Raleigh, N.C. The race to replace Ted Kennedy in the US Senate is looking like a toss
up, with Republican Scott Brown up 48-47 on Martha Coakley.
Brown is benefiting from depressed Democratic interest in the election and a huge lead
among independents for his surprisingly strong standing. Those planning to vote in the
special election only report having voted for Barack Obama in 2008 by a 16 point
margin, in contrast to his actual 26 point victory in the state.
That decline in turnout from Obama voters plagued Democratic candidates for Governor
in Virginia and New Jersey last fall. Beyond that 66% of Republicans say theyre very
excited about turning out while only 48% of Democrats express that sentiment.
Brown leads 63-31 with independents and is winning 17% of the Democratic vote while
Coakley receives only 6% support from GOP voters. Both candidates are relatively
popular, with 57% viewing Brown favorably to only 25% unfavorable and 50% with a
positive opinion of Coakley to 42% negative.
Those folks planning to vote in the special election are actually opposed to Obamas
health care plan by a 47/41 margin and only narrowly express approval of the Presidents
overall job performance 44/43.
Those folks planning to vote in the special election are actually opposed to Obamas
health care plan by a 47/41 margin and only narrowly express approval of the Presidents
overall job performance 44/43.
The Massachusetts Senate race is shaping up as a potential disaster for Democrats, said
Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. Martha Coakleys complacent
campaign has put Scott Brown in a surprisingly strong position and she will need to step
it up in the final week to win a victory once thought inevitable.
PPP surveyed 744 likely Massachusetts voters from January 7th to 9th. The margin of
error is +/-3.6%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may
introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Complete results are attached and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.
Q1 The candidates for US Senate are Republican
Scott Brown and Democrat Martha Coakley. If
the election was today, who would you vote
for? If Scott Brown, press 1. If Martha
Coakley, press 2. If youre undecided, press 3.
48%
Brown.............................................................
47%
Coakley...........................................................
6%
Undecided.......................................................
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Scott Brown? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If youre not sure, press
3.
57%
Favorable........................................................
25%
Unfavorable....................................................
17%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Martha Coakley? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If youre not sure, press
3.
50%
Favorable........................................................
42%
Unfavorable....................................................
9%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q4 How excited are you about casting your vote in
Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Barack
Obamas job performance? If you approve,
press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If youre
not sure, press 3.
44%
Approve..........................................................
43%
Disapprove......................................................
13%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q6 Do you support or oppose President Obamas
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion? If you support it, press 1. If you
oppose it, press 2. If you dont have an opinion,
press 3.
41%
Support...........................................................
47%
Oppose...........................................................
12%
No Opinion......................................................
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in Congress? If favorable,
press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If youre not
sure, press 3.
33%
Favorable........................................................
55%
Unfavorable....................................................
13%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
Q1 The candidates for US Senate are Republican
Scott Brown and Democrat Martha Coakley. If
the election was today, who would you vote
for? If Scott Brown, press 1. If Martha
Coakley, press 2. If youre undecided, press 3.
48%
Brown.............................................................
47%
Coakley...........................................................
6%
Undecided.......................................................
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Scott Brown? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If youre not sure, press
3.
57%
Favorable........................................................
25%
Unfavorable....................................................
17%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Martha Coakley? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If youre not sure, press
3.
50%
Favorable........................................................
42%
Unfavorable....................................................
9%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q4 How excited are you about casting your vote in
Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Barack
Obamas job performance? If you approve,
press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If youre
not sure, press 3.
44%
Approve..........................................................
43%
Disapprove......................................................
13%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q6 Do you support or oppose President Obamas
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion? If you support it, press 1. If you
oppose it, press 2. If you dont have an opinion,
press 3.
41%
Support...........................................................
47%
Oppose...........................................................
12%
No Opinion......................................................
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in Congress? If favorable,
press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If youre not
sure, press 3.
33%
Favorable........................................................
55%
Unfavorable....................................................
13%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Martha Coakley? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If youre not sure, press
3.
50%
Favorable........................................................
42%
Unfavorable....................................................
9%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q4 How excited are you about casting your vote in
the Senate election? If you are very excited,
press 1. If somewhat excited, press 2. If not
very excited, press 3. If youre not sure, press
4.
51%
Very Excited....................................................
30%
Somewhat Excited..........................................
17%
Not Very Excited.............................................
3%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in Congress? If favorable,
press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If youre not
sure, press 3.
33%
Favorable........................................................
55%
Unfavorable....................................................
13%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in Congress? If favorable,
press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If youre not
sure, press 3.
21%
Favorable........................................................
59%
Unfavorable....................................................
20%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Martha Coakley? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If youre not sure, press
3.
50%
Favorable........................................................
42%
Unfavorable....................................................
9%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q4 How excited are you about casting your vote in
the Senate election? If you are very excited,
press 1. If somewhat excited, press 2. If not
very excited, press 3. If youre not sure, press
4.
51%
Very Excited....................................................
30%
Somewhat Excited..........................................
17%
Not Very Excited.............................................
3%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Democrats in Congress? If favorable,
press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If youre not
sure, press 3.
33%
Favorable........................................................
55%
Unfavorable....................................................
13%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of the Republicans in Congress? If favorable,
press 1. If unfavorable, press 2. If youre not
sure, press 3.
21%
Favorable........................................................
59%
Unfavorable....................................................
20%
Not Sure..........................................................
744 likely Massachusetts voters from January 7th to 9th. The margin of
error is +/-3.6%
Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Barack
Obamas job performance? If you approve,
press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If youre
not sure, press 3.
44%
Approve..........................................................
43%
Disapprove......................................................
13%
Not Sure..........................................................
Q6 Do you support or oppose President Obamas
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion? If you support it, press 1. If you
oppose it, press 2. If you dont have an opinion,
press 3.
41%
Support...........................................................
47%
Oppose...........................................................
12%
No Opinion......................................................