Ohio (OH) Poll * July 11, 2007 * Economy Could Force Loved Ones - Quinnipiac University

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July 11, 2007 - Economy Could Force Loved Ones To Leave Ohio, Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Government, Global Economy Get Most Blame

Word format Many Ohio voters say the state's slumping economy could force someone in their family to leave the state in the next year, as government policies and the global economy lead the list of who's to blame for the problem, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But Gov. Ted Strickland's approval rating has jumped to 61 - 15 percent.
A total of 28 percent of Ohio voters say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that someone in their family "will move out of the state for better opportunities in the next year," the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
In an open-ended question, where voters can give any answer, 44 percent list the economy/ unemployment as the most important problem facing Ohio today, followed by 17 percent who list education and 6 percent who cite taxes.
A total of 66 percent of voters say the state economy is "not so good" or "poor" and 57 percent expect it to stay the same in the next 12 months. Another 21 percent say it will get better and 19 percent say it will get worse.
Government policies are most to blame for the poor economy, 34 percent of Ohio voters say, with 24 percent who blame the global economy, 17 percent who blame business leaders and 12 percent who blame labor unions.
"There's lots of good news here for Gov. Ted Strickland, but Ohio voters are very worried about the economy. Many seem to believe it is beyond their control and are not at all receptive to the notion that free trade policies in the long run are good for them or America," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
Voters see the global economy as a bad thing for Ohio: 55 percent think it mostly hurts the state's economy, while only 30 percent think it helps. Only 24 percent think federal government policies have helped. And, 86 percent think cheap foreign labor is a major reason why jobs are going overseas, while only 13 percent believe it is because better-quality work is being done there.
By a 77 - 17 percent margin, Ohio voters say international trade costs more and better American jobs than it creates.
"Presidential candidates trying to win the key state of Ohio will defend policies aimed at promoting international trade at their peril. Ohio voters are very strongly inclined to believe the changes that have accompanied the global economy give America the shaft," said Brown.
Strickland's 61 - 15 percent approval is his highest grade so far, up from 54 - 16 percent in a May 15 Quinnipiac University poll. In this latest survey, Republicans approve of the Democratic Governor 54 - 19 percent.
Ohio voters see their Governor as a man of principle: Only 16 percent think most public officials make decisions based on principle, while 74 percent think most politicians do what is popular. But 51 percent say Strickland decides based on principle and 29 percent think he is motivated by what is popular.
"Most governors would die for Strickland's overall numbers and the fact that he is much more thought of as a man of principle than most politicians is the cherry on top," said Brown.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown gets a 44 - 19 percent approval rating, while Sen. George Voinovich gets a 45 - 34 percent grade.
From July 3 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,447 Ohio voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 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.
23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Strickland is handling his job as Governor?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 61% 54% 68% 59% 62% 59% 60% Disapprove 15 19 13 14 16 13 17 DK/NA 25 27 19 26 21 28 23 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Approve 66% 65% 62% 61% 75% 50% 56% Disapprove 13 12 15 11 10 23 12 DK/NA 21 22 23 28 16 27 31
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ted Strickland is handling his job as Governor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 11 May 15 Mar 21 Feb 1 Jul 11 Feb 1 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 Approve 61 54 53 45 61 45 Disapprove 15 16 12 12 15 12 DK/NA 25 30 34 43 25 43
24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 39% 47% 38% 36% 42% 37% 42% Disapprove 35 28 39 39 38 33 30 DK/NA 25 26 23 26 20 30 28 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Approve 43% 42% 37% 38% 51% 41% 37% Disapprove 29 38 37 32 28 35 33 DK/NA 28 21 26 30 21 23 30
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 11 May 15 Mar 21 Feb 1 Dec 12 Jul 11 Dec 12 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2007 2006 Approve 39 37 38 35 25 39 25 Disapprove 35 37 36 36 55 35 55 DK/NA 25 25 26 29 20 25 20
25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sherrod Brown is handling his job as United States Senator?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 44% 33% 58% 41% 47% 42% 42% Disapprove 19 27 13 22 22 17 21 DK/NA 36 40 29 37 32 41 37 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Approve 54% 42% 47% 34% 61% 38% 48% Disapprove 15 18 22 18 7 21 15 DK/NA 31 39 31 49 32 42 38
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Sherrod Brown is handling his job as United States Senator? * - also 42% on 2/1/07
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 11 May 15 Mar 21 Feb 1 Mar 21 May 15 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 * Approve 44 42 47 42 47 42 Disapprove 19 21 18 18 18 21 DK/NA 36 36 35 40 35 36
26. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Voinovich is handling his job as United States Senator?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 45% 52% 46% 40% 47% 43% 44% Disapprove 34 32 34 35 35 33 33 DK/NA 22 16 20 26 18 25 24 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Approve 50% 43% 47% 41% 44% 43% 44% Disapprove 28 37 34 29 25 38 29 DK/NA 22 20 19 30 31 20 27
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Voinovich is handling his job as United States Senator?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jul 11 May 15 Mar 21 Feb 1 Dec 13 Mar 21 Dec 13 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2007 2006 Approve 45 47 51 47 41 51 41 Disapprove 34 34 28 31 33 28 33 DK/NA 22 19 21 22 26 21 26
27. Do you think that most public officials make decisions based on principle and what they think is right, or do so based on what they think is popular at the time?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Principle/Right 16% 18% 18% 13% 16% 16% 18% What's popular 74 71 73 75 72 75 72 DK/NA 11 11 9 12 11 10 10 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Principle/Right 14% 17% 14% 15% 33% 18% 12% What's popular 74 72 73 79 58 74 77 DK/NA 12 11 12 6 10 8 11
28. Whether you personally agree with him or not, do you believe Governor Ted Strickland makes decisions based on principle and what he thinks is right, or does he make decisions based on what he thinks is popular at the time?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Principle/Right 51% 42% 58% 49% 52% 49% 46% What's popular 29 29 26 32 31 27 30 DK/NA 20 29 16 19 17 24 24 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Principle/Right 54% 60% 52% 45% 61% 43% 43% What's popular 26 25 29 30 23 39 26 DK/NA 20 16 19 25 16 18 32
30. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Ohio today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Very satisfied 4% 7% 4% 2% 5% 4% 7% Smwht satisfied 46 56 43 42 46 46 53 Smwht dissatisfied 30 24 32 33 30 30 26 Very dissatisfied 19 12 20 21 19 18 13 DK/NA 1 - 1 2 1 1 - Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Very satisfied 2% 6% 3% 5% 12% 6% - Smwht satisfied 49 53 39 57 56 46 47 Smwht dissatisfied 31 28 32 24 22 32 32 Very dissatisfied 18 13 25 13 9 16 19 DK/NA - - 2 2 1 - 1
TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Ohio today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Jul 11 Mar 21 Dec 12 2007 2007 2006 Very satisfied 4 5 4 Smwht satisfied 46 49 33 Smwht dissatisfied 30 28 33 Very dissatisfied 19 16 29 DK/NA 1 1 1
31. What do you think is the most important problem facing Ohio today?
Tot Economy Total 44% Economy general 4 Unemployment/jobs 34 Minimum wage too low 1 Cost of living 1 Business leaving/ Outsourcing 4 Education Total 17% Education general 7 Funding education 9 Education other 1 Taxes Total 6% Taxes general 5 Property tax 1 Healthcare/Costs/ Ins/HMO's 5% Crime Total 4% Crime/Violence general 2 Gangs/Youth crime 1 Drugs 1 Politicians general 2% War (Iraq) 2% Budget general 1 Smoking Ban 1 Gas prices 1 Welfare 1 Foreign Affairs general 1 Immigration 1 Other 2 DK/NA 6
TREND: What do you think is the most important problem facing Ohio today?
Jul 11 Mar 21 Dec 12 2007 2007 2006 Economy Total 44% 43% 44% Economy general 4 4 5 Unemployment/jobs 34 34 35 Minimum wage too low 1 1 - Cost of living 1 - 1 Businesses leaving/Outsourcing 4 4 3 Education Total 17% 21% 16% Education general 7 10 8 Funding education 9 11 8 Education other 1 - - Taxes Total 6% 6% 6% Taxes general 5 5 4 Property tax 1 1 1 Income Tax - - 1 Healthcare Total 5% 6% 5% Healthcare/Costs/Insurance/HMO's 5 4 3 Medicare - 1 1 Prescription costs - 1 1 Crime Total 4% 3% 3% Crime/Violence general 2 3 2 Gangs/Youth crime 1 - - Drugs 1 - 1 Other 2 4 7 DK/NA 6 7 7
32. Would you describe the state of Ohio's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Excellent 2% 3% 1% 2% 2% 1% 1% Good 30 43 21 30 31 29 40 Not so good 44 38 50 45 45 43 40 Poor 22 15 27 23 19 25 17 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Excellent 1% 2% 1% 2% 2% 1% 2% Good 26 41 20 33 34 43 28 Not so good 49 37 45 44 52 40 52 Poor 22 19 31 16 9 13 18 DK/NA 2 1 1 4 2 3 1
TREND: Would you describe the state of Ohio's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Jul 11 Mar 21 2007 2007 Excellent 2 1 Good 30 31 Not so good 44 46 Poor 22 21 DK/NA 2 2
33. During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in Ohio will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Get better 21% 22% 22% 18% 22% 19% 22% Get worse 19 16 18 22 17 20 18 Stay the same 57 61 55 57 57 57 55 DK/NA 4 2 4 3 3 4 4 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Get better 21% 22% 21% 17% 33% 22% 15% Get worse 19 12 22 15 18 23 15 Stay the same 56 62 53 63 41 54 66 DK/NA 3 4 4 5 8 1 4
TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in Ohio will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Jul 11 Mar 21 2007 2007 Get better 21 29 Get worse 19 15 Stay the same 57 53 DK/NA 4 3
34. How likely do you think it is that you, or someone in your family, will move out of the state for better opportunities in the next year? Would you say it is very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely, or very unlikely?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Very likely 13% 12% 13% 14% 12% 13% 11% Smwht likely 15 9 17 17 16 14 12 Smwht unlikely 16 14 18 16 16 15 16 Very unlikely 56 65 52 52 55 57 60 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Very likely 10% 11% 15% 4% 15% 14% 12% Smwht likely 14 14 16 15 11 14 14 Smwht unlikely 21 15 15 19 13 15 18 Very unlikely 54 60 53 62 61 57 53 DK/NA 1 - 1 - - - 3
35. Overall, do you think the -- growth of a global economy mostly helps or mostly hurts the state economy in Ohio?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Mostly helps 30% 43% 25% 26% 33% 28% 34% Mostly hurts 55 42 61 62 59 52 49 DK/NA 14 15 14 12 8 20 17 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Mostly helps 29% 36% 25% 26% 33% 42% 28% Mostly hurts 54 51 60 54 46 48 59 DK/NA 17 13 15 20 21 9 14
36. Overall, do you think the -- policies of the federal government mostly help or mostly hurt the state economy in Ohio?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Mostly helps 24% 42% 16% 20% 26% 22% 30% Mostly hurts 59 38 71 64 61 58 50 DK/NA 16 19 14 16 13 19 20 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Mostly helps 28% 26% 19% 20% 26% 36% 26% Mostly hurts 59 58 66 53 44 54 58 DK/NA 14 15 15 27 30 10 16
37. Overall, do you think the -- policies of the state government mostly help or mostly hurt the state economy in Ohio?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Mostly helps 38% 45% 36% 36% 42% 35% 45% Mostly hurts 46 38 49 48 44 47 39 DK/NA 16 17 16 16 14 18 16 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Mostly helps 42% 39% 32% 42% 57% 46% 37% Mostly hurts 42 42 53 32 30 45 46 DK/NA 16 19 16 26 13 9 17
38. Overall, do you think the -- policies of labor unions mostly help or mostly hurt the state economy in Ohio?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Mostly helps 37% 22% 52% 37% 38% 36% 31% Mostly hurts 48 66 35 50 51 46 52 DK/NA 14 12 14 13 10 18 17 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Mostly helps 56% 39% 40% 40% 38% 37% 26% Mostly hurts 33 47 46 42 40 54 59 DK/NA 11 14 14 18 22 9 15
39. Overall, do you think the -- policies of business leaders mostly help or mostly hurt the state economy in Ohio?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Mostly helps 36% 53% 27% 33% 43% 29% 42% Mostly hurts 48 32 57 52 45 51 44 DK/NA 16 15 16 15 11 20 15 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Mostly helps 38% 42% 31% 28% 50% 45% 34% Mostly hurts 47 41 53 52 37 46 49 DK/NA 15 18 16 20 13 9 17
40. What do you blame the most for the current economic problems in Ohio - the global economy, government policies, labor unions or business leaders?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Global economy 24% 23% 26% 24% 27% 22% 27% Gov. policies 34 26 39 35 33 34 28 Labor unions 12 21 5 13 15 10 14 Business leaders 17 13 19 17 15 19 16 OTHER (VOL) 5 6 4 5 6 4 6 DK/NA 8 11 7 4 5 10 9 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Global economy 31% 21% 27% 29% 26% 23% 20% Gov. policies 31 44 33 30 30 30 31 Labor unions 7 7 12 16 17 14 13 Business leaders 20 14 17 15 13 21 18 OTHER (VOL) 4 5 5 4 2 6 6 DK/NA 8 9 6 7 13 6 12
41. Do you think that Ohio's economic future will be most strongly influenced by government policies, business and union policies, or demands of the global economy?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Gov. policies 30% 25% 35% 32% 26% 33% 29% Bus/Union policies 27 27 26 25 28 25 27 Global economy 31 37 27 33 37 26 31 OTHER (VOL) 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 11 10 12 9 8 14 13 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Gov policies 30% 35% 31% 24% 25% 31% 25% Bus/Union policies 28 18 25 39 31 33 27 Global economy 31 32 32 30 34 28 30 OTHER (VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 DK/NA 10 14 11 6 9 7 16
42. Do you think that Ohio's economy is more healthy than the rest of the country as a whole, less healthy, or about the same?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl More healthy 6% 10% 4% 4% 7% 5% 9% Less healthy 43 40 44 45 46 40 38 Same 48 47 47 49 44 51 51 DK/NA 3 3 5 1 3 3 3 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt More healthy 4% 11% 2% 11% 8% 9% 3% Less healthy 42 29 59 36 22 24 46 Same 51 57 36 50 67 64 46 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 3 3 4
43. Some people say that international trade creates more and better jobs in the United States than the number that are lost to foreign competition. Others say that it causes the loss of more and better jobs to foreign competition than it creates in the United States. Do you think that international trade creates more and better jobs in the United States or that it causes the loss of more and better jobs to foreign competition?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Creates jobs in US 17% 27% 11% 16% 20% 13% 17% Loses jobs to foreign competition 77 67 82 77 75 78 75 DK/NA 7 6 7 7 5 8 8 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Creates jobs in US 10% 15% 14% 16% 10% 25% 19% Loses jobs to foreign competition 87 73 81 76 80 69 76 DK/NA 3 11 5 8 10 6 5
44. Do you think that lower labor costs in Asia are a major reason, minor reason, or not a reason for these jobs leaving?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Major reason 86% 84% 86% 89% 84% 88% 87% Minor reason 8 12 6 4 10 5 7 Not a reason 4 1 6 5 4 4 2 DK/NA 3 3 1 3 2 3 3 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Major reason 90% 81% 89% 88% 77% 84% 89% Minor reason 5 11 6 7 6 8 7 Not a reason 2 6 3 3 12 5 3 DK/NA 3 3 2 2 5 3 1
45. Do you think that better quality work being done in Asia is a major reason, minor reason, or not a reason for these jobs leaving?
WtBnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Major reason 13% 14% 15% 12% 12% 14% 12% Minor reason 25 31 24 22 25 24 27 Not a reason 57 50 56 63 59 54 54 DK/NA 5 6 5 4 3 7 8 Union HsHlds Cntrl NrthE NrthW SthE SthW WstCnt Major reason 11% 15% 11% 11% 19% 16% 16% Minor reason 27 26 22 31 18 22 34 Not a reason 58 57 61 57 53 57 45 DK/NA 4 3 7 1 10 6 5