Approve 56% 54% 68% 67% 53% 60% 61% 72% Disapprove 38 42 28 23 38 37 34 23 DK/NA 6 4 4 10 8 3 4 5 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are doing their job? APPROVE....... High Low Oct 17 Feb 18 Jun 17 May 8 Mar 13 Feb 7 Apr 20 2011 2010 2009 2008 2008 2002 2000 Approve 61 69 64 51 60 76 43 Disapprove 33 23 31 43 33 18 48 DK/NA 6 8 5 6 7 6 9 14. Who do you think is mostly to blame for the current state of the nation's economy - the Bush administration, the Obama administration, Wall Street and financial institutions, Congress, or someone else? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Bush 37% 7% 48% 30% 32% 41% 27% 55% 38% Obama 11 46 1 15 11 12 19 - 8 Wall Street 21 14 23 20 26 17 22 18 19 Congress 18 17 18 21 20 16 19 18 19 Someone else 7 9 5 9 8 7 8 6 6 DK/NA 6 8 5 5 3 8 6 3 10 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree Bush 41% 40% 37% 37% 14% 39% 35% Obama 8 8 12 13 26 10 12 Wall Street 18 23 22 20 22 19 23 Congress 19 18 17 17 18 17 19 Someone else 4 7 7 9 10 6 8 DK/NA 10 4 4 4 10 9 3 AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Bush 37% 42% 37% 31% 47% 34% 37% 32% Obama 10 8 12 13 8 10 11 14 Wall Street 22 24 22 19 23 19 24 23 Congress 15 16 20 21 9 22 18 21 Someone else 9 6 5 8 6 6 6 8 DK/NA 7 3 5 9 6 9 3 2 15. How closely have you been following news about the Wall Street protests - Would you say you have been following it very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very closely 36% 37% 34% 36% 39% 34% 36% 32% 36% Smwht closely 44 39 46 46 44 44 48 45 35 Not too closely 15 16 14 15 15 15 12 16 25 Not at all 4 7 4 2 2 6 3 6 2 DK/NA 1 - 1 - - 1 - 1 1 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree Very closely 31% 34% 41% 35% 44% 31% 40% Smwht closely 40 43 47 46 39 43 45 Not too closely 21 17 10 12 14 18 12 Not at all 8 5 2 5 3 6 3 DK/NA - 1 - 1 - 2 - AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Very closely 33% 32% 40% 41% 35% 35% 42% 37% Smwht closely 41 48 43 43 44 44 41 49 Not too closely 22 15 14 9 14 14 14 12 Not at all 3 6 3 6 6 5 3 3 DK/NA 1 - - 2 1 3 - - 16. How well do you feel you understand the views of the Wall Street protesters? Do you understand them very well, fairly well, not too well or not well at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very well 29% 26% 31% 25% 32% 26% 27% 30% 29% Fairly well 43 36 47 42 39 46 41 47 39 Not too well 17 18 14 21 18 16 17 15 22 Not well at all 10 19 7 11 9 10 13 8 7 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree Very well 30% 26% 33% 27% 30% 25% 32% Fairly well 36 45 43 44 42 42 44 Not too well 21 18 14 17 15 19 15 Not well at all 12 10 8 9 11 12 8 DK/NA 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Very well 28% 30% 31% 26% 33% 23% 36% 27% Fairly well 47 42 41 38 39 46 45 46 Not too well 15 20 17 17 17 19 10 18 Not well at all 7 8 10 15 10 10 8 8 DK/NA 2 - 1 4 1 3 1 1 17. Regardless of how you feel about the Wall Street protests, do you generally agree or disagree with the protesters' views? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Agree 67% 35% 81% 58% 66% 69% 60% 86% 64% Disagree 23 58 11 30 25 21 31 7 21 DK/NA 10 7 8 12 10 10 8 7 15 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree Agree 64% 72% 71% 62% 61% 65% 70% Disagree 19 22 21 26 31 22 23 DK/NA 17 6 8 12 9 13 8 AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Agree 69% 69% 72% 62% 67% 61% 78% 64% Disagree 19 21 21 27 18 29 17 29 DK/NA 12 10 7 11 15 10 5 8 18. And regardless of how you feel about the views of the Wall Street protesters, do you think it is OK that they are protesting, or do you think they should not be protesting? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp OK to protest 87% 73% 91% 85% 92% 82% 82% 92% 88% Shld not protest 10 23 6 12 7 12 16 6 5 DK/NA 4 5 3 3 2 5 3 2 7 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree OK to protest 85% 86% 89% 87% 83% 81% 91% Shld not protest 12 11 8 7 15 13 7 DK/NA 3 3 3 6 2 6 2 AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K OK to protest 91% 91% 89% 77% 83% 84% 90% 91% Shld not protest 3 7 8 19 11 11 9 8 DK/NA 6 2 3 4 6 5 1 1 19. Do you think the Wall Street protests are helping New York City's economy, hurting New York City's economy, or are they not making a difference to New York City's economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Helping 17% 7% 20% 11% 15% 18% 10% 28% 19% Hurting 21 44 13 27 22 20 29 9 24 Not making a diff 58 47 62 60 62 56 58 56 52 DK/NA 4 2 5 3 1 6 3 6 5 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree Helping 18% 21% 13% 15% 15% 21% 13% Hurting 25 17 22 20 29 22 20 Not making a diff 54 59 62 59 54 52 63 DK/NA 3 3 4 6 2 6 3 AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Helping 18% 16% 19% 13% 28% 12% 15% 10% Hurting 21 17 21 24 21 20 19 23 Not making a diff 58 64 56 55 43 65 64 64 DK/NA 3 2 4 8 8 4 2 2 20. If the Wall Street protesters obey the law, do you think they should be allowed to stay as long as they wish or do you think there should be a limit on how long they can stay? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Let stay 72% 52% 77% 69% 73% 72% 71% 79% 68% Limit stay 24 41 20 25 23 25 26 18 27 DK/NA 4 6 3 6 4 4 3 3 5 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree Let stay 70% 72% 78% 69% 68% 64% 78% Limit stay 26 22 20 28 30 29 20 DK/NA 4 6 2 3 2 7 2 AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Let stay 81% 76% 75% 54% 62% 65% 78% 81% Limit stay 15 20 23 38 34 29 21 16 DK/NA 4 4 2 7 4 6 1 3 21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way New York City police have handled the Wall Street protests? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 46% 70% 40% 50% 51% 42% 62% 32% 37% Disapprove 45 23 51 44 41 48 29 62 51 DK/NA 9 7 10 6 8 10 9 5 12 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree Approve 39% 41% 49% 51% 62% 43% 49% Disapprove 50 49 46 40 29 47 44 DK/NA 11 10 5 9 9 10 7 AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Approve 37% 44% 50% 56% 38% 51% 48% 50% Disapprove 52 51 45 27 49 43 46 43 DK/NA 11 5 5 17 13 6 6 7 22. Thinking about the regulation of banks and Wall Street firms: Do you support or oppose tougher government regulations of banks and Wall Street firms? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 73% 48% 80% 69% 75% 71% 74% 79% 62% Oppose 19 40 13 23 19 18 19 14 25 DK/NA 9 12 7 8 6 11 7 7 13 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree Support 65% 79% 75% 67% 73% 66% 77% Oppose 19 15 20 20 23 21 17 DK/NA 16 5 5 13 5 13 6 AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Support 69% 76% 78% 67% 67% 71% 80% 75% Oppose 20 18 17 19 22 17 16 21 DK/NA 11 6 5 14 11 12 5 4 23. As you may know, New York State's so called "millionaires' tax" is set to expire in December. Do you think the state should extend the millionaires' tax, or end the millionaires' tax? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Extend tax 61% 55% 62% 63% 61% 60% 62% 61% 54% End the tax 28 38 27 24 29 27 25 30 35 DK/NA 12 7 11 13 10 13 13 9 11 EDUCATION.... No col College Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl degree degree Extend tax 63% 59% 64% 59% 58% 55% 65% End the tax 27 28 27 28 30 32 24 DK/NA 10 13 9 13 12 13 11 AGE IN YEARS............ ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Extend tax 58% 65% 61% 59% 55% 56% 64% 65% End the tax 33 23 30 27 33 35 26 22 DK/NA 9 12 9 14 12 9 10 13 Demographic Summary
