QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; DEM CHALLENGER TOPS INCUMBENT ON EVERY MEASURE
Apparently unscathed by a bruising Democratic primary battle, businessman Tom Wolf, the Democratic challenger for Pennsylvania governor, tops Gov. Tom Corbett by a commanding 53 33 percent and outscores the Republican incumbent on every measure in the survey, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This compares to a 52 33 percent Wolf lead in a February 26 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, conducted before the primary bloodletting began in earnest. Pennsylvania voters disapprove 55 35 percent of the job Gov. Corbett is doing his lowest net score ever and say 58 33 percent that he does not deserve to be reelected. The governor gets a negative 29 50 percent favorability rating, compared to Wolfs 46 14 percent favorability, with 38 percent who dont know enough about him to form an opinion. Only 40 percent of voters say the Keystone States economy is excellent or good while 60 percent say not so good or poor. Only 23 percent of voters say they and their families are better off than they were four years ago, while 27 percent say they are worse off, with 49 percent who say they are about the same. The election is five months away, but Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett looks like easy prey for Democratic challenger Tom Wolf, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. When only 23 percent of the electorate says their families are better off now than they were four years ago, the crisis of confidence reverberates through the State House. -more-
Tim Malloy, Assistant Director, Quinnipiac University Poll (203) 645-8043
Rubenstein Associates, Inc. Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-8026 2
Quinnipiac University Poll/June 4, 2014 page 2 In an open-ended question allowing for any answer, 30 percent of Pennsylvania voters who disapprove of Gov. Corbett cite education as the main reason, while 8 percent point to fracking and the environment. Among voters who approve of the governor, 19 percent cite the state budget, finances and taxes, while 12 percent cite the economy and jobs. Wolf tops Corbett on character traits as voters say 50 16 percent that he is honest and trustworthy, 55 18 percent that he cares about their needs and problems and 58 13 percent that he has strong leadership qualities. Corbett gets a spit 42 43 percent grade on whether he is honest and trustworthy, a negative 35 55 percent mark on whether he cares about voter needs and problems and a positive 49 40 percent grade for leadership. Pennsylvania voters say Wolf would do a better job than Corbett on several issues: 59 26 percent on education; 55 29 percent on economy and jobs; 53 29 percent on the energy and environment; 50 29 percent on health care; 49 34 percent on taxes; 46 35 percent on government spending; 35 31 percent on the issue of abortion. Only 10 percent of voters say they are less likely to vote for a candidate who uses his/her own money to fund a campaign, while 20 percent say they are more likely to support that candidate and 68 percent say it makes no difference. Asked another way, voters prefer 45 28 percent a wealthy candidate who funds a campaign mainly with their own money to a candidate who relies mostly on private donations. But voters say 52 43 percent there should be limits on how much of their own money candidates should be allowed to spend on their own campaigns. Opinions among Republicans, Democrats and independent voters are close on this issue. Theres no good news anywhere for Gov. Corbett, Malloy said. From May 29 June 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,308 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, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.
1. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Tom Wolf the Democrat and Tom Corbett the Republican, for whom would you vote?
AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
TREND: If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Tom Wolf the Democrat and Tom Corbett the Republican, for whom would you vote?
15a. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tom Corbett is handling his job as Governor? COMBINED WITH: (If approve/disapprove q15) Do you approve/disapprove...strongly or somewhat?
AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
22. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Pennsylvania today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Pennsylvania today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Jun 04 Feb 26 Dec 18 Jun 07 Apr 29 Jun 05 Dec 15 2014 2014 2013 2013 2013 2002 2010
TREND: Would you say that Tom Corbett has strong leadership qualities or not?
Jun 04 Feb 26 Dec 18 Nov 15 2014 2014 2013 2012
Yes 49 49 48 47 No 40 41 45 35 DK/NA 11 10 7 18
Q29-35. Summary table - Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would do a better job handling ... Wolf or Corbett? (Ranked by Wolf advantage)
Wolf Corbett
Education 59 26 Economy and jobs 55 29 Energy/Environment 53 29 Health care 50 29 Taxes 49 34 Government spending 46 35 Issue of abortion 35 31
29. Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would do a better job handling - the economy and jobs, Wolf or Corbett?
AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
30. Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would do a better job handling - taxes, Wolf or Corbett? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
34. Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would do a better job handling - the issue of abortion, Wolf or Corbett? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
35. Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would do a better job handling - health care, Wolf or Corbett? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
36. Would you describe the state of Pennsylvania's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
37a. (If economy excellent/good q36) How much credit do you give Governor Corbett for the state of Pennsylvania's economy; a lot, some, not much, or none at all?
Economy excellent/Good Q36
A lot 13% Some 61 Not much 21 None at all 4 DK/NA 1
37b. (If economy not so good/poor q36) How much blame do you give Governor Corbett for the state of Pennsylvania's economy; a lot, some, not much, or none at all?
Economy not so good/Poor Q36
A lot 22% Some 51 Not much 19 None at all 5 DK/NA 3
38. Do you think Pennsylvania's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
40. Compared with four years ago, are you and your family financially better off today, worse off today, or about the same?
AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
Better off 23% 29% 20% 20% 27% 20% 33% 34% 18% 12% Worse off 27 25 27 30 23 31 16 22 35 28 About the same 49 46 52 49 49 49 51 44 45 59 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 - - 1 1
44. In general, if a wealthy candidate relies on their own money to fund their political campaign, does that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or doesn't it make a difference?
AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
45. Which type of political candidate would you prefer: a candidate who funds their campaign mostly with private donations or a wealthy candidate who funds their campaign mostly with their own funds?
AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
46. Do you think there should or should not be limits on how much of their own money candidates are allowed to spend promoting their political campaigns?
AGE IN YRS.............. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+