September 21, 2011 - Upstate New York Voters Divided On Gas Drilling, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Statewide Support Vegas-Style Casinos Word format While New York State voters support by a thin 45 - 41 percent margin drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because they think economic benefits outweigh the environmental concerns, upstate voters are divided, with 47 percent opposed because they are more worried about the environment and 43 percent in support, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. New York City voters split on drilling 41 - 41 percent and suburban voters support drilling 56 - 31 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Support is 69 - 20 percent among Republicans and 47 - 42 percent among independent voters while Democrats are opposed 52 - 35 percent. There is a gender gap as men support drilling 52 - 39 percent while women are opposed 44 - 39 percent. Tax the companies that drill for natural gas, New York State voters say 51 - 36 percent. By a strong 74 - 19 percent, New Yorkers believe drilling will create jobs. Support among upstate, New York City and suburban voters is similar. But voters believe 51 - 13 percent, with 35 percent who don't know, that hydro-fracking will damage the environment. There is strong concern about the environment, 54 - 16 percent, among upstate voters. "Would hydro-fracking produce jobs? Overwhelmingly voters say yes. Would it damage the environment? Another yes - but less emphatically," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Upstate voters, who have the most to gain in terms of jobs and the most to lose in terms of the environment, oppose natural gas drilling, while suburban voters support it." New York State voters support 56 - 37 percent the creation of casinos "similar to those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas." Support is 56 - 37 percent in New York City, 58 - 36 percent in the suburbs and 54 - 37 percent upstate. All groups support casinos with the strongest support, 61 - 32 percent, among voters with a union member in the household. Casinos would be good for the economy, voters say 64 - 31 percent, with all groups agreeing. By a similar 63 - 33 percent, voters say casinos will lead to an increase in gambling addiction, also with agreement among all groups. "Roll the dice. Spin the wheel. Hit me. New Yorkers of every stripe say what stays in Vegas should stay in the Empire State as well," Carroll said. "Casinos would be good for the economy, voters think, but they also think there'd be an increase in gambling addiction." From September 13 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,016 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 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. 21. Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Drilling 45% 69% 35% 47% 52% 39% No drilling 41 20 52 42 39 44 DK/NA 13 12 13 11 9 17 Union UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds Drilling 43% 41% 56% 48% No drilling 47 41 31 41 DK/NA 10 18 13 11 TREND: Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view? Sep 21 Aug 11 2011 2011 Drilling 45 47 No drilling 41 42 DK/NA 13 12 22. Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 51% 35% 61% 55% 52% 51% Oppose 36 52 28 32 40 33 DK/NA 12 13 11 12 8 16 Union UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds Support 49% 54% 52% 55% Oppose 39 32 38 34 DK/NA 12 14 11 12 TREND: Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale? Sep 21 Aug 11 2011 2011 Support 51 59 Oppose 36 29 DK/NA 12 12 23. Do you think that drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale will create jobs or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 74% 86% 71% 74% 78% 70% No 19 8 22 19 17 21 DK/NA 7 6 8 7 5 9 Union UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds Yes 75% 71% 77% 74% No 20 20 15 19 DK/NA 5 9 8 7 TREND: Do you think that drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale will create jobs or not? Sep 21 Aug 11 2011 2011 Yes 74 75 No 19 17 DK/NA 7 8 24. Have you heard or read anything about hydro-fracking? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 53% 57% 45% 61% 61% 45% No 46 43 54 38 38 54 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 Union UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds Yes 73% 35% 45% 56% No 25 64 55 43 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 TREND: Have you heard or read anything about hydro-fracking? Sep 21 Aug 11 2011 2011 Yes 53 57 No 46 42 DK/NA 1 1 25. Natural gas drilling companies want to practice hydro-fracking in New York State. Hydro-fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the ground under high pressure to fracture rocks. This releases natural gas trapped in the rocks which is then collected. Do you think hydro-fracking will cause environmental damage or not, or don't you know? HEARD Q24 Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Will damage 51% 33% 65% 47% 45% 56% 55 47 No/Won't Damage 13 26 5 15 18 8 19 6 Don't Know 35 39 30 38 36 35 25 47 REFUSED - 1 - 1 - - - - Union UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds Yes/Will damage 54% 54% 40% 49% No/Won't Damage 16 9 15 16 Don't Know 29 37 45 34 REFUSED - - - - TREND: Natural gas drilling companies want to practice hydro-fracking in New York State. Hydro-fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the ground under high pressure to fracture rocks. This releases natural gas trapped in the rocks which is then collected. Do you think hydro-fracking will cause environmental damage or not, or don't you know? Sep 21 Aug 11 2011 2011 Yes/Will damage 51 52 No/Won't Damage 13 15 Don't Know 35 33 REFUSED - - 31. Do you support or oppose the creation of non-indian casinos in New York State, similar to those in Atlantic City and Las Vegas? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 56% 60% 52% 61% 60% 52% Oppose 37 35 42 33 35 39 DK/NA 7 5 6 6 6 8 Union UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds Support 54% 56% 58% 61% Oppose 37 37 36 32 DK/NA 8 6 6 7 32. Do you think the creation of these casinos would be good for the economy or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 64% 67% 61% 69% 66% 62% No 31 28 34 27 30 32 DK/NA 5 5 5 5 4 6 Union UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds Yes 62% 67% 63% 71% No 32 28 33 25 DK/NA 6 5 4 4 33. Do you think the creation of these casinos would lead to an increase in gambling addiction or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 63% 57% 66% 62% 65% 61% No 33 37 30 35 31 35 DK/NA 4 6 4 2 3 4 Union UpStat NYC Sub HsHlds Yes 67% 62% 57% 57% No 30 34 37 39 DK/NA 3 3 6 4 Demographic Summary
