This article was originally published in Seth Effron’s Quick Clips Newsletter. Effron is editor of WRAL’s new opinion section.
It is a not-so-secret threshold that insiders look to as they gauge the political temperature in North Carolina. If a Democrat can capture at least 35 percent of white vote – all other things being equal — they’ve got a good chance at winning. The NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll of N.C. registered voters conducted this week by the polling unit of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., offers some hints of where things stand in the national campaign, as well as the top two stateside races. The numbers, about unaffiliated voters, white voters, women (as well as whether people were reached by land-line phones or mobile phones) reveal why it is likely North Carolina will get a lot of attention (translate that into presidential campaign visits and a flood of spending on political advertising) between now and election day in November.
President Barack Obama’s Job Approval:
- OVERALL: 50% approve; 44% disapprove
- INDEPENDENT: 45% approve; 46% disapprove
- WHITE: 34% approve; 56% disapprove
- WOMEN: 53% approve; 39% disapprove
- LAND LINE: 44% approve; 50% disapprove
- CELL LINE52% approve; 37% disapprove
PRESIDENT — Vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump:
- REGISTERED VOTERS:44% Clinton; 38% Trump
- DEFINITE VOTERS: 45% Clinton; 41% Trump
- INDEPENDENT: 34% Clinton; 39% Trump
- WHITE:31% Clinton; 49% Trump
- WOMEN: 50% Clinton; 31% trump
- LAND LINE: 39% Clinton; 43% Trump
- CELL LINE: 47% Clinton; 35% Trump
GOVERNOR — Vote for Democrat Roy Cooper or Republican Pat McCrory:
- REGISTERED VOTERS:49% Cooper; 45% McCrory
- DEFINITE VOTERS: 50% Cooper; 46% McCrory
- INDEPENDENT: 50% Cooper; 43% McCrory
- WHITE: 42% Cooper; 53% McCrory
- WOMEN: 51% Cooper; 43% McCrory
- LAND LINE: 47% Cooper; 47% McCrory
- CELL LINE: 50% Cooper; 44% McCrory
U.S. SENATE – Vote for Republican Richard Burr or Democrat Deborah Ross:
- REGISTERED VOTERS: 48% Burr; 41% Ross
- DEFINITE VOTERS: 49% Burr; 42% Ross
- INDEPENDENT: 50% Burr; 35% Ross
- WHITE: 59% Burr; 34% Ross
- WOMEN: 44% Burr; 46% Ross
- LAND LINE: 53% Burr; 37% Ross
- CELL LINE: 44% Burr; 44% Ross
Even though I’ve heard ONE newscaster mention it, no one else seems to be aware, or they don’t want it known, that the Republican congress denied extra funding to “beef-up” Behnghazi (sp.?) security. Easier to blame Hillary Clinton, than admit the asked-for funds were denied.
Even though I’ve heard ONE newscaster mention it, no one else seems to be aware, or they don’t want it known, that the Republican congress denied extra funding to “beef-up” Behnghazi (sp.?) security. Easier to blame Hillary Clinton, than admit the asked-for funds were denied.
Why is Ross polling 7 points behind Burr in a poll where Cooper and Clinton are 4 points ahead? The average of polling for the Senate race show Ross just 4 points behind Burr.