March 21, 2012 - Approval Of Virginia Governor, Legislature Drops, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Opposed To Abortion And Gun Measures Word format Virginia voters disapprove of two hotly debated measures, to make it harder to get an abortion and easier to buy a handgun, as job approval ratings for Gov. Bob McDonnell and the State Legislature both drop, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters approve 53 - 32 percent of the job Gov. McDonnell is doing, down from a 58 - 24 percent score February 9 and McDonnell's lowest rating since the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University began Virginia surveys June 29, 2011. The State Legislature's negative 38 - 47 percent score is a 19-point shift from a 47 - 37 percent positive approval rating February 9 and the first time the legislature has received a negative grade. Women approve of McDonnell 49 - 34 percent, down from 54 - 25 percent last month. Men approve 58 - 31 percent, compared to 62 - 23 percent last month. Virginia voters disagree 52 - 41 percent with a new law that requires women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound examination at least 24 hours before the procedure. Voters say 72 - 21 percent that government should not make laws which try to convince women seeking an abortion to change their minds. Voters also prefer 53 - 40 percent Virginia's old law which limited an individual's handgun purchases to one per month, over the new law which has no limits. "The governor's numbers are down, from a net positive 34 percentage points last month to a net 21 points today, but he's still above the 50-percent mark," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "The controversy over the ultrasound and handgun bills would be a logical explanation for the decline in his approval rating, which had been above 60 percent for much of last year." "Virginia had been the only state surveyed by Quinnipiac University in which the State Legislature had received a net positive job approval," Brown added. "The fact that the legislature's approval dropped so much, while approval ratings for other statewide elected officials are basically unchanged indicates that voter dissatisfaction is targeted." McDonnell gets a 77 - 13 percent approval among Republicans compared to 83 - 7 percent last month. His 53 - 33 percent approval rating among independent voters compares to 59 - 19 percent then. Democrats disapprove 49 - 35 percent, little changed from 47 - 34 percent last month. McDonnell gets 57 - 29 percent approval from white voters, down from 63 - 20 percent last month. Black voters split 40 - 42 percent, compared to a 44 - 36 approval in February, still a strong showing for a Republican among African-Americans. The state's other statewide elected officials all retain their net positive ratings: U.S. Sen. Mark Warner 62 - 23 percent; U.S. Sen. Jim Webb 49 - 28 percent; Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling 36 - 21 percent; Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli 45 - 32 percent. Women disapprove of the new ultrasound/abortion law 49 - 44 percent, while men disapprove 56 - 38 percent. Republicans approve 61 - 31 percent, while disapproval is 67 - 27 percent among Democrats and 56 - 39 percent among independent voters. "More men disapprove of the ultrasound law than women," said Brown. Viewing their fetus because of the ultrasound law will make many women change their mind about an abortion, 12 percent of voters say, while 45 percent expect some women will change their mind. Another 31 percent say hardly any women will change their mind and 5 percent say no women will change their mind. Women want the one-per-month limit of Virginia's old gun law 58 - 33 percent while men are split 47 - 48 percent. From March 13 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,034 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. 13. 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 53% 77% 35% 53% 58% 49% 57% 40% Disapprove 32 13 49 33 31 34 29 42 DK/NA 14 11 17 14 11 17 14 18 East West ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... North SthEst Rchmnd Shnd <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Approve 51% 54% 54% 56% 44% 59% 57% 59% Disapprove 34 34 31 29 33 29 31 33 DK/NA 15 13 15 14 23 12 13 8 Miltry COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... HAVE KIDS<18 HsHold Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Yes No Approve 62% 54% 54% 50% 53% 57% 57% 52% Disapprove 30 37 28 34 33 30 31 32 DK/NA 8 9 18 15 15 14 12 16 STAND ON ABORTION Q22 WhtBrnAgnEv IN ALL or MOST CASES Prot Cath Yes No Legal Illegal Approve 61% 68% 69% 59% 44% 70% Disapprove 27 19 17 31 43 15 DK/NA 12 12 14 10 13 14 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling his job as Governor? Mar 21 Feb 09 Dec 22 Oct 12 Sep 14 Jun 29 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 Approve 53 58 57 62 61 55 Disapprove 32 24 21 22 21 26 DK/NA 14 18 22 16 18 19 14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 38% 52% 29% 36% 40% 36% 36% 38% Disapprove 47 28 60 50 48 46 49 41 DK/NA 15 19 11 14 12 18 15 21 East West ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... North SthEst Rchmnd Shnd <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Approve 44% 43% 33% 33% 30% 39% 42% 41% Disapprove 47 43 48 49 47 46 46 50 DK/NA 9 14 18 18 22 14 12 9 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Mar 21 Feb 09 Dec 22 Oct 12 Sep 14 Jun 29 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 Approve 38 47 46 47 48 48 Disapprove 47 37 36 35 34 33 DK/NA 15 17 18 18 18 19 15. 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 62% 48% 75% 63% 62% 62% 59% 68% Disapprove 23 31 10 27 26 19 25 11 DK/NA 16 21 15 10 12 19 15 20 East West ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... North SthEst Rchmnd Shnd <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Approve 62% 67% 57% 66% 62% 59% 66% 64% Disapprove 25 19 24 20 22 27 18 23 DK/NA 13 13 19 15 15 14 16 13 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mark Warner is handling his job as United States Senator? Mar 21 Feb 09 Dec 22 Oct 12 Sep 14 Jun 30 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 Approve 62 64 62 61 64 57 Disapprove 23 22 23 24 22 29 DK/NA 16 14 16 15 13 14 16. 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 49% 31% 66% 50% 53% 45% 46% 56% Disapprove 28 43 14 29 31 25 30 19 DK/NA 23 26 19 20 16 30 23 25 East West ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... North SthEst Rchmnd Shnd <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Approve 51% 55% 47% 43% 44% 48% 54% 54% Disapprove 27 25 29 31 31 31 23 29 DK/NA 22 20 24 26 26 21 23 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jim Webb is handling his job as United States Senator? Mar 21 Feb 09 Dec 22 Oct 12 Sep 14 Jun 30 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 Approve 49 52 48 51 51 50 Disapprove 28 26 29 27 30 31 DK/NA 23 22 23 22 19 18 18. 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 36% 46% 36% 30% 39% 32% 34% 38% Disapprove 21 13 28 22 25 18 21 19 DK/NA 43 41 36 48 36 50 45 43 East West ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... North SthEst Rchmnd Shnd <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Approve 31% 35% 40% 33% 29% 41% 36% 36% Disapprove 21 19 22 23 23 18 20 25 DK/NA 48 47 38 44 48 41 44 39 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Bolling is handling his job as Lieutenant Governor? Mar 21 Feb 09 Dec 22 Oct 12 Sep 14 Jun 29 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 Approve 36 38 35 35 39 39 Disapprove 21 19 18 17 15 20 DK/NA 43 43 46 48 45 42 19. 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 45% 66% 30% 43% 50% 40% 45% 40% Disapprove 32 14 49 33 35 29 31 31 DK/NA 23 20 21 24 15 31 24 29 East West ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... North SthEst Rchmnd Shnd <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K Approve 41% 49% 44% 48% 42% 49% 44% 44% Disapprove 38 25 35 25 25 30 35 39 DK/NA 21 26 22 26 33 21 21 17 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ken Cuccinelli is handling his job as Virginia Attorney General? Mar 21 Feb 09 Dec 22 Oct 12 Sep 14 Jun 29 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 Approve 45 46 47 46 47 49 Disapprove 32 31 27 30 29 31 DK/NA 23 23 26 24 24 20 22. 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 21% 9% 36% 20% 18% 24% 19% 28% Legal most cases 36 28 36 42 40 33 37 34 Illegal most cases 23 36 16 20 23 23 23 19 Illegal all cases 12 19 6 10 11 14 13 12 DK/NA 7 8 5 8 8 6 8 7 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Legal all cases 25% 18% 14% 26% 20% Legal most cases 40 34 48 34 32 Illegal most cases 23 24 24 24 24 Illegal all cases 8 15 11 10 16 DK/NA 5 9 3 6 9 WhtBrnAgnEv Prot Cath Yes No Legal all cases 17% 8% 9% 21% Legal most cases 32 42 22 44 Illegal most cases 27 28 32 21 Illegal all cases 16 17 28 8 DK/NA 8 5 8 5 TREND: Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? Mar 21 Dec 22 Sep 14 2012 2011 2011 Legal all cases 21 24 19 Legal most cases 36 30 31 Illegal most cases 23 25 25 Illegal all cases 12 14 16 DK/NA 7 8 8 23. There is a new law in Virginia that legally requires women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound at least 24 hours before the procedure. Do you approve or disapprove of this new law? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 41% 61% 27% 39% 38% 44% 42% 35% Disapprove 52 31 67 56 56 49 51 57 DK/NA 7 9 6 5 7 7 7 8 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Approve 33% 46% 56% 33% 38% Disapprove 61 47 40 59 55 DK/NA 6 7 4 7 7 STAND ON ABORTION Q22 WhtBrnAgnEv IN ALL or MOST CASES Prot Cath Yes No Legal Illegal Approve 48% 50% 62% 38% 25% 69% Disapprove 46 44 31 56 71 25 DK/NA 6 7 6 6 4 6 24. Supporters of the new law requiring an ultrasound said it was needed so women can view their fetus in hopes they will change their minds about having an abortion. Do you think having to view an ultrasound will make many women change their minds, some women change their minds or hardly any women change their minds? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Many women 12% 19% 10% 8% 11% 13% 11% 13% Some women 45 54 36 47 44 46 46 47 Hardly any women 31 18 40 34 31 30 31 28 NONE/NO WOMEN(VOL) 5 2 4 7 4 5 5 4 DK/NA 7 7 9 5 10 5 7 8 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Many women 9% 15% 19% 12% 9% Some women 41 48 52 42 43 Hardly any women 39 26 22 37 31 NONE/NO WOMEN(VOL) 5 5 2 5 6 DK/NA 7 7 6 4 11 STAND ON ABORTION Q22 WhtBrnAgnEv IN ALL or MOST CASES Prot Cath Yes No Legal Illegal Many women 12% 12% 21% 6% 3% 28% Some women 49 47 53 45 41 51 Hardly any women 28 32 19 37 43 15 NONE/NO WOMEN(VOL) 5 1 3 4 7 1 DK/NA 6 8 5 7 6 5 25. Do you think government should make laws aimed at convincing pregnant women who plan to have an abortion to change their minds, or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 21% 31% 17% 17% 21% 21% 20% 20% No 72 57 78 78 72 72 72 76 DK/NA 7 12 5 5 7 7 8 4 COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Yes 21% 21% 29% 18% 18% No 75 71 67 76 74 DK/NA 5 9 4 6 9 STAND ON ABORTION Q22 WhtBrnAgnEv IN ALL or MOST CASES Prot Cath Yes No Legal Illegal Yes 22% 26% 32% 16% 8% 45% No 69 68 57 77 89 48 DK/NA 9 6 11 6 3 7 26. Until recently persons could only buy one handgun a month in Virginia. The law has now been changed so there is no limit on handgun purchases. Which do you prefer, the old law that limited persons to buying one per month, or the new law which does not limit purchases of handguns? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Old law/One per mnth 53% 34% 69% 56% 47% 58% New law/No limit 40 61 22 38 48 33 DK/NA 7 5 9 6 5 9 Miltry COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS....... HAVE KIDS<18 HsHold Yes No 18-34 35-54 55+ Yes No Old law/One per mnth 54% 59% 49% 50% 46% 65% 44% 57% New law/No limit 41 36 42 45 44 30 49 36 DK/NA 4 5 8 5 11 6 7 7 Demographic Summary
