For Immediate Release: May 14, 2008
Media Contact: Laura Ward, Strategic Vision, LLC
Ph: (404) 880-0098
Email: lward@strategicvision.biz
McCain Leads Obama 54% To 40% In GA
Chambliss Leads All Democrats
Jones Leads Democrats In Senate Race
President’s Job Approval At 41%
Atlanta, GA/May 14, 2008 – Strategic Vision, LLC, a public relations and public affairs agency, announced the results of a three-day poll of 800 likely Georgia voters. The poll has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points. In the poll, 368 (46%) Republican voters were surveyed; with 328 (41%) Democratic voters surveyed; and 104 (13%) Independents and other party affiliation polled.
The poll found that 57% of respondents approved of Governor Sonny Perdue’s job performance, with 33% disapproving, and 10% undecided. Senator Saxby Chambliss received a 54% approval rating with 32% disapproving, and 14% undecided. Senator Johnny Isakson received a 57% approval rating, with 30% disapproving, and 13% undecided.
“Governor Perdue and Senator Isakson remain the most popular figures in Georgia,” said David E. Johnson, CEO and Co-Founder of Strategic Vision, LLC. “Their popularity transcends political lines and is consistent through all sections of the state. Senator Chambliss is in good shape entering the election season.”
In the Democratic race for the United States Senate, DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones led with 28%; former newsman Dale Cardwell had 20%; 2006 Democratic Lt. Governor nominee Jim Martin had 15%; Rand Knight had 11%; Josh Lanier had 5% and 21% were undecided.
In a potential Senate match-up between Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss and Democrat DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones, Chambliss led 58% to 29%; with 13% undecided. In a potential match-up between Chambliss and Democrat Dale Cardwell, Chambliss led with 57% to 27% for Cardwell, and 16% undecided. In a potential match-up between Chambliss and Democrat Rand Knight, Chambliss led 58% to 25% with 17% undecided. In a potential match-up between Chambliss and Democrat Josh Lanier, Chambliss led 57% to 24% with 19% undecided.
“At this point, Senator Chambliss is well positioned for re-election and is particularly strong in South and North Georgia,” said Johnson. “The base Democratic vote at this point appears to be between 25% to 30% starting off which will pose a challenge for the Democrats to expand upon, especially as Georgia’s Senate race will not be targeted by Democrats due to races with more potential in Minnesota, New Hampshire, Maine, Virginia, New Mexico, and Nebraska.”
President Bush’s overall approval was 41% approving, 47% disapproving, and 12% undecided. When asked if they approved of the President’s handling of the economy, 35% approved; 49% disapproved; and 16% were undecided. When asked if they approved of the President’s handling of the Iraq War, 41% approved; 42% disapproved; and 17% were undecided. When asked if they approved of the President’s handling of the war on terrorism, 55% said approved; 37% disapproved; and 8% were undecided.
“The President’s poll support is far lower then what one would expect in a state like,” said Johnson. “Much of this low support is due to the economy which has replaced Iraq as the President’s Achilles Heal and dissatisfaction among Republicans except on the issue of defense.”
When asked if they favored an immediate withdrawal of United States military forces from Iraq within 6 months, 39% said yes; 48% said no; and 13% were undecided.
When Republicans were asked if they viewed President Bush as a conservative in the mode of Ronald Reagan, 8% said yes; 80% said no; and 12% were undecided.
“The President continues to be in trouble with his conservative base as demonstrated by this question,” said Johnson. “Rank and file Republicans feel betrayed by the President and feel that he has deserted from the conservative path.”
When asked if voters approved or disapproved of the way Congress is handling its job, 13% approved; 75% disapproved; and 12% were undecided.
“For Democrats the good news should be that the President’s poll numbers are so low in a Republican leaning state like Georgia that it may affect Republican candidates. Yet the flip side is that voters don’t approve of the Democratic Congress which could hurt incumbents like John Barrow and Jim Marshall,” said Johnson.
When Republicans were polled on potential gubernatorial candidates for 2010, the results were Lt. Governor Casey Cagle 19%; State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine 12%; Congressman Jack Kingston 11%; House Speaker Glenn Richardson 9%; State Secretary of State Karen Handel 7%; Congressman Lynn Westmoreland 5%; and 37% undecided.
“At this point there is no clear frontrunner to succeed Governor Perdue on the Republican side and the race is very much in flux,” said Johnson.
When asked if they thought Georgia was headed in the right direction or wrong direction, 53% said right direction; 30% said wrong direction; and 17% were undecided.
In a general election match-up for President, Republican Senator John McCain led Democrat Senator Barack Obama 54% to 40% with 6% undecided.
“This match-up is polarized among racial lines,” said Johnson. “Also McCain is in trouble among voters who identify themselves as strong conservatives.”
Poll Results
1. Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Sonny Perdue’s overall job performance?
|
Approve |
57% |
|
Disapprove |
33% |
|
Undecided |
10% |
2. Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Saxby Chambliss’ overall job performance?
|
Approve |
54% |
|
Disapprove |
32% |
|
Undecided |
14% |
3. Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Johnny Isakson’s overall job performance?
|
Approve |
57% |
|
Disapprove |
30% |
|
Undecided |
13% |
4. If the primary for the United States Senate Democratic nomination was held today, whom would you support, Dale Cardwell, Vernon Jones, Rand Knight, Josh Lanier, or Jim Martin? (Democrats Only)
|
Vernon Jones |
28% |
|
Dale Cardwell |
20% |
|
Jim Martin |
15% |
|
Rand Knight |
11% |
|
Josh Lanier |
5% |
|
Undecided |
21% |
5. If the election for United States Senate were held today, whom would you vote for Saxby Chambliss, the Republican or Vernon Jones, the Democrat?
|
Saxby Chambliss |
58% |
|
Vernon Jones |
29% |
|
Undecided |
13% |
6. If the election for United States Senate were held today, whom would you vote for Saxby Chambliss, the Republican or Dale Cardwell, the Democrat?
|
Saxby Chambliss |
57% |
|
Dale Cardwell |
27% |
|
Undecided |
16% |
7. If the election for United States Senate were held today, whom would you vote for Saxby Chambliss, the Republican or Rand Knight, the Democrat?
|
Saxby Chambliss |
58% |
|
Rand Knight |
25% |
|
Undecided |
17% |
8. If the election for United States Senate were held today, whom would you vote for Saxby Chambliss, the Republican or Josh Lanier the Democrat?
|
Saxby Chambliss |
57% |
|
Josh Lanier |
24% |
|
Undecided |
19% |
9. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush’s overall job performance?
|
Approve |
41% |
|
Disapprove |
47% |
|
Undecided |
12% |
10. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush’s handling of the economy?
|
Approve |
35% |
|
Disapprove |
49% |
|
Undecided |
16% |
11. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq?
|
Approve |
41% |
|
Disapprove |
42% |
|
Undecided |
17% |
12. Do you approve or disapprove of President Bush’s handling of the war on terrorism?
|
Approve |
55% |
|
Disapprove |
37% |
|
Undecided |
8% |
13. Do you favor an immediate withdrawal of the United States military forces from Iraq, within the six months?
|
Yes |
39% |
|
No |
48% |
|
Undecided |
13% |
14. Do you view President Bush as a conservative in the mode of Ronald Reagan? (Republicans Only)
|
Yes |
8% |
|
No |
80% |
|
Undecided |
12% |
15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is performing its job?
|
Approve |
13% |
|
Disapprove |
75% |
|
Undecided |
12% |
16. If the Republican primary for Governor were being held today, whom would you support, Casey Cagle, Karen Handel, Jack Kingston, John Oxendine, Glenn Richardson, or Lynn Westmoreland? (Republicans Only)
|
Casey Cagle |
19% |
|
John Oxendine |
12% |
|
Jack Kingston |
11% |
|
Glenn Richardson |
9% |
|
Karen Handel |
7% |
|
Lynn Westmoreland |
5% |
|
Undecided |
37% |
17. Do you think Georgia is headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?
|
Right |
53% |
|
Wrong |
30% |
|
Undecided |
17% |
18. If the election for President were held today, whom would you support, John McCain, the Republican or Barack Obama, the Democrat?
|
John McCain |
54% |
|
Barack Obama |
40% |
|
Undecided |
6% |
Strategic Vision, LLC is an Atlanta-headquartered public relations and public affairs agency. Results are based on telephone interviews with 800 likely voters in Georgia, aged 18+, and conducted May 9-11, 2008. The margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. Additional information on Strategic Vision, LLC may be obtained at www.strategicvision.biz.
