A new poll shows that voters are almost evenly split on whether to vote for Democrats or Republicans in the legislature.
Public Policy Polling asked 593 North Carolina voters which party they would prefer if legislative elections were held today. According to the poll, 43 percent would vote Democratic, 42 would select a Republican and 15 percent were undecided.
PPP's Tom Jensen notes the numbers look promising for Republicans, who have been the minority party in the legislature for most of the last 100 years.
"As we begin 2010 Republicans probably do have their best chance since 1994 of grabbing control of both houses of the General Assembly," Jensen said. "Of course a lot could change between now and November — it would have been hard last December to imagine things looking as dreary for Democrats as they do right now."
The Senate looks particularly tantalizing to Republicans since several seats in competitive districts will be open next year.
The poll, which was conducted Dec. 11-13, had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
Comments
Re: Poll: Voters divided on legislature
December 19, 2009 - 9:28pm — taylorAs candidate for the Democratic nomination to NC Senate, Dist. 15 (North Raleigh and the Town of Wake Forest), I am not dissauded from running by the dark prognosis by the media and pollsters for the Democratic Party in the N. C. General Assembly, if not the whole country, in 2010.
A lot can change between now and next November. But the issues that challenge us the most today will likely still be on the table a year from now. The people will have to decide if health care costs are affordable, if mortages and credit are available, if a quality environment is evolving, and if small businesses are surviving, before they accept the failed politicies of the past or the new ideas for the future.
I have faith that the people will have the intelligence to know if the latest Democratic Party efforts are going in the right direction, if not totally solving, the great issues that the people know the Republican Party took years to create. The big, ugly problems inherited by the Democrats call for a big makeover, and it is a job that is still in the active phase.
Charles Malone
Raleigh
charlesmalonencsenate.com