The race is still close between John McCain and Barack Obama in the traditionally red state of North Carolina. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds McCain ahead 45% to 42% in the Tar Heel State. When “leaners” are included, McCain leads 48% to 45%.
In the Tar Heel State, McCain is supported by 85% of Republicans and 18% of Democrats. Obama is backed by 69% of Democrats and just 7% of Republicans. Among unaffiliated voters, Obama leads 43% to 33%.
McCain leads 48% to 39% among men, but trails Obama 44% to 42% among women.
Favorability ratings for both candidates have improved slightly over the past month. McCain is viewed favorably by 57%, up two points from last month, and unfavorably by 40%, down two points from last month. Obama’s numbers are 52% favorable, up from 49%, and 45% unfavorable, down from 50% last month.
Opinions about Obama are much stronger than those of McCain. Thirty-one percent (31%) have a Very Favorable view of the Democrat, while 29% have a Very Unfavorable view. McCain’s ratings are 23% Very Favorable and 16% Very Unfavorable.
Not surprisingly, the plurality of voters (47%) in North Carolina chooses the economy as the most important issue of Election 2008. National Security comes in a distant second with 28% of voters who believe that is the top issue.
Most voters nationwide believe high gas and oil prices are the biggest threat to the economy today. In North Carolina, 60% support the idea of drilling in offshore oil wells and 55% believe this practice would reduce the price of gas. Fifty-two percent (52%) think the U.S. should allow drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge, while 36% oppose this idea.
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of North Carolina voters oppose lowering the national speed limit to 55 mph, and 60% do not think this law would reduce the price of gas. Those figures are similar to the national average. Forty-five (45%) of voters in North Carolina believe it is more important to reduce gas prices than to protect the environment. Thirty-nine percent (39%) take the opposite view.
Four years ago, President Bush won the Tar Heel State handedly. Now, just 33% of the state’s voters think the President is doing a good or excellent job. Nearly half (48%) say he is doing a poor job.
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This telephone survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on July 15, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
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North Carolina Trends: McCain vs. Obama |
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|---|---|---|
|
Date |
McCain |
Obama |
|
11/02/2008 |
50% |
49% |
|
48% |
50% |
|
|
49% |
48% |
|
|
50% |
48% |
|
|
48% |
51% |
|
|
48% |
48% |
|
|
48% |
49% |
|
|
47% |
50% |
|
|
47% |
49% |
|
|
50% |
47% |
|
|
46% |
42% |
|
|
45% |
42% |
|
|
45% |
43% |
|
|
48% |
45% |
|
|
47% |
47% |
|
|
51% |
42% |
|
|
Favorable Ratings for Presidential Candidates in North Carolina |
||
|---|---|---|
|
McCain |
Obama |
|
|
Very Favorable |
37% |
45% |
|
Somewhat Favorable |
18% |
8% |
|
Somewhat Unfavorable |
18% |
12% |
|
Very Unfavorable |
25% |
34% |
|
Not Sure |
1% |
2% |
|
Rasmussen Reports - Electoral College Balance of Power Summary |
|
|---|---|
|
160 |
|
|
260 |
|
|
118 |
|
Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.
The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.
Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.
