FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 6, 2011 INTERVIEWS: DEAN DEBNAM 888-621-6988 / 919-880-4888 (serious media inquiries only please, other questions can be directed to Tom Jensen) QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLL: TOM JENSEN 919-744-6312 Barnes would edge out Deal in rematch for Georgia gov. Raleigh, N.C. – Nathan Deal beat former Governor Roy Barnes last November by ten points, but he has yet to make a strong impression on Georgia voters. 35% approve, 31% disapprove, and 34% are not sure of the work he has done so far. If voters could re-do the election now, Barnes would just edge out Deal, 46-45. But Deal is at least more popular so far than his predecessor, fellow Republican Sonny Perdue, whose work over eight years is disapproved of by a 38-46 margin. Saxby Chambliss, who had to go to a runoff to win re-election in 2008, is in a similar position as Deal, with 38% approving, 33% disapproving, and 29% not sure about his job performance. That is an improvement from last February, when 43% disapproved and the same 38% approved. Voters are just slightly less down on the man Chambliss beat in his first election in 2002, Max Cleland. 38% have a favorable opinion of him but only 30% an unfavorable one. Chambliss’ junior colleague, Johnny Isakson, is better liked, with 44% approving and only 29% disapproving of the work he is doing in the Senate. That is a drastic improvement from the 36-38 spread 13 months ago. 62% of Republicans approve, and only 45% of Democrats disapprove, while independents split 46-29 in his favor. The man Isakson succeeded, Zell Miller, has almost a 2:1 (47-24) favorability ratio. His endorsement of George W. Bush in 2004 and John McCain in 2008 has left him with only a 37-35 split with Democrats, but an enormous 58-15 with the GOP. The most popular figure PPP has measured in the state, though, is former Senator Sam Nunn, who rates a 47-18. Voters love him across the board—in fact, independents love him most (53-8), followed by Republicans (49-17), and last his own Democrats (40-24). Voters of all partisan stripes also agree that alcohol sales should be legal on Sundays. It is another measure more popular with independents (60%) and Republicans (57%) than Democrats (53%). PPP surveyed 790 Georgia voters from March 31st to April 3rd. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.5%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify. Public Policy Polling Phone: 888 621-6988 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Web: www.publicpolicypolling.com Raleigh, NC 27604 Email: [email protected] Georgia Survey Results Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Nathan Deal’s job performance? of Max Cleland? Approve .......................................................... 35% Favorable........................................................ 38% Disapprove...................................................... 31% Unfavorable .................................................... 30% Not sure .......................................................... 34% Not sure .......................................................... 33% Q2 If you could do last fall’s election for Governor Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion over again, would you vote for Democrat Roy of Sam Nunn? Barnes or Republican Nathan Deal? Favorable........................................................ 47% Roy Barnes..................................................... 46% Unfavorable .................................................... 18% Nathan Deal.................................................... 45% Not sure .......................................................... 36% Not sure .......................................................... 9% Q9 Do you think it should be legal or illegal to sell Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator alcohol on Sundays in Georgia? Saxby Chambliss' job performance? Legal............................................................... 56% Approve .......................................................... 38% Illegal .............................................................. 38% Disapprove...................................................... 33% Not sure .......................................................... 6% Not sure .......................................................... 29% Q10 Who did you vote for President in 2008? Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator 47% Johnny Isakson's job performance? John McCain................................................... Barack Obama................................................ 42% Approve .......................................................... 44% Someone Else/Don't Remember..................... 11% Disapprove...................................................... 29% Q11 Would you describe yourself as very liberal, Not sure .......................................................... 27% somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of the work conservative, or very conservative? Sonny Perdue did during his time as 11% Governor? Very liberal...................................................... Somewhat liberal ............................................ 15% Approve .......................................................... 38% Moderate......................................................... 26% Disapprove...................................................... 46% Somewhat conservative.................................. 28% Not sure .......................................................... 16% Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Very conservative ........................................... 20% of Zell Miller? Q12 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2. Favorable........................................................ 47% Woman ........................................................... 52% Unfavorable .................................................... 24% Man................................................................. 48% Not sure .......................................................... 29% March 31-April 3, 2011 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 790 Georgia voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Q13 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Q15 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to Republican, press 2. If you are an independent 45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are or identify with another party, press 3. older than 65, press 4. Democrat ........................................................ 39% 18 to 29........................................................... 18% Republican...................................................... 40% 30 to 45........................................................... 24% Independent/Other.......................................... 21% 46 to 65........................................................... 38% Q14 If you are white, press 1. If African American, Older than 65 .................................................. 20% press 2. If other, press 3. White .............................................................. 65% African American............................................. 29% Other............................................................... 6% March 31-April 3, 2011 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 790 Georgia voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Crosstabs 2008 Pres. Vote 2008 Pres. Vote John Barack Someone Else/Don't John Barack Someone Else/Don't Bas e McCain Obam a Remember Bas e McCain Obam a Remember Deal Approval Bar ne s /De al Do-ove r Approve 35% 49% 20% 31% Roy Bar ne s 46% 16% 81% 40% Disapprove 31% 15% 51% 23% Nathan De al 45% 76% 11% 41% Not s ur e 34% 36% 29% 46% Not s ur e 9% 9% 8% 19% 2008 Pres. Vote 2008 Pres. Vote John Barack Someone Else/Don't John Barack Someone Else/Don't Bas e McCain Obam a Remember Bas e McCain Obam a Remember Chambliss Approval Isakson Approval Approve 38% 56% 21% 24% Approve 44% 60% 29% 37% Disapprove 33% 20% 49% 30% Disapprove 29% 16% 46% 18% Not s ur e 29% 24% 30% 47% Not s ur e 27% 24% 25% 45% March 31-April 3, 2011 3020 Highwoods Blvd. survey of 790 Georgia voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Crosstabs 2008 Pres. Vote 2008 Pres. Vote John Barack Someone Else/Don't John Barack Someone Else/Don't Bas e McCain Obam a Remember Bas e McCain Obam a Remember Perdue 8 Years Miller Favorability Approval Favorable 47% 57% 40% 30% Approve 38% 48% 29% 24% Unfavor able 24% 16% 34% 18% Disapprove 46% 32% 61% 48% Not s ur e 29% 27% 25% 52% Not s ur e 16% 19% 10% 28% 2008 Pres. Vote 2008 Pres. Vote John Barack Someone Else/Don't John Barack Someone Else/Don't Bas e McCain Obam a Remember Bas e McCain Obam a Remember Cleland Favorability Nunn Favorability Favorable 38% 25% 51% 39% Favorable 47% 49% 44% 45% Unfavor able 30% 39% 20% 26% Unfavor able 18% 14% 23% 12% Not s ur e 33% 36% 29% 36% Not s ur e 36% 36% 33% 43% March 31-April 3, 2011 3020 Highwoods Blvd. survey of 790 Georgia voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Crosstabs 2008 Pres. Vote Ideology Very Som ew hat Som ew hat Very John Barack Someone Else/Don't Bas e liberal liberal Moderate conservative conservative Bas e McCain Obam a Remember Deal Approval Should Sun. Alcohol Approve 35% 14% 25% 24% 45% 53% Sales Be Legal or Disapprove 31% 64% 53% 40% 10% 14% Illegal? Not s ur e 34% 22% 22% 37% 45% 32% Legal 56% 57% 57% 49% Illegal 38% 38% 37% 42% Not s ur e 6% 5% 5% 9% Ideology Ideology