Florida (FL) Poll * December 21, 2006 * Bashing Wal-Mart Does Not Win - Quinnipiac University

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December 21, 2006 - Bashing Wal-Mart Does Not Win Florida Voters, Quinnipiac University Florida Poll Finds; 91 Percent Of Households Shop There

While 78 percent of Florida voters say their views of a candidate are not changed if the candidate campaigns against Wal-Mart, 16 percent are less likely to support the candidate and only 4 percent are more likely, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.
Republican voters go 20 - 3 percent against a candidate who attacks Wal-Mart, while independent voters are 18 - 4 percent against the candidate and even Democrats are 9 - 4 percent against Wal-Mart critics.
Among Florida voters, 91 percent say someone in their household has shopped at Wal-Mart in the last 12 months, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. By a 72 - 16 percent margin, voters think the nation's largest retailer and private employer has a positive rather than negative effect on their area. By a 61 - 25 percent margin, voters think it has a positive effect on the country.
"Criticizing Wal-Mart is not good politics in Florida," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Although 78 percent of voters say the issue would not affect their vote, among those who say it would, the issue is a loser for those raising it."
By a 13 - 7 percent margin, however, voters say the criticism makes it less likely they will shop at Wal-Mart, while 77 percent say it won't affect their decision.
The results are similar to a Quinnipiac University poll in Ohio earlier this month, but generally slightly more favorable toward Wal-Mart. In Ohio, 7 percent of voters say they are more likely to vote for Wal-Mart critics, with 14 percent more likely to oppose those candidates.
"Florida and Ohio are perhaps the two most important swing states in a presidential election and virtually all the potential and declared Democratic White House candidates have been critical of Wal-Mart and its business practices," Brown said.
Politicians criticize Wal-Mart because they get money and votes from unions, 49 percent of Florida voters say, compared to 33 percent who say the criticism stems from concern about employees. This feeling is almost identical to the 48 - 30 percent split in Ohio.
"Wal-Marts are as much a part of life for Floridians as suntans and mosquitoes," said Brown. "When more than nine of ten households shop there, one assumes it isn't because someone is holding a gun to their head. Politically, campaigning against Wal- Mart may work in New York or Chicago, but in Florida, and probably throughout the Sun Belt, it just makes politicians sound like they are out of touch with 'Joe and Jill six- pack's' daily lives."
President Bush's Approval
Florida voters disapprove 59 - 38 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing.
Sen. Bill Nelson's approval is 51 - 23 percent while Sen. Mel Martinez gets a 42 - 25 percent approval.
From December 12 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,066 Florida voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and click on Institutes and Centers, or call (203) 582-5201.
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as United States Senator?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Approve 51% 42% 63% 48% 51% 51% 45% Disapprove 23 32 14 22 28 19 33 DK/NA 26 26 23 30 22 30 22 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 49% 56% 48% 47% 53% Disapprove 25 25 24 18 21 DK/NA 26 20 27 35 26
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Dec 21 Oct 11 Jul 27 Jun 30 May 25 Dec 21 Aug 12 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2004 Approve 51 43 44 45 49 51 42 Disapprove 23 26 25 23 23 23 18 DK/NA 26 31 30 32 27 26 40
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mel Martinez is handling his job as United States Senator?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Approve 42% 56% 36% 36% 51% 35% 48% Disapprove 25 13 33 30 26 25 17 DK/NA 32 31 31 34 24 40 35 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 42% 43% 45% 56% 36% Disapprove 22 26 24 16 30 DK/NA 36 30 31 28 34
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mel Martinez is handling his job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Dec 21 Jul 27 Jun 30 May 25 Apr 20 Feb 24 Jul 27 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 Approve 42 40 42 41 43 46 40 Disapprove 25 33 31 32 31 30 33 DK/NA 32 27 28 28 26 25 27
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Approve 38% 78% 9% 29% 44% 33% 65% Disapprove 59 20 89 67 54 63 33 DK/NA 3 2 2 4 2 4 3 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 45% 40% 33% 53% 33% Disapprove 54 55 65 45 65 DK/NA 1 6 3 2 3
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Dec 21 Oct 11 Jul 27 Jun 29 May 24 Sep 23 Apr 20 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2004 2006 Approve 38 37 39 38 36 50 35 Disapprove 59 59 58 60 60 47 60 DK/NA 3 4 3 3 3 3 5
16. On another matter, have you or anyone in your household shopped at Wal-Mart in the past 12 months?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Yes 91% 91% 93% 91% 91% 91% 93% No 8 9 7 9 8 8 6 DK/NA - - - - 1 - - North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes 95% 95% 92% 94% 86% No 5 5 7 6 14 DK/NA - - 1 - -
17. In general is your opinion of Wal-Mart favorable, unfavorable, mixed or haven't you heard enough about it?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Favorable 56% 63% 54% 49% 59% 53% 56% Unfavorable 14 12 15 14 14 14 13 Mixed 26 22 25 31 24 27 26 Hvn't hrd enough 3 1 5 3 1 5 4 REFUSED 1 2 - 2 1 2 1 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Favorable 56% 60% 51% 48% 59% Unfavorable 15 17 14 14 12 Mixed 25 21 30 35 24 Hvn't hrd enough 3 1 5 - 4 REFUSED 1 1 1 2 2
18. Is there a Wal-Mart store in your area?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Yes 94% 94% 94% 94% 95% 93% 92% No 6 6 6 5 4 7 8 DK/NA - - - - - - - North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes 91% 99% 96% 98% 90% No 9 1 4 2 9 DK/NA - - - - -
19a. (If "Yes" q18) Overall, do you think that Wal-Mart has had a positive or negative effect on your area?
Wal-Mart in area Q18.................................... WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Positive 72% 76% 71% 69% 71% 73% 77% Negative 16 13 16 19 14 18 16 DK/NA 12 10 13 12 15 9 7 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Positive 76% 71% 73% 70% 70% Negative 15 17 18 19 15 DK/NA 8 12 10 12 15
19b. (If "No" q18) If there was a Wal-Mart in your area would you shop there or not?
No Wal-Mart Q18 Yes 77% No 17 DK/NA 5
20. Overall, do you think that Wal-Mart has had a positive or negative effect on the country?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Positive 61% 75% 54% 57% 62% 60% 65% Negative 25 16 26 32 23 26 21 DK/NA 14 9 21 11 15 14 13 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Positive 65% 60% 56% 66% 61% Negative 27 26 30 23 19 DK/NA 9 13 15 11 20
21. Overall, do you think that Wal-Mart's business practices are better than most other stores of it's type, worse than most others, or about the same as most others?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Better 23% 27% 22% 21% 23% 22% 26% Worse 18 12 21 21 18 19 16 The same 53 56 50 52 53 52 51 DK/NA 6 5 8 6 6 7 7 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Better 26% 24% 22% 16% 23% Worse 21 18 18 22 17 The same 47 54 54 50 55 DK/NA 6 5 7 13 5
22. Some elected officials have criticized Wal-Mart and its business practices. When you hear such criticism does it make you more likely to shop at Wal-Mart, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel More likely 7% 11% 5% 6% 8% 6% 9% Less likely 13 7 17 13 12 14 13 No difference 77 78 76 78 79 76 73 DK/NA 3 3 3 2 2 4 5 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE More likely 8% 5% 9% 3% 7% Less likely 13 13 10 20 13 No difference 75 77 77 76 78 DK/NA 4 5 3 1 1
23. If an elected official criticizes Wal-Mart, does their criticism make you more likely to vote for them, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel More likely 4% 3% 4% 4% 4% 3% 4% Less likely 16 20 9 18 21 11 22 No difference 78 75 83 77 72 83 70 DK/NA 3 2 4 2 2 3 4 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE More likely 2% 5% 4% 3% 3% Less likely 18 17 18 15 12 No difference 78 76 75 79 82 DK/NA 2 2 4 3 2
24. Most of the political criticism of Wal-Mart is coming from Democratic elected officials. Do you think these elected officials are criticizing Wal-Mart mainly because they think the wages and benefits Wal-Mart offers are bad for the employees, or mainly because they get money and votes from labor unions who don't like Wal-Mart because it is non-union?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Wages and benefits bad for employees 33% 16% 50% 32% 30% 35% 23% Money and votes from labor unions 49 69 30 50 51 47 61 DK/NA 18 15 20 18 19 17 16 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Wages and benefits bad for employees 32% 31% 35% 29% 34% Money and votes from labor unions 50 53 47 58 45 DK/NA 19 16 18 13 21
25. When deciding whether or not to shop at Wal-Mart, which is more important to you - the store's business practices or the price of it's merchandise?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Business practices 19% 16% 22% 19% 18% 20% 22% Price of merchandise 69 72 68 71 69 69 66 DK/NA 12 12 11 11 13 11 12 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Business practices 20% 24% 18% 14% 18% Price of merchandise 71 67 71 66 69 DK/NA 9 9 12 20 14
26. Have you or a member of your household gone to Starbucks within the past 12 months?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evngel Yes 38% 37% 34% 43% 39% 37% 35% No 61 63 65 56 60 62 65 DK/NA 1 - 1 - 1 1 - North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes 44% 35% 30% 39% 43% No 55 64 70 60 57 DK/NA 2 - - - -