A revealing new poll about North Carolina is out today. The state's reputation nationally over the past two years has dropped from one of the 10 best in the country to one of the worst.
The survey comes from Public Policy Polling in Raleigh. Some will no doubt dismiss the findings because they consider PPP a "Democratic" firm. But that criticism would miss the point that the original poll ranking North Carolina well was also done by PPP, and after the legislature had been in Republican control (and that PPP ranked all 50 states in any case).
We can't summarize the new findings better than PPP's Tom Jensen can, so here's what he has to say:
Two years ago PPP did national polls assessing the favorability of every state in the country. While southern states generally found themselves toward the bottom of the list, North Carolina was an exception. It polled among the ten most popular states in the country, with 40% of voters rating it favorably to only 11% who had an unfavorable opinion.
North Carolina's national image has seen a strong shift in a negative direction since that time. Its favorability has dropped from 40% to 30%, while the share of voters with an unfavorable opinion of it has more than doubled from 11% to 23%. Its +7 favorability rating would have ranked it 40th in our national study of state popularity in 2011, rather than its top 10 popularity at that time.
The state's national image has seen particularly large declines with racial minorities and women. In 2011 North Carolina stood out in the south as a state African Americans had a positive opinion of, at a 42/8 favorability rating. Now blacks see it negatively by a 19/30 spread. It's a similar story with Hispanics- they gave the state a positive 50/9 favorability in 2011, now it's a negative one at 20/39. There's also been a steep decline with women. They gave the state a net +32 favorability in 2011 at 40/8, but that's dropped all the way down to +3 at just 25/22.
Predictably the biggest hit in North Carolina's national image following this legislative session has been with Democrats. Their view of North Carolina has dropped a net 38 points from +18 (35/17) a couple years to -20 at 18/38 now. What's interesting though is the state has gotten less popular with Republicans too- it had a +42 favorability at 48/6 in 2011 and that's declined now to +28 at 41/13.
This analysis is also available on our website:
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22 comments:
No surprise. The GOPer legislature and governor have trashed NC over the past 8 months.
First of all, the PPP site has no posts for 2013 of other states.
Secondly, who gives a rat's rear what others think?
Since California was dead last in the last poll, followed by Illinois (our wonderful President's state)and New Jersey, I'd say NC has a LONG way to go to reach toilet status with the aforementioned states.
You are right the Editorial Board which leans further left than 0bama trashes the state daily.
I also find it funny how if the south is viewed so negatively why do people from the high and mighty north keep moving down here?
Based on the way things are going in the country, this may be a positive...
So what's this now? A left wing editorial board is reporting on a left wing group's "findings" that the state is less popular among left-wingers now that the left wing is no longer in charge.
Does that about sum it up?
ZZzzzz....
How quickly the Disturber came up with something to push the WSSU voting fraud story onto the back burner.
My thoughts exactly, Garth.
Blame them thar lib'rals all you want. The point remains that GOPers are flushing this state's good reputation down the toilet so they can hold onto power for another 8-10 years at best. It's not worth it. The state's center right politics has been replaced by far right craziness. The state won't recover in my lifetime.
Taylor, you should rename the slobserver Tass. Reminiscent of the old Soviet Union you continue to produce propaganda for the left that has absolutely no relevance to the state of the State, only cheap tabloid journalism designed to get you noticed by the Huffpost.
Really, PPP? The Governor and State Legislature are leading our state out of a black hole by producing results. They have brought us tax cuts, a balanced budget and economic growth where there was stagnation and depression caused by a lack of fiscal leadership.
Chicago is calling Taylor. Don't miss the bus....
See folks the media is doing a great job.
Hey, we'll just outlaw polls. See no evil,...
Bobcat,
Are you just as disgusted with California and Illinois?
It really does depend on who write this stuff: http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2013/07/11/north-carolina-as-the-new-wisconsin/
Funny Stuff. The Charlotte Democrat Observer which has engaged in daily attacks and misrepresentations of everything the GOP has been doing quotes a Democrat Party poll that tells us North Carolina's approval rating among liberals has dropped. Frankly with all the effort they have put into it I'm surprised it hasn't fallen further. Maybe a testament to how few people still read the Observer?
Anyway who cares? These are the same people who criticize American values, free enterprise and capitalism every chance they get and yet have no explanation as to why people from all over the world are continually trying desperately to get here.
Instead of biased polls and editorials from bastians of liberalism like the N.Y. Times maybe a better barometer of popularity are the statistics from moving companies that show people flocking to North Carolina. Where are they moving from? Mostly from the "Enlightened" places like New York.
What do you expect when we send a bunch of republicans to run the state and are ashamed to even call themselves republicans but hide behind a name they call a party which is nothing more than to keep from having to call themselves republicans but a no party "tea party"
It is always interesting to see how many arguments are based on some perceived notion of "left" and "right."
Or even worse Brian, what those parties are actually doing to get those labels from folks.
So much hard work by the parties goes into all of this each and every second of every day.
I bet they could stop it in a couple of days if they focused on what was right for all people and not lining pockets.
I do not know the difference between LEFTY and RIGHTY.
All I know is that I was Carolina Born, Carolina Bred, and when I'm gone I'll be Carolina Dead!!!
The Right's pathetic attempt to spin this story is laughable. Can't address the real issues so they trash the newspaper for reporting. Typical.
Elect more republicans and it will become lower than the sewer.
We have a legislature that is owned by the rich and apparently think that is good, for they cannot get do them enough favors.
When I was working every time a man came on the job with a necktie, there were workers who could not get close enough to them.
I call them necktie chasers for they think if a man comes on a job with a necktie he has a lot of money.
If you do a little research, you will find that people think a lot more of the rich than the poor regardless of their character or how they live, whether they cheat, lie, or even commit crimes.
I do not believe in the death penalty because the rich are never sent to the death chamber.
Name one rich person that has been given the death sentence in your lifetime, I can only think of the Rosenburgs, I think it was in the 1950's for treason, and I cannot remember if both were, which I think but am not sure.
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