August 3, 2011 - Shift By Women Lifts Pennsylvania Gov. Corbett, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More Women In Government Means Fewer Sex Scandals Word format A shift by women voters helps give Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett a 44 - 36 percent job approval, his first noticeable boost in job approval since he took office in January, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Today's results are a jump from Gov. Corbett's 39 - 38 percent approval rating in a June 14 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. Today, women give Corbett a narrowly negative 37 - 41 percent approval, compared to negative 30 - 43 percent mark in June. Men approve 51 - 31 percent, compared to 48 - 34 percent in June. Pennsylvania voters like their governor as a person 48 - 15 percent, with 37 percent still undecided. But voters say 43 - 40 percent that they don't like Corbett's policies. Voters disapprove 45 - 41 percent of the way Corbett is handling the state budget, but that is a better score than many governors are getting during these difficult economic times. "Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, who had a 39 percent job approval in each of our first three polls this year, might be seeing some daylight," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "He's doing better than his Republican neighbors, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who had a negative 35 - 50 percent approval in our July 20 survey, and New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie, who had a negative 44 - 47 percent score June 21. Both of those governors suffer from big negatives among women voters." Pennsylvania voters say 59 - 32 percent that the economic benefits of drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale outweigh environmental concerns, compared to 63 - 20 percent support in Quinnipiac University's June 14 survey. Today, support for drilling is 79 - 16 percent among Republicans and 55 - 35 percent among independent voters. Democrats split 44 - 45 percent. Voters support 63 - 28 percent, including 53 - 38 percent among Republicans, a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. By an even larger 78 - 17 percent, voters support a proposed fee on drilling companies, with proceeds used to reimburse local communities for the impact of drilling. Support is high among all groups and in every region of the state. "By almost 2-1 margins, Pennsylvania voters remain convinced of the benefits of tapping the natural gas reserves in the Marcellus Shale," Malloy said. "And by overwhelming margins, they want to tap the financial resources of the companies doing the drilling." Women in Government There should be more women in high elected office, 51 percent of Pennsylvania voters say, while 5 percent say there should be fewer women and 31 percent say the number of women is about right. Among women voters, 56 percent want more women in office, while 45 percent of men want more women elected. Pennsylvania voters personally hope 63 - 22 percent that the U.S. has a woman president in their lifetime. Hoping for a woman president are 67 percent of women and 58 percent of men. And voters expect 70 - 22 percent that there will be a woman president in their lifetime. Male officials are more likely than women officials to have sex scandals, voters say 71 - 1 percent, with 25 percent saying there is not much difference. These strong attitudes are shared by all groups and in every region of the state. There is not much difference between man and women officials on who would have the right priorities, 72 percent of voters say. Women officials would be better problem solvers, voters say 28 - 6 percent, with 63 percent saying there is not much difference. "Pennsylvania voters say we need more women in high political office. We can't agree that they would be better problem solvers or would have better priorities, but almost everyone agrees there would be fewer sex scandals," Malloy said. From July 25 - 31, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,358 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 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. 6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tom Corbett is handling his job as Governor? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 44% 64% 26% 46% 51% 37% 38% Disapprove 36 19 55 34 31 41 42 DK/NA 20 17 19 21 18 22 20 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 46% 28% 31% 44% 44% 42% 56% Disapprove 33 52 48 33 30 40 29 DK/NA 21 20 20 23 26 18 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tom Corbett is handling his job as Governor? Aug 03 Jun 14 Apr 27 Feb 16 2011 2011 2011 2011 Approve 44 39 39 39 Disapprove 36 38 37 11 DK/NA 20 23 24 50 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 34% 48% 21% 32% 40% 28% 26% Disapprove 50 36 62 54 47 53 58 DK/NA 16 16 17 14 13 19 16 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 35% 25% 30% 39% 38% 32% 34% Disapprove 50 57 52 43 46 60 50 DK/NA 15 18 18 18 16 7 16 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? (*Low also 25% Dec 2009) APPROVE..... High Low Aug 03 Jun 14 Jul 13 May 13 Apr 8 Apr 10 May 13 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2003 2010* Approve 34 32 28 25 31 49 25 Disapprove 50 50 57 59 54 24 59 DK/NA 16 18 15 16 14 27 16 13. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Pennsylvania today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Very satisfied 3% 4% 4% 3% 3% 3% 3% Smwht satisfied 38 47 31 36 42 33 31 Smwht dissatisfied 36 31 40 37 34 38 42 Very dissatisfied 22 17 25 25 19 25 24 DK/NA 1 1 - - 1 - - Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Very satisfied 6% 1% 4% 3% 4% 2% 3% Smwht satisfied 34 32 27 43 39 41 41 Smwht dissatisfied 42 38 40 37 32 27 34 Very dissatisfied 18 29 28 17 22 30 21 DK/NA 1 1 - - 3 - - TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Pennsylvania today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Aug 03 Jun 14 Apr 27 Feb 16 Dec 15 Jun 05 Dec 15 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2002 2010 Very satisfied 3 2 2 4 2 8 2 Smwht satisfied 38 37 37 43 35 60 35 Smwht dissatisfied 36 38 33 36 37 22 37 Very dissatisfied 22 22 26 15 25 8 25 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 17. Regardless of how you feel about Tom Corbett's policies, would you say you like or don't like Tom Corbett as a person? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Like 48% 64% 34% 50% 55% 41% 41% Don't Like 15 8 23 14 14 16 24 DK/NA 37 28 43 36 31 42 35 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Like 51% 36% 36% 47% 56% 46% 57% Don't Like 15 18 21 12 12 17 13 DK/NA 34 46 43 41 33 37 30 TREND: Regardless of how you feel about Tom Corbett's policies, would you say you like or don't like Tom Corbett as a person? Aug 03 Jun 14 2011 2011 Like 48 51 Don't Like 15 14 DK/NA 37 35 18. And regardless of how you feel about Tom Corbett as a person, would you say you like or don't like most of Tom Corbett's policies? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Like 40% 66% 16% 41% 49% 32% 30% Don't Like 43 19 68 40 38 47 55 DK/NA 17 14 15 19 13 21 14 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Like 43% 25% 31% 34% 45% 40% 53% Don't Like 41 53 49 48 34 44 35 DK/NA 16 23 19 18 22 16 12 TREND: And regardless of how you feel about Tom Corbett as a person, would you say you like or don't like most of Tom Corbett's policies? Aug 03 Jun 14 2011 2011 Like 40 38 Don't Like 43 43 DK/NA 17 19 21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tom Corbett is handling the state budget? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 41% 59% 22% 43% 49% 33% 34% Disapprove 45 28 66 40 41 49 54 DK/NA 14 13 13 16 10 18 13 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 44% 24% 28% 38% 49% 43% 50% Disapprove 42 63 57 44 36 42 38 DK/NA 13 13 15 18 15 15 11 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tom Corbett is handling the state budget? Aug 03 Jun 14 Apr 27 2011 2011 2011 Approve 41 33 35 Disapprove 45 52 52 DK/NA 14 15 13 22. Do you support or oppose a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Support 63% 53% 70% 70% 64% 62% 68% Oppose 28 38 22 23 30 26 26 DK/NA 8 10 8 7 5 11 5 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Support 62% 52% 71% 64% 63% 57% 67% Oppose 33 36 19 28 29 34 26 DK/NA 5 12 10 8 8 9 8 23. 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? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Drilling 59% 79% 44% 55% 66% 54% 58% No drilling 32 16 45 35 28 37 36 DK/NA 8 4 11 9 7 10 6 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Drilling 59% 51% 54% 56% 71% 65% 62% No drilling 32 36 36 38 26 22 31 DK/NA 9 13 10 6 3 13 7 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? Aug 03 Jun 14 2011 2011 Drilling 59 63 No drilling 32 30 DK/NA 8 7 24. As you may know, a commission appointed by Governor Corbett has recommended a new fee on companies drilling for natural gas in the state's Marcellus Shale. The fee would be used to reimburse local communities for specific impacts to roads and the environment created by drilling. Do you support or oppose this fee? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Support 78% 78% 75% 85% 81% 74% 83% Oppose 17 18 20 10 16 18 13 DK/NA 5 4 6 5 3 8 4 25. Thinking about the number of women who hold high level political office in the United States today - such as governors and members of Congress - would you say that there should be more, should be fewer, or is the number about right? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Should be more 51% 37% 64% 55% 45% 56% 54% Should be fewer 5 5 4 4 4 5 4 About right 31 40 22 30 35 28 28 DK/NA 14 18 10 11 16 12 14 26. How concerned are you that Pennsylvania has never had a female Governor or female United States Senator? Very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned or not concerned at all? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Very concerned 9% 3% 16% 8% 5% 14% 12% Somewhat concerned 22 16 27 26 21 23 20 Not too concerned 32 35 31 29 31 33 32 Not concerned at all 36 45 24 35 42 29 35 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 27. In Pennsylvania, of the 19 Congress people only one is a woman. How concerned are you about the lack of Pennsylvania Congresswomen? Very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned or not concerned at all? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Very concerned 15% 5% 23% 17% 9% 20% 16% Somewhat concerned 27 23 31 28 26 28 29 Not too concerned 28 32 26 26 30 26 27 Not concerned at all 29 40 18 27 34 24 28 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 1 1 1 28. In general, do you personally hope that the United States has a woman President in your lifetime? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes 63% 51% 73% 68% 58% 67% 67% No 22 26 18 20 22 23 20 DK/NA 15 23 8 12 20 10 13 29. Do you think the United States will have a woman President in your lifetime? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes 70% 78% 67% 68% 73% 68% 70% No 22 15 26 26 21 23 25 DK/NA 8 7 8 6 6 9 5 30. Who do you think are more likely to have the right priorities - male elected officials or female elected officials or is there not much difference between them? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Male officials 8% 9% 7% 5% 6% 9% 8% Female officials 16 14 21 16 12 21 18 Not much difference 72 74 69 73 79 66 70 DK/NA 4 3 3 5 3 4 5 31. Who do you think are more likely to be problem solvers - male elected officials or female elected officials or is there not much difference between them? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Male officials 6% 8% 7% 4% 8% 5% 6% Female officials 28 26 31 27 17 39 28 Not much difference 63 64 59 66 72 54 64 DK/NA 2 1 3 4 2 3 2 32. Who do you think are more likely to have sex scandals - male elected officials or female elected officials or is there not much difference between them? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Male officials 71% 68% 74% 72% 72% 70% 72% Female officials 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 Not much difference 25 25 23 23 23 26 24 DK/NA 4 5 2 3 4 3 3 33. Do you think the news media is - tougher on female candidates than on male candidates, tougher on male candidates than on female candidates or do you think the news media treats them about the same? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Tougher on females 40% 48% 33% 42% 37% 43% 44% Tougher on males 8 7 7 7 10 6 7 Treats them the same 48 40 55 47 49 47 47 DK/NA 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 34. Do you think the news media gives too much attention to the health problems of female candidates, not enough attention, or about the right amount of attention? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Too much 25% 27% 20% 28% 24% 25% 31% Not enough 10 7 12 10 8 11 9 About right amount 57 59 59 56 62 53 52 DK/NA 9 7 9 7 7 11 8 35. Do you think the news media gives too much attention to the health problems of male candidates, not enough attention, or about the right amount of attention? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Too much 17% 18% 16% 19% 19% 16% 19% Not enough 9 8 10 12 7 12 7 About right amount 66 69 68 61 68 63 66 DK/NA 8 5 7 8 5 10 8 Demographic Summary
