ARKANSAS IDOL: Poll numbers high for Gov. Mike Beebe

  • ARKANSAS IDOL: Poll numbers high for Gov. Mike Beebe

The Arkansas Poll was released this morning by the University of Arkansas and here’s the summary of results. Quick scan highlights:

Advertisement

* CONCERNS: It’s the economy. Period.

* GOV. BEEBE: Approval rating remains stratospheric — 72 percent favorable.

Advertisement

* SENATORS: Approval ratings for both Sens. John Boozman and Mark Pryor below 50 percent with Boozman, at 44 percent, only a point higher than Blanche Lincoln before he routed her.

* PRESIDENT: Barack Obama’s approval remains terrible at 31 percent among likely voters, several points below his vote in Arkansas in 2008 and unchanged from last year.

Advertisement

* PARTY AFFILIATION: Republicans are nearing Democrats in the number self-identifying as members of that party, with the split this year among Republicans, Democrats and independents considered likely voters 29-33-31. BUT … a strong plurality of independents — 48-28 — consider themselves closer to Republicans than Democrats. The liberal-moderate-conservative split was 16-34-47 (still, in sum, a majority for moderation, barely)

* OUTLOOK: Remarkably sunny. 71 percent think Arkansas is headed in the right direction; most are the same or better off; most think things will remain the same or get better. Hard times? What hard times?

* ISSUES: To broadly simplify: A significant number think climate change is a problem; most don’t think health care changes have made things worse; the percentage opposing any legal recognition, civil union or marriage, for gays, has dropped to 50 percent; most support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Here’s how the university summarized it.

Advertisement

Help to Keep Great Journalism Alive in Arkansas

Join the fight for truth and become a subscriber of the Arkansas Times. We've been battling powerful forces for 48 years through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, our readers value great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing and supporting our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage. Together, we can continue to hold the powerful accountable and bring important stories to light. Subscribe now or donate for as little as $1 and be a part of the Arkansas Times community.

Previous article ‘Take Shelter’ a stunner Next article Gene Lyons joins the Arkansas Times’ lineup