FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 2, 2011 INTERVIEWS: Tom Jensen 919-744-6312 IF YOU HAVE BASIC METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL [email protected], OR CONSULT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF THE PRESS RELEASE Sanders headed for another romp Raleigh, N.C. – Bernie Sanders is one of the most popular senators in the country. Two- thirds of his constituents approve of his job performance as he heads toward his first re- election bid next year, and he gets at least 56% of the vote, regardless of his opponent. Of his colleagues on which PPP has polled, the only ones who can claim to be more beloved are Hawaii’s Daniel Inouye and Wyoming’s John Barrasso, but they serve states with much more overwhelming partisan registration advantages. An independent who caucuses with the Democrats, Sanders’ unabashed democratic socialist views have nevertheless served him well with independent voters, 68% of whom like the work he has done for them. Democrats are unanimously behind him, 93-5, and even a quarter of the state’s more moderate Republicans give him good marks. The only potential GOP foe who can approach Sanders’ personal popularity is former Governor Jim Douglas, who is seen positively by 56% and negatively by 29%. Most of the others are not well-known, and most seen only moderately well, compared to the incumbent. Former Lt. Gov. and 2010 gubernatorial nominee Brian Dubie gets 48-33 favorability marks, Lt. Gov. Phil Scott a 33-12 grade, Auditor Tom Salmon a 30-23, failed 2010 Lt. Gov. candidate Mark Snelling a 19-16, State Sen. Randy Brock a 16-16, and Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon the only one in negative territory, at 7-15. Therefore, Sanders bests the field by a wide margin, topping Douglas, 56-38; Dubie, 60- 34; Scott, 61-30; Salmon, 62-28; Brock, 65-28; Snelling, 62-25; and Lauzon, 63-24. He wins the huge independent vote by margins of 20 to 48 points, and earns more Republican votes than the GOP candidates do Democratic votes against everyone but Douglas, earning 6-17% of the GOP and losing only 3-7% of Democrats. “Any thought that Bernie Sanders might be vulnerable for reelection can be put to rest,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. PPP surveyed 1,233 Vermont voters from July 28th to 31st. The margin of error for the survey is +/-2.8%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates. Public Policy Polling Phone: 888 621-6988 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Web: www.publicpolicypolling.com Raleigh, NC 27604 Email: [email protected] Vermont Survey Results Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Bernie Sanders’ job performance? of Phil Scott? Approve .......................................................... 67% Favorable........................................................ 33% Disapprove...................................................... 28% Unfavorable .................................................... 12% Not sure .......................................................... 5% Not sure .......................................................... 55% Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Randy Brock? of Mark Snelling? Favorable........................................................ 16% Favorable........................................................ 19% Unfavorable .................................................... 16% Unfavorable .................................................... 16% Not sure .......................................................... 68% Not sure .......................................................... 65% Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Q9 If the candidates for Senate next year were of Jim Douglas? Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican Randy Brock, who would you vote for? Favorable........................................................ 56% Bernie Sanders ............................................... 65% Unfavorable .................................................... 29% Randy Brock ................................................... 28% Not sure .......................................................... 14% Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Undecided....................................................... 7% of Brian Dubie? Q10 If the candidates for Senate next year were 48% Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican Favorable........................................................ Jim Douglas, who would you vote for? Unfavorable .................................................... 33% Bernie Sanders ............................................... 56% Not sure .......................................................... 19% Jim Douglas .................................................... 38% Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Thom Lauzon? Undecided....................................................... 6% 7% Q11 If the candidates for Senate next year were Favorable........................................................ Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican Unfavorable .................................................... 15% Brian Dubie, who would you vote for? Not sure .......................................................... 77% Bernie Sanders ............................................... 60% Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Brian Dubie ..................................................... 34% of Tom Salmon? Undecided....................................................... 6% Favorable........................................................ 30% Unfavorable .................................................... 23% Not sure .......................................................... 47% July 28-31, 2011 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 1,233 Vermont voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Q12 If the candidates for Senate next year were Q17 Would you describe yourself as very liberal, Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat Thom Lauzon, who would you vote for? conservative, or very conservative? Bernie Sanders ............................................... 63% Very liberal...................................................... 15% Thom Lauzon.................................................. 24% Somewhat liberal ............................................ 25% Undecided....................................................... 13% Moderate......................................................... 30% Q13 If the candidates for Senate next year were Somewhat conservative.................................. 20% Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican Tom Salmon, who would you vote for? Very conservative ........................................... 9% Q18 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2. Bernie Sanders ............................................... 62% Woman ........................................................... 52% Tom Salmon .................................................... 28% Man................................................................. 48% Undecided....................................................... 10% Q19 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican, Q14 If the candidates for Senate next year were press 2. If you are an independent or identify Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican with another party, press 3. Phil Scott, who would you vote for? Democrat ........................................................ 37% Bernie Sanders ............................................... 61% Republican...................................................... 24% Phil Scott......................................................... 30% Independent/Other.......................................... 40% Undecided....................................................... 9% Q20 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2. Q15 If the candidates for Senate next year were Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican White .............................................................. 94% Mark Snelling, who would you vote for? Other............................................................... 6% 62% Bernie Sanders ............................................... Q21 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to Mark Snelling .................................................. 25% 45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are older than 65, press 4. Undecided....................................................... 13% 10% Q16 Who did you vote for President in 2008? 18 to 29........................................................... 30 to 45........................................................... 28% John McCain................................................... 32% 46 to 65........................................................... 42% Barack Obama................................................ 60% Older than 65 .................................................. 20% Someone else/Don't remember ...................... 8% July 28-31, 2011 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 1,233 Vermont voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Crosstabs 2008 Vote 2008 Vote John Bar ack Someone else/Don't John Bar ack Someone else/Don't Bas e McCain Obam a remember Bas e McCain Obam a remember Sanders