Protesters more popular than McCrory, lawmakers

Here's something that will likely stick in the craw of N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory and his fellow Republicans in the legislature who've mocked and lampooned the Moral Monday protesters. N.C. residents like the protesters way more than they like the lawmakers.

That's according to a survey by Public Policy Polling released Tuesday. The poll shows 47 percent of those surveyed had a favorable opinion of the folks getting arrested protesting the General Assembly's actions; 40 percent had an unfavorable opinion. By a 47/41 margin, respondents said they have a higher opinion of the protesters than they do of the General Assembly. Only 20 percent approved of the job the legislature is doing. Democrats had a higher favorable rating than Republicans - 40 percent approval vs the GOP's 35 percent aproval rating. (The GOP's unfavorables were at 55 percent to the Dems 45 percent.)

Compare that to McCrory's falling approval ratings: For the first time since taking office, the pollsters found that McCrory has a negative approval rating this month. Only 40 percent of voters are happy with the job he's doing to 49 percent who disapprove. Only 68 percent of people who voted for McCrory last fall continue to approve of his job performance.

"Unhappiness over the abortion bill seems to be driving a lot of the increased unhappiness with the Republicans in state government this month," writes Tom Jensen of PPP. "Only 34 percent of voters support the proposal to 47percent who are opposed. They're even more unhappy with the process- 80 percent think it's inappropriate to combine abortion legislation with bills about motorcycle safety or Sharia Law."

Also, the poll showed dissatisfaction about these issues:

Transparency - Only 19 percent think the legislature is transparent in how it conducts its business to 51 percent who believe it is not. By a 48/33 margin, respondents thought that McCrory should veto the abortion law, including a 51/37 margin with independents.

Unemployment - 55 percent of respondents are unhappy with the legislation that resulted in 70,000 North Carolinians losing their unemployment benefits earlier this month to only 29 percent who are supportive of it.

Fracking - 76 percent of respondents say companies engaged in fracking in North Carolina should have to disclose all the chemicals they inject into the ground with only 13% opposed. Republicans in the State Senate have been trying to exempt them from having to do so. There's a strong bipartisan consensus (81/13 among independents, 80/9 among Democrats, 68/18 among Republicans) that disclosure should be required.

One funny note North Carolina voters across party lines agreed on one thing: 78 percent support mandatory drug testing for members of the General Assembly; 12 percent opposed. That included independents (84/11), Republicans (83/9), and Democrats (70/15) alike.

The poll included 45 percent Democrats, 35 percent Republicans and 20 percent independents. It included 30 percent of people identified themselves as liberal, 43 percent who identified themselves as conservative and 26 percent who identified as moderate.