Polls Show Voter Disapproval of Perdue Remains High
North Carolinians split on performance of GOP-controlled legislature
By David N. Bass
Sep. 30th, 2011
Carolina Journal Exclusive

RALEIGH — On the cusp of a difficult week in which she caught flak for suggesting that congressional elections next year be suspended, Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue got more bad news Friday morning: festering disapproval ratings.

Separate polls conducted in September by the conservative Civitas Institute and Elon University show that Perdue’s negatives remain stubbornly high. In the Civitas survey, 48 percent of respondents disapproved of Perdue, her lowest rating since October 2009.

The results are even worse in the Elon poll: Perdue earned a 51 percent negative rating.

Republicans shouldn’t be too quick to celebrate, though. Elon also reported that 41 percent of citizens disapprove of the Republican-controlled General Assembly, compared to 39 percent who approve. Twenty percent didn’t express an opinion either way.

“Beverly Perdue will face a tough re-election battle in November if North Carolinians continue to disapprove of the way she is handling the state economy,” said Mileah Kromer, assistant director of the Elon poll, in a statement. “If economic conditions fail to improve, it will be difficult for her to garner the necessary public support for re-election.”

Speaking at a Civitas poll luncheon in Raleigh on Thursday, former N.C. Republican Party chairman Tom Fetzer went a step further.

“Perdue will not be the Democrats’ nominee next year,” he said.

Fetzer, who now runs a consulting firm, said that one of two scenarios will play out: Either senior Democrats will convince her to step aside, or she will face a primary challenge from her own party.

Both polls also gauged North Carolinians’ stance on a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, banning same-sex marriage.

Fifty-six percent of residents oppose the amendment, compared to 39 percent who support it, according to Elon. In contrast, Civitas found that 62 percent of voters back the amendment and 31 percent who do not.

The Elon poll surveyed all North Carolina residents, not just registered or likely voters as Civitas did, which could explain some of the divergence.

The marriage amendment will appear on the primary ballot next year, currently schedule for May.