Edwards' support limited in state

The Daily Tar Heel ^ | 3/31/03 | India Autry

[LdSentinal]

Almost half of North Carolinians think U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., is performing well in his position but do not support his decision to run for president in 2004, according to UNC's Carolina Poll.

Experts say this anomaly could be a result of North Carolinians' desire to keep the senator in-state.

The poll, conducted Sunday to Thursday last week by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, asked a random sample of N.C. residents how they rate the job Edwards is doing as a senator -- "excellent," "good," "only fair," or "poor." The poll comprised opinions of 615 people and had a 4 percent margin of error.

Ten percent of the people polled said excellent, 39 percent said good, 24 percent said only fair and 11 percent gave Edwards a poor rating. Sixteen percent of the people polled did not have an answer.

According to the poll's final results, Edwards received a positive rating of 49 percent. UNC political science Professor Thad Beyle defined a positive rating as the combined percentages of "excellent" and "good" responses.

Overall ratings of elected officials are declining because of the economy, and Edwards' rating falls within the 40 percent to 60 percent range common for senators, he said.

But for North Carolinians, Edwards' popularity as a senator does not translate into approval as a presidential candidate. When asked whether they support or oppose Edwards' decision to seek the Democratic nomination for president, 35 percent of those polled said they support it, 40 percent said they are opposed and 25 percent didn't have an answer.

Patrick Basham, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a nonprofit public policy research foundation, said he is surprised by these results.

Considering the high rating of Edwards' performance as senator, the lack of support seems to stem from a desire to retain him as N.C. senator rather than from a question of whether he's qualified to be president, Basham said. Good ratings as a senator might do well for Edwards' self-esteem, but they don't help his bid for president, he added.

But Edwards' campaign spokeswoman, Jennifer Palmieri, said she has seen support at significantly greater percentages in other polls, crediting inconsistency to timing. "Opinions are not that well-formed yet," she said. "I'm not surprised to see the numbers move around."

Palmieri said she is confident that as the campaign progresses, Edwards will win state support.

But support won't shift anytime soon, Beyle said. "Other things have people's attention right now."

Aside from a potential change in sentiment, Beyle said, he thinks the Carolina Poll is an accurate representation of the state's view.

But Basham said the poll results, accurate or not, are unhelpful for Edwards because he would like to present himself as a Democrat able to win the support of a conservative state such as North Carolina.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Landslide Lyndon ?

[Overtaxed]

But for North Carolinians, Edwards' popularity as a senator ...

Popularity? What popularity?

[freeper12]

>>could be a result of North Carolinians' desire to keep the senator in-state

Yea, that might be it...</sarcasm off>

[Adder]

Hunh...I wasn't polled. Was anyone polled that you know? How do you expect to get a random sample in the triangle area?[assumption on my part]

I wanna be polled! I wanna say poor poor POOR! to every question! :}

[wbill]

North Carolinians' desire to keep the senator in-state

This is one North Carolinian that would love to get rid of him. Unfortunately, I'm not looking to promote him. Anyone out there need a good-looking, ambulance-chasing trial lawyer? He's free to a good home.

[azhenfud]

Sound the NC siren for Blinkey!

[LdSentinal]

Ping

[Blackyce]

This is a ridiculous article. since when did a 49% approval rating mean popular. Approval ratings are not tightly linked to partisanship. People can approve of someone, without wanting to vote for them. Edwards cant even get 50% of us to say he's doing an allright job.

[SouthernFreebird]

Experts say this anomaly could be a result of North Carolinians' desire to keep the senator in-state

Bwahahahahahahahaha

[onedoug]

Almost half of North Carolinians think U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., is performing well...."

So they're happy that socialism is advancing?

[jamz]

Socialism is advancing in NC...Chapel Hill...Carrboro...Cary...

Edwards better run for Pres in 2004...cause his a$$ is toast running for senator. Hopefully, Sue Myrick or Richard Burr will run. Sadly...I believe Burr is going to run for governor. We definately need him to beat Mike "taxes too" Easley.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Edwards can't do better than a 49% approval, and he hasn't even started running that far leftward for the presidential primary electorate. Congressman Richard Burr is going to send Jon Boy crying home to his hair stylist. I hope Edwards doesn't see the writing on the wall and actually stays in the Dem presidential primaries through at least South Carolina, because the longer he stays in the presidential hunt, the easier Burr's victory will be.

[JohnnyZ]

Burr has basically already announced and won the primary, if any, for the senate race.

Myrick ruled out a run for senate in Decemberish, and hasn't made any noise about Gov.

Looks like Ballantine, Vinroot, and a couple others still looking at the governorship. It also looks like the legislative Republicans are going to let the controlling Democrats give Easley all the tax hikes he wants and then use it against him in the election.

[kylaka]

The headline should read "Majority think Edwards not doing a good job".

[defeat_the_dem_igods]

UNC's Carolina Poll

now that's a polling source we can trust for its objectivity!

from opensecrets.org Senator John Edwards (D-NC)
Contributions by Sector   Summary Data Geographic Totals Sector Totals Top Industries Top Contributors
defeat_the_dem_igods

[gop_gene]

This is a ridiculous article. since when did a 49% approval rating mean popular.

That's right--and funny, isn't it, when Bush's approval rating starts to go down to the mid-to-low-50's, he's in trouble, but Edward at 49% is a positive thing? Go figure.

[Commander8]

Edwards is too moderate for the Democrat Party's liberal/progressive base. I predict he'll see the writing on the wall after losing in New York and then he'll take his marbles and go home.

[TontoKowalski]

This is a ridiculous article.

Even more ridiculous than you state. From the article:

The poll comprised opinions of 615 people and had a 4 percent margin of error.

Note this is not likely voters, not even registered voters, not even adults, not even residents, JUST PEOPLE.

[votelife]

I'd like to see the Estrada issue play a BIG role in Edwards senate campaign (I'll be shocked if he's nominated for Pres, even VP would be a surprise.)

Freepers, rather than waiting to see what happens with Estrada, we need to take the lead. That means presuring Senators, special interest groups, media organizations, etc. This thread is meant to be an ongoing effort to get this man confirmed. For too many years liberals have had their way on the courts. Now, President Bush is in a position to move the courts to the right. The election of '02 showed that the country is with the President. I think it's time to let Daschle, Hillary, and Pelosi know this is Bush country. Are you with me! Let's FREEP these people.

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=847037%2C132