Update: Gallup on Giuliani's Social Views
Mark Blumenthal | February 7, 2007
Topics: 2008 , The 2008 Race
An update on my post last week on a new USA Today/Gallup poll that tested awareness of Rudy Giuliani's positions on social issues among Republicans: Today, Gallup released their own analysis of the questions mentioned briefly in last week's article by USA Today's Susan Page that provides the complete text of the questions.
The Gallup analysis includes one added bit of detail about the question that asked Republicans how they would react knowing that "Rudy Giuliani supports civil unions and is pro-choice on abortion." They tabulated the results among those currently supporting Giuliani on the Republican primary vote preference question:
Of those favoring Giuliani in the two-way match with McCain, a little over one-third say they would either rule out voting for Giuliani entirely (10%) or be less likely to support him (25%) as a result of knowing his positions on abortion and same-sex civil unions.
The analysis also included the full text of questions probing awareness of Giuliani's positions on abortion and civil unions for same sex couples. Actually, Gallup asked the same questions about both Guiliani and John McCain, and in each instance an overwhelming majority of voters are unsure of the candidate's position:
The results above should not surprise, although it is worth remembering that Gallup asked these questions of all Republicans and those independents who say they "lean" Republican, making no attempt to select likely primary voters. While the smaller population of Republican primary voters is probably better informed, the difference is likely one of degree. Primary or not, most voters know little about the issue positions of even the best known candidates.
By Mark Blumenthal | February 7, 2007 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)
Comments
Is the difference between likely primary voters and the wide net Gallup casts really one of "degree"? That seems a little counterintuitive to me -- wouldn't primary voters be much less likely, for instance, to choose the incorrect position (i.e. to say he's pro-life)? Sure lots of them are uninformed, but I feel like they're not likely to be misinformed or guessing.
I could be wrong, of course. I'm just curious as to your logic in calling it "a difference of degree."
Posted on February 9, 2007 1:46 AM
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