June 29, 2011 - Virginia Gov Has 2-1 Approval Rating, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Want To End Ban On Gay Adoptions Word format Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has a strong 55 - 26 percent job approval rating, as many more voters like him personally than back his policies, according to the inaugural Quinnipiac University Virginia poll released today. The independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll, conducted by live interviewers with registered voters on landlines and cell phones, releases periodic voter surveys of office holders, candidates and issues nationally and in Connecticut, New York, New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and now Virginia. "Gov. Bob McDonnell's overall support levels are among the highest when compared to other governors around the country," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "And they are far better than those of his GOP counterparts in Florida, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Even among Democrats he is within 10 points of parity, an unusually high level of support for a governor from the opposition party." McDonnell's job approval is 77 - 11 percent among Republicans and 59 - 24 percent among independent voters. Democrats disapprove 42 - 33 percent. Men approve of his performance 61 - 25 percent and women approve 50 - 26 percent. White voters approve 58 - 25 percent, while black voters approve 50 - 25 percent. "The legislature doesn't rate quite as highly with Virginians, although its 48 - 33 percent approval rating is pretty good compared to legislatures in other states," said Brown. "No matter whether a governor is up or down in the polls, he or she almost always fares better in the public eye than does the state legislature." Virginia's other statewide leaders, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, also fare well with the public: Bolling gets a 39 - 20 percent approval rating with 42 percent undecided; Cuccinelli gets a 49 - 31 percent approval, with 20 percent undecided. Virginia voters like Gov. McDonnell personally 57 - 16 percent. But when asked if they like most of his policies, support drops to 48 - 33 percent. "The biggest difference is among Democrats who like him personally 43 - 28 percent, but dislike his policies 55 - 21 percent. Even with the drop-off from his personal support, a 48 - 33 percent backing of most of his policies isn't bad," said Brown. "Independent voters like him 61 - 13 percent and like his policies 51 - 31 percent. Republicans like him 72 - 7 percent and like his policies 74 - 13 percent." McDonnell receives a 50 - 34 percent approval on handling the state budget. Voters approve 40 - 30 percent of the budget passed by the legislature and signed by McDonnell. Asked if this budget is fair to people like them, 43 percent say fair and 32 percent unfair. "In most of the other Quinnipiac University states, voters, often by a large margin, see the budgets as unfair to folks like them. This perception that the budget is fair may explain Gov. McDonnell's approval numbers," said Brown. Virginia voters oppose 52 - 41 percent a law that would allow same-sex couples to marry. Men oppose it 55 - 38 percent and women oppose it 49 - 44 percent. Voters under 35 years old support same-sex marriage 63 - 29 percent. But they support 51 - 43 percent allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. Voters say 51 - 42 percent that policies barring same-sex adoptions should be ended. Voters have different views on state-run and church-run adoption agencies: State-run agencies should not ban prospective parents based on sexual orientation, voters say 59 - 35 percent; Church-run agencies can continue the ban, voters say by a narrow 48 - 45 percent. Voters split 41 - 41 percent on continuing the ban on uranium mining in Virginia. From June 21 - 27, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,434 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 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. 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 55% 77% 33% 59% 61% 50% 58% 50% Disapprove 26 11 42 24 25 26 25 25 DK/NA 19 13 25 16 14 24 17 25 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Approve 45% 58% 60% 57% 54% 63% 27% 55% 73% Disapprove 30 27 23 24 28 20 54 26 11 DK/NA 26 15 16 19 18 17 19 19 16 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 48% 61% 36% 50% 53% 44% 50% 50% Disapprove 33 20 44 33 33 33 32 32 DK/NA 19 18 20 17 14 24 18 17 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Approve 48% 49% 50% 47% 50% 49% 29% 50% 59% Disapprove 26 38 31 34 32 31 51 34 22 DK/NA 27 12 19 19 18 19 20 17 19 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Bolling is handling his job as Lieutenant Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 39% 47% 33% 37% 44% 33% 37% 49% Disapprove 20 15 27 18 19 20 19 20 DK/NA 42 38 40 45 36 47 44 31 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Approve 36% 41% 39% 43% 32% 44% 24% 38% 49% Disapprove 26 20 16 20 19 18 34 20 12 DK/NA 38 40 45 37 49 37 42 42 39 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ken Cuccinelli is handling his job as Virginia Attorney General? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 49% 71% 28% 50% 52% 46% 52% 40% Disapprove 31 14 46 31 34 29 30 33 DK/NA 20 15 25 19 15 25 17 27 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Approve 45% 49% 52% 52% 44% 60% 25% 42% 72% Disapprove 29 34 30 27 38 23 59 37 11 DK/NA 26 17 17 21 18 17 16 21 17 13. Regardless of how you feel about Bob McDonnell's policies, would you say you like or don't like Bob McDonnell as a person? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Like 57% 72% 43% 61% 64% 50% 59% 57% Don't Like 16 7 28 13 17 16 14 21 DK/NA 27 21 29 26 19 34 26 22 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Like 51% 58% 61% 57% 57% 64% 37% 60% 66% Don't Like 22 17 12 17 16 11 37 16 7 DK/NA 27 25 27 26 28 25 27 24 27 14. And regardless of how you feel about Bob McDonnell as a person, would you say you like or don't like most of Bob McDonnell's policies? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Like 48% 74% 21% 51% 54% 43% 52% 40% Don't Like 33 13 55 31 34 32 31 38 DK/NA 19 13 23 17 13 25 17 22 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Like 40% 49% 54% 49% 47% 61% 25% 42% 72% Don't Like 39 35 27 31 35 24 59 36 15 DK/NA 20 16 19 19 18 15 16 22 13 15. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Virginia today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very satisfied 11% 16% 6% 11% 12% 9% 11% 12% Smwht satisfied 57 61 51 59 58 56 59 56 Smwht dissatisfied 23 17 31 20 21 24 22 24 Very dissatisfied 8 4 11 9 8 9 8 8 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Very satisfied 11% 8% 13% 11% 11% 11% 5% 8% 17% Smwht satisfied 58 58 55 56 59 60 43 62 61 Smwht dissatisfied 23 24 23 23 23 19 39 22 14 Very dissatisfied 7 9 8 10 7 9 11 6 8 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling the state budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 50% 68% 32% 52% 58% 42% 54% 38% Disapprove 34 20 48 33 32 36 31 45 DK/NA 16 12 20 15 10 22 15 17 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Approve 41% 51% 55% 50% 51% 61% 24% 48% 67% Disapprove 42 37 28 35 33 28 57 36 20 DK/NA 17 12 17 16 16 11 18 16 12 17. How much have you heard or read about the new state budget agreed to by Governor McDonnell and the state legislature? A lot, some, not much, or nothing at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk A lot 11% 7% 11% 15% 13% 10% 11% 14% Some 45 51 41 46 49 41 46 37 Not much 30 28 34 28 28 32 30 38 Nothing at all 13 13 14 10 10 16 13 10 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con A lot 7% 12% 14% 10% 14% 10% 12% 11% 11% Some 40 51 43 42 49 50 40 44 51 Not much 32 29 30 33 26 28 32 31 27 Nothing at all 21 9 12 15 10 13 15 14 11 DK/NA - - 1 1 1 - 1 - 1 18. Do you approve or disapprove of the state budget agreed to by Governor McDonnell and the state legislature? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 40% 55% 23% 45% 50% 31% 44% 33% Disapprove 30 14 49 27 28 32 27 40 DK/NA 29 30 29 27 22 37 29 27 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Approve 33% 44% 43% 41% 40% 49% 20% 40% 54% Disapprove 34 31 26 30 30 24 52 32 16 DK/NA 33 26 31 29 30 27 28 28 30 19. Do you think the new state budget is fair or unfair to people like you? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Fair 43% 57% 34% 46% 52% 36% 47% 38% Unfair 32 23 44 29 28 36 28 40 DK/NA 25 20 23 25 20 29 25 23 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Fair 40% 44% 47% 41% 49% 49% 29% 44% 54% Unfair 31 36 28 36 26 29 45 33 23 DK/NA 28 20 25 24 25 22 26 23 24 20. What do you think about the cuts in state spending in the new budget? Do you think the cuts in state spending go too far, not far enough or are they about right? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Too far 29% 14% 47% 26% 25% 33% 25% 41% Not far enough 24 31 13 25 27 20 24 19 About right 29 37 23 32 34 25 32 27 DK/NA 18 18 17 17 14 21 19 12 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Too far 30% 31% 27% 29% 29% 22% 49% 32% 15% Not far enough 23 28 22 25 22 27 16 20 32 About right 29 26 33 28 32 32 14 31 37 DK/NA 18 16 18 17 18 19 21 17 16 21. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 41% 21% 59% 42% 38% 44% 42% 35% Oppose 52 74 35 50 55 49 53 55 DK/NA 7 5 6 8 7 6 5 10 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Support 63% 42% 28% 34% 52% 16% 81% 46% 15% Oppose 29 53 65 60 41 81 15 48 78 DK/NA 7 4 7 6 6 3 4 6 7 22. Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to adopt children? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 51% 33% 67% 52% 49% 54% 53% 48% Oppose 43 61 30 41 45 40 42 46 DK/NA 6 6 3 7 6 6 5 6 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Support 70% 55% 39% 43% 65% 31% 80% 60% 27% Oppose 27 40 54 52 29 65 18 35 65 DK/NA 4 5 7 6 6 4 2 5 8 23. Currently in Virginia, state and church run adoption agencies can prevent an adoption to prospective parents based on their sexual orientation. Do you think that policy should be continued or ended? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Continued 42% 62% 26% 41% 46% 37% 43% 38% Ended 51 32 69 50 48 53 50 54 DK/NA 7 6 5 9 6 9 7 8 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Continued 25% 43% 49% 48% 32% 62% 21% 35% 62% Ended 71 51 41 46 59 34 75 58 31 DK/NA 3 6 10 6 9 5 4 7 7 24. Do you think that: State-run adoption agencies should be allowed to prevent an adoption if the prospective parents are gay or lesbian or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 35% 52% 23% 32% 36% 33% 35% 34% No 59 43 72 61 58 60 59 58 DK/NA 6 6 4 7 6 7 6 8 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Yes 18% 34% 43% 40% 26% 54% 17% 29% 52% No 79 61 48 53 68 39 81 65 41 DK/NA 3 5 9 6 5 6 2 6 7 25. Do you think that: Church-run adoption agencies should be allowed to prevent an adoption if the prospective parents are gay or lesbian or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 48% 63% 33% 49% 53% 43% 50% 43% No 45 32 60 45 41 50 44 51 DK/NA 7 5 6 6 6 8 6 6 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Yes 38% 51% 49% 48% 47% 63% 30% 42% 65% No 57 44 41 45 46 33 63 50 30 DK/NA 5 5 9 7 7 5 7 8 5 26. As you may know, there is a ban on mining uranium in Virginia. Some people say: There should be mining for uranium because of the economic benefits. Others say: There should not be mining for uranium because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Shld be mining 41% 58% 27% 41% 48% 33% 43% 35% Shld not be mining 41 25 58 41 40 43 41 43 DK/NA 18 17 16 18 12 24 16 22 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE WtBnAgn POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Evglcl Lib Mod Con Shld be mining 35% 42% 45% 41% 41% 48% 22% 39% 55% Shld not be mining 54 39 36 39 46 33 62 46 24 DK/NA 11 19 20 20 14 18 17 15 21
