PPP has some interesting news for us today. In the red corner, GOP voters are clearly having a difficult time between backing an establishment Art Pope foot soldier or a Tea Party loon and schemer:
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/...
PPP's newest North Carolina poll finds that Thom Tillis' support has declined after a month defined by his gaffes on the campaign trail, and that he's now tied for the Republican Senate nomination with Greg Brannon. Tillis and Brannon are both at 14%, followed by Heather Grant at 11%, Ted Alexander and Mark Harris at 7%, Alex Bradshaw at 6%, Jim Snyder at 4%, and Edward Kryn at 1%. A month ago Tillis led Brannon 20/13.
Tillis drew a lot of attention last month for his comments on Obamacare and the minimum wage, and what he said about those things doesn't play well with the Republican base. On the day he filed Tillis made news by suggesting he didn't think there should be a minimum wage- but even among GOP primary voters only 27% support eliminating it to 56% that would be opposed to such a move. Even more problematic for Tillis could be his statement expressed last week that 'Obamacare is a great idea that can't be paid for.' Only 15% of primary agree with Tillis' sentiment that 'Obamacare is a great idea,' compared to 78% who say they disagree with it.
Overall it continues to look like the Republican primary contest is headed for a runoff unless someone really breaks away in the final eight weeks before the primary. With 8 candidates and almost all of them getting some level of support, it is looking like it will be hard for anyone to reach the 40% threshold to win the primary outright. - PPP, 3/11/14
And in the blue corner, Senator Kay Hagan (D. NC) is getting her lead back:
The general election for the Senate race continues to look like a toss up, with every potential match up within 2 points one way or the other. The numbers are a slight improvement for Kay Hagan compared to a month ago- she leads Thom Tillis 45/43, Edward Kryn 43/41, and Heather Grant 43/42, she is tied with Alex Bradshaw, Greg Brannon and Mark Harris at 43, and she trails Jim Snyder 43/42 and Ted Alexander 45/43. A month ago she trailed in head to heads with all of the Republicans except Kryn.
The issues are starting to set up a little bit better for Hagan as well. There is overwhelming support for the proposed minimum wage hike to $10 an hour that the leading Republicans oppose, 59/33. The GOP candidates have said they think the state should have the right to ban birth control but only 12% of North Carolinians agree with them, compared to 75% who disagree. And even the numbers when it comes to Obamacare are getting a little bit better- in November 69% of voters in the state said they considered the rollout to have been unsuccessful, compared with only 25% who rated it a success. Now those numbers are much closer with those labeling it unsuccessful down to 54% and those calling it a success rising to 40%. - PPP, 3/11/14
Hagan's approval rating is 41/50 but she's on the right side when it comes to the issues. You can read the full results here:
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/...
It's still a toss up race but Hagan's on the side of the voters when it comes to the issues and a primary runoff looks possible. But lets make sure Hagan's campaign is ready to go against Art Pope, the Koch Brothers and the GOP. If you want to donate or get involved with her re-election campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.kayhagan.com/