For Immediate Release Media Contact: Laura Ward, Strategic Vision, LLC
Ph: (404) 880-0098
Email: lward@strategicvision.biz
Giuliani Leads In Tight GOP Race 25% To 21% For Huckabee
Clinton Leads Obama 48% to 31%
Crist Approval At 60%
57% Favor Constitutional Ban On Same Sex Marriages
Atlanta, GA/December 19, 2007 – Strategic Vision, LLC, an Atlanta-based public relations and public affairs agency, announced the results of a three-day poll of likely voters in Florida on various political issues. In the poll, 41% (492 respondents) identified themselves as Democrats; 39% (468 respondents) identified themselves as Republicans; and 20% (240 respondents) identified themselves as independents or other party affiliation. The poll has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.
The results of the poll showed that 37% of those polled approved of President Bush’s overall job performance; with 57% disapproving; and 6% undecided. When asked to rate the President’s handling of the economy, 24% approved; 61% disapproved; and 15% were undecided. On the issue of Iraq, the poll found 28% approved of the President’s handling; with 62% disapproving; and 10% undecided. When asked on the President’s handling of the war on terrorism, the poll found that 54% approved, 41% disapproved, and 5% were undecided.
“The President’s numbers increased slightly since our November poll with a marked improvement in his handling of the war,” said David E. Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision, LLC. “Much of this improvement can be detected upon conservative Republicans returning back to the fold. Democrats continue to be nearly unanimously opposed to the President on every issue as do many Independent voters. The problem for the President is that while he has improved his position slightly, nearly a third of Republicans still disapprove of his job performance, particularly female Republicans.
When Republicans were asked if they viewed President Bush as a conservative in the mode of Ronald Reagan, 8% said yes; 78% said no; and 14% were undecided.
“This question continues to be a problem for the President,” said Johnson. “Originally in 2000, he portrayed himself as a Reagan Republican and maintained strong support among base Republicans because of this. Today, he is no longer viewed that way. In order to really move his overall numbers, the President must reconnect with Republicans and convince them that he is a true Reagan conservative.”
When asked if voters approved or disapproved of the way Congress is handling its job, 15% approved; 74% disapproved; and 11% were undecided.
“For Democrats the good news should be that the President’s poll numbers continue to be low in pivotal battleground state such as Florida that it may affect Republican candidates such as Congressman Vern Buchanan. Yet the flip side is that voters don’t approve of the Democratic Congress, which could hurt incumbents like Tim Mahoney, who is one of the most endangered incumbents in the country,” said Johnson. “The current Congress continues to be the one of the most unpopular in recent memory with dissatisfaction widespread among all political persuasions.”
When asked if they favored an immediate withdrawal of United States military forces from Iraq within 6 months, 47% said yes; 38% said no; and 15% were undecided.
“The number favoring a swift withdrawal from Iraq decreased since November which is in line with what we are seeing in other states,” said Johnson. “The strongest area in the state favoring an immediate withdrawal is South Florida.”
The poll showed 60% of respondents approving of Governor Charlie Crist’s job performance; 30% disapproving; and 10% undecided.
“While Governor Crist remains one of the most popular some of the luster is beginning to wear off in his approval numbers,” said Johnson. “Interestingly the largest group expressing disapproval at his job performance are social conservative Republicans. The Governor’s support is weakest in the Central Florida area.”
Senator Bill Nelson received a job approval of 52%; with 33% disapproving; and 15% undecided. Senator Mel Martinez received a job approval of 46%; with 40% disapproving; and 14% undecided.
“Senator Martinez has yet to make a strong impression on Florida voters and needs to create a stronger impression on voters prior to 2010,” said Johnson.
When asked if they favored adding a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, 57% of respondents said yes; 32% said no; and 11% were undecided.
The poll asked Republican respondents their choices for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2008. The results were, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani with 25%; former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee 21%; Arizona Senator John McCain 15%; former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney 13%; former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson 10% Texas Congressman Ron Paul 4%; Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo 2%; California Congressman Duncan Hunter 1%; and 9% undecided.
“The Republican race continues to remain highly volatile,” said Johnson. “While Guiliani retains a narrow lead within the margin of error, his support has decreased dramatically since our November poll while, Huckabee has surged to second place. The question concerning Huckabee is how deep is his support and should he flounder in the early states will his supporters remain loyal. At this point in time, it appears that social conservatives are coalescing around Huckabee as they had earlier Fred Thompson.
“In a race as unpredictable as the current race, McCain, Romney, and even Thompson are still very much in the thick of the race and could benefit from either a Giuliani or Huckabee collapse,” continued Johnson. “Republicans could potentially have four to five viable candidates when the race comes to Florida. Such a scenario would benefit Guilaini as it would divide the conservative vote. Most interesting is the McCain revival particularly in the I-4 corridor.”
When Republicans were asked how important it was for their presidential candidate to be conservative in the mode of Ronald Reagan, 46% said very important; 27% said somewhat important; 6% said not very important; 12% said not important; and 9% were undecided.
“The candidate who can best identify with this desire for a Reagan-like candidate will be the one who can win,” said Johnson. “At this point Huckabee appears to be succeeding at this among conservatives.”
The poll asked Democrats their choice for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2008. New York Senator Hillary Clinton led with 48%; Illinois Senator Barack Obama 31%; former North Carolina Senator John Edwards with 6%; New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson with 3%; Delaware Senator Joseph Biden with 2%; Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd with 1%; Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich received 1%; and 8% undecided.
“Clinton for the most part stayed stable in her showing since our November poll while Obama increased his showing by 4%,” said Johnson. “Obama increased his showing among white college educated females and in the Tampa Bay area while Clinton clearly dominates the race in South Florida.”
When Democratic voters were asked what they most looked for in a presidential candidate, charisma, experience, or ideology, 30% selected experience; 25% said charisma;23% selected ideology; and 22% were undecided.
“The number of Democrats seeking experience over charisma narrowed considerably over the past month and could benefit Obama if he defeats Clinton in the early contests,” said Johnson.
1. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush’s overall job performance?
Approve |
37% |
Disapprove |
57% |
Undecided |
6% |
2. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush’s handling of the economy?
Approve |
24% |
Disapprove |
61% |
Undecided |
15% |
3. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush’s handling of Iraq?
Approve |
28% |
Disapprove |
62% |
Undecided |
10% |
4. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush’s handling of the war on terrorism?
Approve |
54% |
Disapprove |
41% |
Undecided |
5% |
5. Do you view President Bush as a conservative in the mode of Ronald Reagan? (Republicans only)
Yes |
8% |
No |
78% |
Undecided |
14% |
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is performing its job?
Approve |
15% |
Disapprove |
74% |
Undecided |
11% |
7. Do you favor an immediate withdrawal of the United States military forces from Iraq, within the next six months?
Yes |
47% |
No |
38% |
Undecided |
15% |
8. Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Charlie Crist’s job performance?
Approve |
60% |
Disapprove |
30% |
Undecided |
10% |
9. Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Bill Nelson’s job performance?
Approve |
52% |
Disapprove |
33% |
Undecided |
15% |
10. Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mel Martinez’s job performance?
Approve |
46% |
Disapprove |
40% |
Undecided |
14% |
11. Do you favor or oppose a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages??
Favor |
57% |
Oppose |
32% |
Undecided |
11% |
12. Who is your first choice for the Republican nomination in 2008? (Republicans only)
Rudy Giuliani |
25% |
Mike Huckabee |
21% |
John McCain |
15% |
Mitt Romney |
13% |
Fred Thompson |
10% |
Ron Paul |
4% |
Tom Tancredo |
2% |
Duncan Hunter |
1% |
Undecided |
9% |
13. How important is it for the Republican presidential candidate to be a conservative Republican in the mode of Ronald Reagan, very important, somewhat important, not very important, not important, or undecided? (Republicans only)
Very Important |
46% |
Somewhat Important |
27% |
Not Very Important |
6% |
Not Important |
12% |
Undecided |
9% |
14. Who is your first choice for the Democratic nomination in 2008? (Democrats only)
Hillary Clinton |
48% |
Barack Obama |
31% |
John Edwards |
6% |
Bill Richardson |
3% |
Joseph Biden |
2% |
Christopher Dodd |
1% |
Dennis Kucinich |
1% |
Undecided |
8% |
15. When making your selection for a presidential candidate, what are you looking for most in the candidate, charisma, experience, or ideology? (Democrats only)
Experience |
30% |
Charisma |
25% |
Ideology |
23% |
Undecided |
22% |
Strategic Vision, LLC is an Atlanta-headquartered public relations and public affairs agency. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1200 likely voters in Florida, aged 18+, and conducted December 14-16, 2007. The margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. Additional information on Strategic Vision, LLC may be obtained at www.strategicvision.biz.
###