Ohio (OH) Poll * May 15, 2007 * Ohio Voters Approve Of New Gov - Quinnipiac University

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May 15, 2007 - Ohio Voters Approve Of New Gov, But Not All His Ideas, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Mixed Results On Vouchers, Charter Schools, Strip Clubs

Word format Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has a 54 - 16 percent job approval rating, but voters are divided about his efforts to eliminate abstinence education and school vouchers, and to freeze the number of charter schools, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Almost half of Ohio voters, 45 percent, admit to visiting a strip club. That includes 63 percent of men and 28 percent of women. But voters are split 45 - 46 percent, with a large gender gap, on proposed state regulation of adult entertainment; 53 percent of women and 36 percent of men support regulation, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
On another matter, 69 percent of voters think state requirements have made it too expensive for some firms to remain in business. But voters support 66 - 30 percent a plan to require all companies with 25 or more workers to give employees at least seven sick days a year.
"Gov. Strickland is still on a roll. His numbers remain very strong as Ohio voters get to know him better, although almost a third of voters still don't have an opinion of him," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Public opinion, however, is divided regarding some of his high-profile proposals."
Strickland's job approval has changed little from his 53 - 12 percent rating in a March 21 Quinnipiac University poll. His high rating is based in part on strong showings among Republicans, 48 - 18 percent, and independent voters, 48 - 16 percent.
Ohio voters oppose 48 - 43 percent a statewide limit on adult entertainment between midnight and 6 a.m. But voters support 52 - 35 percent requiring a six-foot distance between dancers and patrons in strip clubs. Women support the six-foot rule 65 - 20 percent, while men oppose it 51 - 38 percent.
Vouchers, Charter Schools
Strickland's effort to eliminate the statewide school voucher program, under which 9,000 Ohio students attend private school at taxpayer expense, gets a split decision from the voters, with 45 percent supporting the cut and 46 percent opposed. By a larger 49 - 38 percent margin, voters support the Governor's proposal to freeze the number of charter schools.
Voters, by a 52 - 29 percent margin, don't agree with the charge from some of Strickland's political opponents that his efforts on charter schools and vouchers are driven by a desire to pay back teachers' unions which strongly supported his candidacy.
They support 51 - 40 percent, Strickland's efforts to end abstinence-only education, aimed at convincing teenagers to avoid sex. He wants to stop applying for federal funds and eliminate state monies that go to such programs. Voters oppose abstinence-only sex education 51 - 43 percent and prefer 71 - 18 percent sex education that emphasizes both the value of abstinence and the value of using contraception.
"The gap in support for Gov. Strickland and for his programs is not surprising. He is not the only chief executive whose personal popularity exceeds that of his policy proposals. In Connecticut, last week's Quinnipiac University poll found a more than a 50-point gap between Gov. Jodi Rell's job approval and support for her tax proposals," said Brown.
From May 8 - 13, Quinnipiac University surveyed 939 Ohio voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 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 -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
20. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Strickland is handling his job as Governor?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 54% 48% 67% 48% 56% 53% 45% Disapprove 16 18 15 16 15 17 17 DK/NA 30 34 18 36 29 30 37
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Strickland is handling his job as Governor?
May 15 Mar 21 Feb 1 2007 2007 2007 Approve 54 53 45 Disapprove 16 12 12 DK/NA 30 34 43
21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 37% 43% 41% 30% 37% 38% 39% Disapprove 37 31 39 40 42 34 34 DK/NA 25 26 20 30 21 29 27
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve May 15 Mar 21 Feb 1 Dec 12 Mar 21 Dec 12 2007 2007 2007 2006 2007 2006 Approve 37 38 35 25 38 25 Disapprove 37 36 36 55 36 55 DK/NA 25 26 29 20 26 20
22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sherrod Brown is handling his job as United States Senator?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 42% 31% 59% 38% 42% 43% 35% Disapprove 21 30 13 21 23 20 27 DK/NA 36 38 28 41 35 37 38
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sherrod Brown is handling his job as United States Senator?
May 15 Mar 21 Feb 1 2007 2007 2007 Approve 42 47 42 Disapprove 21 18 18 DK/NA 36 35 40
23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Voinovich is handling his job as United States Senator?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 47% 55% 41% 47% 50% 44% 54% Disapprove 34 32 39 30 34 33 25 DK/NA 19 14 20 23 15 23 21
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Voinovich is handling his job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve May 15 Mar 21 Feb 1 Dec 13 Mar 21 Dec 13 2007 2007 2007 2006 2007 2006 Approve 47 51 47 41 51 41 Disapprove 34 28 31 33 28 33 DK/NA 19 21 22 26 21 26
25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Governor Strickland is handling education?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 41% 36% 54% 33% 43% 39% 36% Disapprove 30 31 27 33 27 32 34 DK/NA 29 32 19 33 29 29 30
26. How would you rate the quality of Ohio's public schools - Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Excellent 4% 3% 5% 2% 3% 4% 5% Good 41 47 36 43 46 37 40 Not so good 33 33 33 33 30 36 36 Poor 17 14 22 17 17 17 16 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 4 6 4 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree Excellent 7% 5% 3% 4% Good 43 40 40 44 Not so good 29 36 31 33 Poor 16 14 22 14 DK/NA 4 5 5 5
TREND: How would you rate the quality of Ohio's public schools - Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
May 15 Mar 21 Feb 1 Dec 12 2007 2007 2007 2006 Excellent 4 4 5 4 Good 41 42 43 41 Not so good 33 33 29 30 Poor 17 18 19 20 DK/NA 5 4 5 5
27. How would you rate the quality of the public schools in your community - Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Excellent 23% 25% 23% 19% 22% 24% 21% Good 43 45 38 45 48 38 47 Not so good 19 16 19 21 16 21 21 Poor 11 10 16 9 10 12 9 DK/NA 4 4 4 6 4 5 2 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree Excellent 29% 19% 21% 32% Good 42 44 43 41 Not so good 19 21 20 15 Poor 10 11 13 8 DK/NA 1 6 4 3
TREND: How would you rate the quality of the public schools in your community - Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
May 15 Feb 1 2007 2007 Excellent 23 24 Good 43 44 Not so good 19 18 Poor 11 12 DK/NA 4 3
28. Some say that many public schools in Ohio are fatally flawed and the only way for the state to prevent children from failing with them is to allow them to go to charter schools or offer state funded vouchers to private schools. Do you agree or disagree?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Agree 37% 51% 30% 32% 34% 40% 43% Disagree 58 47 66 62 63 55 53 DK/NA 5 3 4 6 4 6 4 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree Agree 39% 35% 37% 38% Disagree 58 59 58 58 DK/NA 3 6 5 3
29. Governor Strickland says that voucher programs undermine public education for the benefit of the few. Do you agree or disagree?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Agree 47% 34% 55% 52% 50% 45% 40% Disagree 44 58 36 40 44 44 52 DK/NA 9 8 9 8 6 11 8 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree Agree 44% 50% 43% 50% Disagree 46 39 47 45 DK/NA 10 11 10 4
30. Currently Ohio's voucher program uses taxpayer dollars to pay for about 9,000 students to attend private schools. Governor Strickland wants to eliminate this statewide voucher program. A separate voucher program in Cleveland would not be affected. Do you support or oppose the elimination of the statewide voucher program in Ohio?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 45% 36% 53% 47% 46% 45% 41% Oppose 46 56 39 44 48 45 50 DK/NA 9 7 8 9 6 11 10 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree Support 40% 48% 41% 49% Oppose 52 41 51 45 DK/NA 8 11 8 6
31. Currently about 70,000 Ohio children attend charter schools, which are privately run public schools not under the control of local school boards. Governor Strickland says that the performance of many of these charter schools is "pathetic" and "indefensible". He wants a moratorium to halt the creation of new charter schools. Do you support or oppose a moratorium on new charter schools in Ohio?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 49% 36% 54% 56% 51% 47% 36% Oppose 38 50 33 32 40 37 45 DK/NA 13 13 13 11 9 16 19 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree Support 46% 45% 48% 56% Oppose 43 40 40 33 DK/NA 11 16 12 11
32. Which comes closer to your point of view regarding Governor Strickland's charter school moratorium and voucher proposals - A) He believes that these programs are not worthwhile and wants to do something to improve public education. B) He is only trying to pay a debt to the public school teacher's unions who are against them and who supported him in his campaign.
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl A) Programs not worthwhile 52% 36% 62% 60% 54% 51% 40% B) Repay teacher unions 29 46 24 19 32 27 38 DK/NA 18 19 14 21 14 22 22 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree A) Programs not worthwhile 50% 48% 52% 59% B) Repay teacher unions 27 30 31 27 DK/NA 22 23 17 13
33. How much have you heard or read about the federally funded Title 5 abstinence-only sex education grant program - A lot, some, only a little or none at all?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl A lot 6% 4% 7% 6% 5% 6% 4% Some 15 16 12 17 16 14 16 Only a little 28 31 27 27 28 28 30 None at all 50 49 53 48 49 51 50 DK/NA 1 - 1 2 1 1 1 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree A lot 6% 4% 5% 8% Some 14 9 15 23 Only a little 23 26 27 31 None at all 56 59 51 38 DK/NA 1 2 1 1
34. Title 5 federal funds can be used to help Ohio's public and private schools teach abstinence-only sex education programs. The funds cannot be used for condom or contraception education. In general do you support or oppose this abstinence-only sex education program?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 43% 61% 33% 34% 41% 44% 55% Oppose 51 34 61 56 53 48 39 DK/NA 7 5 6 10 5 8 6 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree Support 35% 46% 42% 39% Oppose 60 44 53 57 DK/NA 4 10 5 4
35. The governor wants to eliminate state funding, and stop applying for Title 5 federal funds for abstinence-only education programs. He says that the program has too many restrictions and rules to be practical and is not effective in the long run. Do you support or oppose eliminating funding for the abstinence-only sex education programs?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 51% 31% 60% 58% 49% 52% 39% Oppose 40 58 33 32 43 37 49 DK/NA 9 11 6 10 8 11 11 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree Support 53% 48% 51% 54% Oppose 38 42 39 38 DK/NA 9 10 9 8
36. Which comes closer to your point of view regarding the best approach to sex education in Ohio's schools - A) They should focus mainly on the value of abstinence. B) They should focus mainly on the value of condoms and contraception use. C) They should focus on both equally.
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl A) Mainly on abstinence 18% 34% 9% 12% 19% 16% 34% B) Mainly on contraception use 5 2 6 6 7 4 3 C) Both equally 71 59 79 75 69 74 57 NEITHER(VOL) 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 DK/NA 3 2 4 3 3 3 3 HvKdsIn EDUCATION................. PubSch NoColl SmColl CollDegree A) Mainly on abstinence 13% 15% 18% 21% B) Mainly on contraception use 4 5 5 5 C) Both equally 81 71 74 69 NEITHER(VOL) 1 4 2 3 DK/NA 1 5 2 3
37. Do you think that Ohio's economy has suffered because state requirements on business have made it too costly for some companies to stay in business?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Yes 69% 69% 69% 69% 67% 70% 70% No 17 17 18 16 21 13 14 DK/NA 14 14 13 16 12 17 15
38. Some unions are proposing that all businesses in Ohio with 25 employees or more give workers at least seven sick days a year. Do you support or oppose requiring businesses with 25 employees or more to give employees at least seven sick days a year?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 66% 52% 77% 68% 58% 74% 65% Oppose 30 45 18 29 39 21 30 DK/NA 4 4 5 3 3 5 5
39. Business groups say that efforts by government to require companies to add specific benefits or pay specific minimum amount of wages lead businesses to close or move out of Ohio. Do you agree or disagree?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Agree 48% 62% 35% 49% 50% 47% 52% Disagree 43 31 55 43 44 43 39 DK/NA 9 7 10 8 6 11 9
40.Currently in Ohio, strip clubs are mostly regulated by local governments. Do you support or oppose statewide regulation of strip clubs in Ohio?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 45% 47% 49% 39% 36% 53% 51% Oppose 46 47 42 49 55 38 40 DK/NA 9 7 9 12 9 9 8 BeenTo TOTAL......... MEN........... WOMEN......... ClubQ43 Married Single Married Single Married Single Support 41% 43% 47% 36% 37% 52% 53% Oppose 51 49 42 59 47 38 38 DK/NA 8 8 11 5 16 10 8
41. Do you support or oppose prohibiting adult entertainment between the hours of midnight and 6 am?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 43% 51% 43% 38% 37% 48% 54% Oppose 48 40 47 52 57 40 38 DK/NA 9 10 9 10 7 12 8 BeenTo TOTAL......... MEN........... WOMEN......... ClubQ43 Married Single Married Single Married Single Support 37% 45% 40% 41% 28% 49% 47% Oppose 57 47 50 54 62 39 41 DK/NA 6 9 11 5 10 12 11
42. Do you support or oppose requiring a 6 foot distance between dancers and patrons in strip clubs and requiring dancers to perform on a platform at least 2 feet off the main floor of the club?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 52% 56% 54% 46% 38% 65% 61% Oppose 35 29 32 43 51 20 20 DK/NA 13 15 14 12 11 15 19 BeenTo TOTAL......... MEN........... WOMEN......... ClubQ43 Married Single Married Single Married Single Support 45% 52% 51% 38% 36% 67% 62% Oppose 48 33 36 49 55 17 24 DK/NA 7 14 12 13 9 16 14
43. Many people have visited a strip club at some point in their lives, what about you? Have you ever gone to a strip club?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Yes 45% 42% 40% 53% 63% 28% 34% No 53 56 57 44 34 69 62 DK/NA 3 3 2 3 3 2 4 TOTAL......... MEN........... WOMEN......... Married Single Married Single Married Single Yes 46% 43% 65% 61% 26% 31% No 50 56 30 38 71 67 DK/NA 4 1 5 1 3 2