Thursday, October 02, 2008

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Almost all of the recent polling data from North Carolina has brought good news for Democrats, with Barack Obama now slightly ahead of John McCain and Kay Hagan pulling ahead of incumbent Elizabeth Dole in the race for the U.S. Senate.

But the governor's race is an exception: Pat McCrory, the Republican mayor of Charlotte, now has a slight lead over Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bev Perdue. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds McCrory attracting 50% of the vote while Perdue earns 46%.

This is the first time Rasmussen Reports has polled the governor’s race since mid-August, and it represents quite a reversal. In August, Perdue held a six-point advantage. She is currently serving her second term as lieutenant governor. McCrory has been Charlotte’s mayor since 1995.

McCrory is supported by 91% of Republicans statewide and holds a significant lead among unaffiliated voters. In August, the unaffiliated voters were leaning in the other direction. Eighty-six percent (86%) of Democrats say they’ll vote for Perdue.

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In the gubernatorial match-up, 64% of white voters plan to vote Republican and 92% of African-Americans for the Democrat. McCrory leads by 20 points among men but trails by eight among women (full demographic crosstabs are available for Premium Members).

McCrory is viewed favorably by 62% of voters statewide, up from 56% in August.

Perdue’s ratings have gone in the other direction. Fifty percent (50%) now offer a positive assessment of her, down from 55% in the previous survey.

Rasmussen Markets data currently gives Perdue a % chance of winning the election in November while McCrory has a % chance. These figures are updated on a 24/7 basis by market participants. It costs nothing to join and add your insights.

Just eight percent (8%) of North Carolina voters rate the economy as good or excellent while 57% say it’s in poor shape. Only thee percent (3%) believe the economy is getting better while 84% say it is getting worse. Not surprisingly, 45% rate the economy as the most important issue of Election 2008. Twenty-five percent (25%) view national security as the highest priority.

Mike Easley, the state's Democratic governor, earns good or excellent ratings from 35% of voters in North Carolina. That’s up three points since August. Nearly a quarter (24%) say he is doing a poor job.

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See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.