September 14, 2011 - Virginia Voters Back Tougher Abortion Rules, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Gov. McDonnell's 3-1 Approval Is One Of Best Scores Word format By an overwhelming 55 - 22 percent, Virginians support a new law requiring abortion clinics to be regulated like hospitals, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Gov. Bob McDonnell, who backed the legislation, remains highly popular with a 61 - 21 percent job approval rating, matching New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 62 - 22 percent job approval as the best in states surveyed by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. There is virtually no gender gap as women support tougher regulation of abortion clinics 54 - 21 percent, while men back the measure 57 - 24 percent. Support is 62 - 12 percent among Republicans, 57 - 21 percent among independent voters and 47 - 34 percent among Democrats. State health regulators are to vote Thursday on regulations implementing tougher abortion clinic standards that are popular even though by 50 - 41 percent Virginians say abortion should be legal in all or most cases. The Virginia Legislature, which gets a 48 - 34 percent approval rating, passed the law that abortion rights groups say is a back-door attempt to stop abortions in the state because most of the existing clinics cannot meet the structural requirements of the new law. But 50 percent of registered voters see the new law as a way to safeguard women's health, while 33 percent see the law as unnecessary and an effort to put abortion clinics out of business. There is only a small gender gap on this question. "There is strong support for the new abortion law among men and women. Opponents apparently have been unable to convince the electorate that this is an unwarranted back-door way to stop abortions," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Even Democrats, by a plurality, support the measure." "Gov. Bob McDonnell's approval numbers, up from 55 - 26 percent in a June 29 Quinnipiac University survey, are among the best in the country," said Brown. "Not only is he personally popular, but so too is his budget. Virtually every other governor in the country must be envious about Bob McDonnell's numbers." Not surprisingly, Republicans approve of the governor 79 - 7 percent and independent voters approve 67 - 17 percent, while Democrats are divided 39 - 40 percent. Even black voters, historically a Democratic group, approve 46 - 32 percent, "a highly unusual finding for a Republican office-holder," said Brown. White voters approve of the governor's performance 67 - 18 percent. Virginians say 56 - 14 percent they like McDonnell personally and by 52 - 26 percent say they like most of his policies. By 53 - 29 percent they approve of his handling of the state budget, and say 55 - 31 percent that the budget is fair to people like them. Asked about control of the State Legislature that will be determined by this November's elections, 25 percent would like both houses controlled by Democrats; 25 percent want the Republicans in control and 43 percent say they want the current split control to continue. Virginia voters are generally happy with their political leaders. Giving all their statewide elected political figures positive job approval ratings: U.S. Sen. Mark Warner is at 64 - 22 percent, the highest approval of any statewide official; U.S. Sen. Jim Webb gets 51 - 30 percent; Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling has a 39 - 15 percent approval; Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli scores 47 - 29 percent. From September 7 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,368 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. 8. 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 61% 79% 39% 67% 68% 55% 67% 46% Disapprove 21 7 40 17 18 24 18 32 DK/NA 18 13 21 17 13 22 15 23 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Approve 74% 71% 63% 57% 62% 60% Disapprove 12 15 19 27 20 20 DK/NA 14 14 18 16 18 20 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Approve 60% 62% 63% 58% 67% 42% 58% 78% Disapprove 21 20 21 22 20 36 25 9 DK/NA 19 18 16 20 13 22 17 13 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling his job as Governor? Sep 14 Jun 29 2011 2011 Approve 61 55 Disapprove 21 26 DK/NA 18 19 9. 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% 33% 54% 53% 43% 52% 36% Disapprove 34 23 48 31 33 35 31 44 DK/NA 18 16 19 16 13 22 17 20 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Approve 49% 56% 56% 42% 47% 44% Disapprove 34 30 28 35 35 38 DK/NA 18 14 16 22 17 17 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Approve 48% 52% 45% 44% 56% 33% 46% 60% Disapprove 36 33 34 38 26 49 37 25 DK/NA 17 15 21 18 18 19 17 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Sep 14 Jun 29 2011 2011 Approve 48 48 Disapprove 34 33 DK/NA 18 19 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mark Warner is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 64% 51% 80% 67% 64% 64% 63% 80% Disapprove 22 33 10 24 26 19 25 11 DK/NA 13 16 10 10 10 17 12 10 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Approve 55% 62% 67% 63% 62% 66% Disapprove 28 28 22 23 25 17 DK/NA 17 10 10 14 13 17 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Approve 65% 63% 64% 62% 68% 76% 72% 51% Disapprove 18 24 25 23 21 11 18 34 DK/NA 18 13 10 15 11 13 10 15 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mark Warner is handling his job as United States Senator? Sep 14 Jun 30 2011 2011 Approve 64 57 Disapprove 22 29 DK/NA 13 14 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jim Webb is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 51% 35% 68% 56% 53% 49% 49% 66% Disapprove 30 46 15 29 34 25 33 16 DK/NA 19 19 18 14 13 25 18 18 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Approve 45% 53% 52% 54% 50% 50% Disapprove 35 35 30 26 34 26 DK/NA 20 12 18 21 17 24 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Approve 51% 52% 50% 47% 59% 65% 59% 38% Disapprove 22 31 34 31 27 14 24 45 DK/NA 27 17 16 22 14 21 17 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jim Webb is handling his job as United States Senator? Sep 14 Jun 30 2011 2011 Approve 51 50 Disapprove 30 31 DK/NA 19 18 13. 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% 51% 32% 38% 43% 36% 40% 45% Disapprove 15 9 24 13 14 17 14 19 DK/NA 45 40 43 49 44 47 45 36 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Approve 47% 43% 30% 38% 47% 37% Disapprove 12 14 13 14 15 21 DK/NA 41 43 56 47 38 42 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Approve 39% 43% 38% 41% 37% 30% 35% 52% Disapprove 12 17 16 16 13 22 17 10 DK/NA 49 40 46 42 50 48 48 37 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Bolling is handling his job as Lieutenant Governor? Sep 14 Jun 29 2011 2011 Approve 39 39 Disapprove 15 20 DK/NA 45 42 14. 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 47% 67% 31% 44% 51% 44% 49% 45% Disapprove 29 12 47 30 30 28 27 37 DK/NA 24 20 21 26 18 29 23 18 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Approve 55% 53% 44% 45% 51% 46% Disapprove 16 27 34 30 29 21 DK/NA 28 20 22 25 20 33 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Approve 50% 45% 49% 50% 42% 34% 40% 65% Disapprove 23 32 29 23 40 45 36 14 DK/NA 27 23 22 27 18 21 24 21 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ken Cuccinelli is handling his job as Virginia Attorney General? Sep 14 Jun 29 2011 2011 Approve 47 49% Disapprove 29 31 DK/NA 24 20 18. 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 56% 69% 43% 57% 64% 49% 58% 61% Don't Like 14 4 27 12 14 14 13 17 DK/NA 30 27 29 30 22 37 29 22 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Like 62% 61% 52% 49% 63% 54% Don't Like 13 11 13 20 12 14 DK/NA 25 28 34 31 25 32 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Like 45% 60% 62% 56% 56% 39% 58% 66% Don't Like 19 12 14 14 14 28 15 6 DK/NA 36 28 24 29 30 33 27 28 TREND: Regardless of how you feel about Bob McDonnell's policies, would you say you like or don't like Bob McDonnell as a person? Sep 14 Jun 29 2011 2011 Like 56 57 Don't Like 14 16 DK/NA 30 27 19. 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 52% 73% 27% 53% 58% 46% 56% 43% Don't Like 26 10 49 23 28 25 24 40 DK/NA 22 17 24 24 14 29 21 17 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Like 62% 57% 50% 44% 56% 52% Don't Like 18 24 24 32 26 25 DK/NA 20 18 26 23 18 23 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Like 48% 53% 54% 51% 53% 27% 48% 71% Don't Like 26 26 27 26 28 52 29 11 DK/NA 26 21 19 23 19 22 23 18 TREND: 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? Sep 14 Jun 29 2011 2011 Like 52 48 Don't Like 26 33 DK/NA 22 19 20. 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 13% 21% 8% 12% 16% 10% 14% 10% Smwht satisfied 55 58 48 59 56 54 56 48 Smwht dissatisfied 24 15 35 22 20 28 22 32 Very dissatisfied 7 4 9 7 7 8 7 10 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 - White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Very satisfied 12% 12% 16% 10% 12% 14% Smwht satisfied 57 59 58 58 54 49 Smwht dissatisfied 24 20 20 23 25 26 Very dissatisfied 6 8 5 9 8 8 DK/NA 2 1 - - 1 2 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Very satisfied 11% 13% 15% 12% 15% 10% 9% 19% Smwht satisfied 55 53 56 53 57 48 59 55 Smwht dissatisfied 27 24 21 26 21 30 24 20 Very dissatisfied 6 9 7 8 5 12 7 4 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 TREND: 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? Sep 14 Jun 29 2011 2011 Very satisfied 13 11 Smwht satisfied 55 57 Smwht dissatisfied 24 23 Very dissatisfied 7 8 DK/NA 1 1 21. Currently, Republicans control the Virginia House and Democrats control the Virginia Senate. After the 2012 election would you prefer that the Democrats control both houses of the legislature, the Republicans control both houses of the legislature, or would you prefer that control is split as it is today? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Democrats 25% - 66% 15% 21% 28% 17% 57% Republicans 25 64 1 15 28 22 32 1 Split 43 34 27 61 45 41 44 36 DK/NA 7 3 6 9 5 9 6 6 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Democrats 11% 20% 28% 29% 24% 17% Republicans 42 29 23 23 27 26 Split 43 45 42 44 42 46 DK/NA 4 6 7 4 7 11 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Democrats 24% 24% 26% 24% 26% 56% 27% 8% Republicans 18 26 30 26 25 3 14 51 Split 47 47 37 43 43 37 53 36 DK/NA 10 3 7 7 7 4 6 5 22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling the state budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 53% 71% 32% 58% 61% 46% 59% 39% Disapprove 29 16 48 23 25 32 24 49 DK/NA 18 13 20 19 14 22 17 13 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Approve 58% 60% 57% 44% 58% 46% Disapprove 23 26 20 37 29 32 DK/NA 19 15 23 19 12 22 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Approve 45% 54% 58% 50% 58% 32% 51% 69% Disapprove 35 29 25 32 24 50 29 18 DK/NA 20 16 17 18 18 18 20 13 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling the state budget? Sep 14 Jun 29 2011 2011 Approve 53 50 Disapprove 29 34 DK/NA 18 16 23. Do you think the state budget is fair or unfair to people like you? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Fair 55% 67% 39% 63% 67% 43% 60% 35% Unfair 31 21 51 22 23 38 26 57 DK/NA 14 12 11 15 10 18 14 7 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Fair 58% 61% 64% 46% 56% 48% Unfair 25 25 18 36 34 36 DK/NA 17 14 18 17 10 15 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Fair 53% 55% 56% 49% 66% 39% 54% 65% Unfair 31 33 29 37 20 50 31 21 DK/NA 15 11 15 14 15 11 14 14 TREND: Do you think the state budget is fair or unfair to people like you? (*Jun 2011 'new state budget') Sep 14 Jun 29 2011 2011* Fair 55 43% Unfair 31 32 DK/NA 14 25 24. What do you think about the cuts in state spending in the 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 25% 11% 46% 21% 20% 30% 21% 42% Not far enough 20 22 11 22 23 17 20 18 About right 40 54 28 41 46 34 44 29 DK/NA 15 12 14 15 11 19 14 10 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Too far 18% 23% 20% 29% 27% 24% Not far enough 25 23 14 24 24 17 About right 45 42 47 30 38 44 DK/NA 12 12 19 17 10 16 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Too far 22% 25% 28% 25% 24% 41% 28% 15% Not far enough 19 25 17 24 14 14 18 26 About right 39 39 43 37 46 30 39 49 DK/NA 20 11 13 14 15 16 16 10 TREND: What do you think about the cuts in state spending in the budget? Do you think the cuts in state spending go too far, not far enough or are they about right? (*Jun 2011 'new budget') Sep 14 Jun 29 2011 2011 Too far 25 29 Not far enough 20 24 About right 40 29 DK/NA 15 18 25. Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Legal all cases 19% 11% 27% 20% 18% 20% 17% 25% Legal most cases 31 23 38 34 29 32 31 33 Illegal most cases 25 35 16 25 29 22 27 20 Illegal all cases 16 24 11 13 16 17 17 13 DK/NA 8 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Legal all cases 6% 20% 22% 22% 20% 12% Legal most cases 19 30 38 25 33 23 Illegal most cases 36 27 24 22 26 30 Illegal all cases 32 15 10 21 12 29 DK/NA 7 7 6 10 9 7 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Legal all cases 23% 20% 16% 18% 21% 35% 20% 9% Legal most cases 26 34 29 27 37 37 40 19 Illegal most cases 23 24 29 26 25 13 21 38 Illegal all cases 19 16 16 20 10 8 11 26 DK/NA 8 6 10 10 6 7 7 9 26. The Virginia state board of health recently issued additional regulations of abortion providers in Virginia. Have you heard or read anything about these additional regulations? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 25% 19% 28% 29% 27% 23% 28% 15% No 74 79 72 69 72 75 71 84 DK/NA 2 3 - 2 1 2 1 - White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Yes 20% 28% 30% 19% 27% 19% No 78 70 69 79 71 80 DK/NA 2 2 - 2 3 1 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Yes 21% 23% 27% 18% 36% 32% 24% 23% No 77 75 72 79 64 67 74 76 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 27. The new rules are the product of a new law in Virginia that reclassified abortion clinics as hospital facilities. According to the new regulations, all abortion clinics and physician offices providing abortions would have to meet specific building and safety requirements that until now, have only been required of hospitals; such as 250-square-foot operating rooms and specific ventilation systems. Do you approve or disapprove of this change that would require the state's abortion clinics to be regulated like hospitals or don't you know? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 55% 62% 47% 57% 57% 54% 56% 55% Disapprove 22 12 34 21 24 21 22 22 Don't Know 20 21 16 20 18 21 19 20 REFUSED 3 5 2 2 2 4 3 3 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Approve 65% 59% 47% 57% 58% 59% Disapprove 12 21 31 21 20 17 Don't Know 18 18 19 20 19 21 REFUSED 5 2 3 2 3 3 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Approve 57% 60% 51% 58% 51% 44% 55% 64% Disapprove 20 21 24 18 30 41 23 13 Don't Know 21 17 22 21 17 12 20 20 REFUSED 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3 HEARD REGULATIONS Q26 Yes No Approve 51% 57% Disapprove 41 16 Don't Know 7 23 REFUSED 1 3 28. Supporters of this proposed change say it is needed to safeguard the health of women who get abortions; Opponents say the changes are mainly expensive structural changes and are just an effort to force many clinics who cannot afford them out of business. Which comes closer to your view: These changes are necessary to improve women's health, OR These changes are not necessary and are designed to put abortion clinics out of business. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Necessary 50% 56% 43% 50% 48% 52% 50% 54% Not necessary 33 24 43 34 35 32 35 31 DK/NA 17 20 14 17 17 16 16 14 White AREA........................ BrnAgn Mltry East/ West/ Evngl HsHlds North SthEst Rchmnd Shndoah Necessary 59% 53% 41% 52% 52% 56% Not necessary 23 32 43 33 33 21 DK/NA 19 15 16 15 15 23 AGE IN YRS....... COLL DEGREE POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ No Yes Lib Mod Con Necessary 52% 52% 49% 54% 44% 40% 48% 59% Not necessary 31 34 33 28 42 51 37 22 DK/NA 17 14 18 18 14 10 16 19 HEARD REGULATIONS Q26 Yes No Necessary 43% 53% Not necessary 51 28 DK/NA 6 19 Demographic Summary
