Winthrop/ETV poll results

Give thumbs-up to performance of national, state, local governments, thumbs down to tax increases to improve infrastructure; almost 30 percent say humans not to blame for global warming

Poll conducted between Feb. 2 and Feb. 17 (except Feb. 3). Poll was conducted among 722 randomly sampled South Carolinians over the age of 18. It has a margin of error of plus/minus 3.65 percent.

Among the Winthrop/ETV Poll findings:

• Almost 60 percent of respondents characterized their current financial situation as either excellent or good, with 50 percent saying their financial circumstances as a whole are getting better. This despite the fact that almost 80 percent said that overall, economic conditions in the country are getting worse.
• Over 80 percent of those who were polled said that they can trust the national government to do what is right some of the time, most of the time, or just about always. On the state level, over 90 percent of respondents said they could trust state government to do what is right some of the time, most of the time, or just about always. And on the local level, almost 86 percent said that they can trust their local government to do what is right some of the time, most of the time, or just about always.
• Over 60 percent of respondents oppose a small increase in the gasoline tax for the purpose of improving South Carolina’s roadways and repairing old bridges.
• When asked if the cigarette tax should be increased, and, if so, how should the resulting money be spent, almost 27 percent said there should be no increase whatsoever, while almost 52 percent of those who favored it, targeted offsetting Medicaid costs as how the additional money should be spent.
• Almost 30 percent of respondents said that global warming is mostly the result of natural causes, with almost 28 percent saying the effects of global warming are being exaggerated, or aren’t even real. Still, over 36 percent said the federal government needs to take immediate action to combat global warming.

Among the additional findings:

• Almost 60 percent of South Carolinians felt that the current criminal penalties for both domestic abuse and driving under the influence of alcohol were too lenient.
• Almost one-quarter of those polled said they did not know enough about the issue of school vouchers to either support or oppose them. This is reminiscent of the results of a previous Winthrop/ETV poll, released in Sept. 2007, only this one taken exclusively among African Americans, that found 33 percent said they either did not know enough about the issue, or were not sure how they stood on the subject of school vouchers.
• Over 47 percent thought the next president should gradually reduce all troop levels with the eventual goal of complete withdrawal.
• The issue of abortion remains complex for South Carolinians. While over 53 percent believe a woman should be able to obtain a legal abortion in certain circumstances, almost one-quarter of respondents said abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.
• Over half of the respondents disapprove of the way George W. Bush is doing his job as president and his handling of the war in Iraq.

The results:

Some people seem to follow what's going on in government and public affairs most of the time, whether there's an election or not. Others aren't that interested. How often would you say that you follow what is going on in government and public affairs: Most of the time, some of the time, only now and then, or hardly at all?

Most of the time	60.8
Some of the time	25.3
Only now and then	9.1
Hardly at all	4.3
Don't know/Refused	0.4

Do you subscribe to a daily newspaper?

Yes	50.7
No	49.2
Don’t know/ Refused	0.1

What is your primary source for news about the state of South Carolina? Is it television news, newspapers, radio, the Internet, talking with friends or family, or something else?

Television news	57.6
Newspapers	23.3
Radio	3.8
Internet	10.7
Friends or family	2.4
Something else	1.3
Don’t know/ Refused	1.0

What is your primary source for news about your county, town or city? Is it television news, newspapers, radio, the Internet, talking with friends or family, or something else?

Television news	35.0
Newspapers	44.2
Radio	2.5
Internet	6.5
Friends or family	8.0
Something else	2.1
Don’t know/ Refused	1.7

Currently, the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately in South Carolina. Do you think the candidates for governor and lieutenant governor should run together on one ticket or continue to be elected separately?

Run together	30.9
Elected separately	56.3
Don’t know/ Refused	12.8

In South Carolina, we have several statewide elected offices. These include the Secretary of State, Superintendent of Education, Comptroller General, Commissioner of Agriculture, and others. Some people believe that it would increase the efficiency and effectiveness of government if some of these positions were appointed by the governor, while others feel that they should continue to be elected and remain directly accountable to the voters. Which of these comes closer to your opinion?

Appointed by governor	18.2
Continue to be elected	75.6
Don’t know/ Refused	6.2

Thinking about the current path that our nation is taking, do you think our country is on the right track or headed in the wrong direction?

Right track	27.6
Wrong direction	59.3
Don't know / Refused	13.1

Now, thinking about the current path that South Carolina is taking, do you think our state is on the right track or headed in the wrong direction?

Right track	51.5
Wrong direction	34.8
Don't know / Refused	13.8

How much of the time do you think you can trust the national government in Washington to do what is right: Just about always, most of the time, only some of the time, or never.

Just about always	2.5
Most of the time	19.4
Some of the time	59.5
Never	17.2
Don't know/Refused	1.4

How much of the time do you think you can trust the state government in Columbia to do what is right: Just about always, most of the time, only some of the time, or never.

Just about always	4.7
Most of the time	31.6
Some of the time	54.0
Never	7.6
Don't know/Refused	2.1

How much of the time do you think you can trust your local government to do what is right: Just about always, most of the time, only some of the time, or never.

Just about always	5.5
Most of the time	33.8
Some of the time	46.6
Never	11.5
Don't know/Refused	2.5

Right now, do you think that economic conditions in the country as a whole are getting better or getting worse?

Getting better	14.3
Getting worse	77.7
Don't know/ Refused	7.9

How concerned are you about the possibility of losing your job in the next year? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned?

Very concerned	15.7
Somewhat concerned	11.7
Not very concerned	14.4
Not at all concerned	53.3
Don't know/ Refused	5.0

If you had to find a new job in the next year, do you believe that you would need additional education or job training?

Yes	42.4
No	52.1
Don't know/ Refused	5.6

How would you rate your financial situation today: Excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

Excellent	12.5
Good	47.1
Fair	27.9
Poor	11.9
Don't know/ Refused	0.6

Right now do you think that your financial situation as a whole is getting better or getting worse?

Better	50.4
Worse	34.6
don't know/ refused	15.0

Some people believe that providing school vouchers to parents so they can send their children to private schools would best help parents get their children out of failing public schools, while others feel that vouchers take desperately needed money away from the public school system.

From what you know, or have heard, do you favor or oppose school vouchers, or do you not know enough to say?

Favor	30.1
Oppose	44.9
Don’t know enough to say	24.6
Refused	0.4

Some people believe that elected officials best serve their constituents when they remain strongly loyal to their party. Others believe that they best serve their constituents when they are willing to work together with members of the opposing party. How about you? Do you believe elected officials best serve their constituents through: [rotate answers]

Remaining loyal to their party	19.6
Working with the opposition party	69.5
Not sure (volunteered)	10.3
Refused (volunteered)	0.6

Some have proposed that South Carolina increase the cigarette tax and use the money to either: [Rotate] Reduce income tax on the highest income bracket, or to offset increasing Medicaid costs.

Which of these proposals would you prefer, or would you rather the cigarette tax not be increased?

Reduce income tax on highest bracket	11.4
Offset Medicaid costs	51.9
Cigarette tax not increased	26.6
Don’t know/ Refused	10.0

Do you smoke cigarettes?

Yes	21.4
No	78.6
Don’t know/ Refused	0.0

Some have proposed a small increase in the gasoline tax for the purpose of improving South Carolina's roadways and repairing old bridges. Would you favor or oppose such a proposal?

Favor	34.5
Oppose	62.3
Don’t know/ Refused	3.2

Do you believe that current criminal penalties for domestic abuse in South Carolina are too harsh, about right, or too lenient?

Too harsh	3.9
About right	18.1
Too lenient	59.2
Not sure/ Don’t know [volunteered]	18.8
Refused	0.0

Do you believe that current criminal penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol in South Carolina are too harsh, about right, or too lenient?

Too harsh	3.1
About right	29.1
Too lenient	59.1
Not sure/ Don’t know [volunteered]	8.8
Refused	0.0

Payday lenders allow people to borrow money when they write a postdated check. The check is written for the amount to be borrowed plus a fee and is cashed after the borrower receives their next paycheck unless they renew the loan. If you were to translate this fee into an Annual Percentage Rate, such as you might have on a credit card or home loan, what would you estimate the Annual Percentage Rate on a typical payday loan to be? **The ACTUAL annual percentage rate on a typical payday loan in SC is 396%**

The mean guess by respondents was 82.48%.
The modal guess was 20% and the median guess was less than 30%.

Do you think that the state of South Carolina should further regulate the payday loan industry?

Yes	76.2
No	13.5
Not sure	9.9
Refused	0.4

[Only asked of those who said “yes” or “not sure” when asked if the payday loan industry should be regulated] Other states have regulated the payday lending industry in both of the following ways. Which of the following would you prefer for South Carolina: [Rotate] Capping the amount of interest and fees that payday lenders may charge, or outlawing the business of payday lending?

Capping the amount of interest	51.1
Outlawing	40.5
Not sure	8.3
Refused	0.2

Some believe that money has too much influence in state elections while others feel that our current system works just fine. Would you support or oppose a proposal for South Carolina to have a system of public financing for candidates who agree to spending limits and pledge not to accept campaign contributions from special interests?

Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

Strongly support	35.4
Somewhat support	23.8
Somewhat oppose	13.0
Strongly oppose	18.0
Not sure	9.5
Refused	0.4

If this system would cost each taxpayer about three dollars and sixty cents a year and would reduce the impact that money has on elections would you support or oppose it?

Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

Strongly support	42.4
Somewhat support	21.6
Somewhat oppose	10.0
Strongly oppose	19.9
Not sure	6.0
Refused	0.0

We'd like to get your thoughts on Global Warming. Which of the following statements comes closest to your beliefs: [rotate]

Global warming is real and is occurring now	54.8
Global warming is real but won't be a problem for a long time	11.5
The effects of global warming are being exaggerated	21.1
Global warming is not real	6.7
Not sure [volunteered]	5.5
Refused [volunteered]	0.4

[Not asked of those who do not believe global warming is real, those who weren’t sure about global warming, or those who refused to answer the question on global warming] Which do you think explains most of the reason that global warming is occurring: [rotate]

Global warming is mostly the result of human activity	51.3
Global warming is mostly the result of natural causes	29.3
Both equally [volunteered]	17.0
Not sure [volunteered]	2.4
Refused [volunteered]	0.0

Which of the following comes closest to your preference regarding U.S. policy toward global warming?

The U.S. government should take immediate action to combat global warming	36.1
The U.S. government should continue to try to understand global warming and adopt modest policy as needed	47.1
The U.S. government should take no action regarding global warming	9.7
Not sure [volunteered]	6.4
Refused [volunteered]	0.7

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is doing his job as president?

Approve	41.6
Disapprove	51.0
Not sure	6.6
Refused	0.8

Do you believe that the war in Iraq has made America safer or created additional threats to our security?

Safer	42.3
Additional threats	47.8
Not sure	9.8
Refused	0.1

Do you approve or disapprove of George W. Bush's handling of the war in Iraq?

Approve	38.0
Disapprove	55.8
Not sure	5.9
Refused	0.3

Some have argued that stability in Iraq will require stepped up efforts from the Iraqi government. Which of the following do you think would be most likely to spur or aid action by the Iraqi government: [rotate]

Begin drawing down combat troops as an incentive to the Iraqi government to step up	43.5
Leave combat troops in place as a buffer to protect the Iraqi government while it works	30.6
Leave it to the military/ generals to decide [volunteered]	14.6
Not sure [volunteered]	10.7
Refused [volunteered]	0.6

What action do you think the next president of the United States should take with regard to the level of US troops in Iraq: [Rotate]

Draw down the number of combat troops but leave a smaller defensive force	13.1
Gradually reduce all troop levels with the goal of completely withdrawing in time	47.4
Immediately withdraw all troops	12.1
Do not change current troop levels	9.6
Increase troop levels	2.8
Leave it to the military/generals to decide [volunteered]	9.4
Not sure [volunteered]	5.5
Refused [volunteered]	0.1

Many people are debating about how to better control health care costs and increase the number of people covered. One idea would require those who can afford it to purchase private health insurance while the government provides coverage for those who can't afford it. Would you favor or oppose such a plan or haven't you thought much about this issue?

Favor	43.6
Oppose	31.4
Haven’t though much	23.3
Refused	1.8

Do you think abortion should be legal under any circumstances, legal only under certain circumstances, or illegal in all circumstances?

Legal under any	18.6
Legal only under certain	53.3
Illegal in all	22.4
Not sure	4.3
Refused	1.4

In South Carolina, it is unconstitutional for gays and lesbians to marry. Assuming that this will not change, do you believe that long term same sex couples should have legal rights similar to those of married heterosexual couples even though they are not allow to marry?

Yes	35.0
No	58.9
Not sure	5.0
Refused	1.1

Would you say that crime committed by gangs in your local area is a major problem, a minor problem, or not much of a problem at all?

Major	30.3
Minor	35.2
Not much	30.4
Not sure	4.1
Refused	0.0

Would you say that gang violence in your local area has increased, decreased, or remained about the same over the past 3 years?

Increased	52.7
Decreased	4.1
Remained same	34.8
Not sure	8.2
Refused	0.1

How would you describe your political beliefs: Very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, very conservative?

Very liberal	6.4
Somewhat liberal	14.8
Moderate	25.0
Somewhat conservative	27.0
Very conservative	20.5
Not sure	5.6
Refused	0.7

Generally speaking, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?

Republican	38.9
Democrat	28.8
Independent	27.7
Other	2.7
Don't know/Refused	1.8