Peter Brown, Assistant Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 535-6203 Rubenstein Associates, Inc Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843- FOR RELEASE: JUNE 1, 2010 MORE U.S VOTERS WANT ARIZONA-LIKE IMMIGRATION LAW, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY NATIONAL POLL FINDS; SUPPORT FOR OFFSHORE DRILLING DROPS American voters say 48 – 35 percent they want their state to pass an immigration law similar to Arizona’s and by an overwhelming 76 – 12 percent they say that plans by those opposed to the law to boycott Arizona are a bad idea, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today Voters approve 51 – 31 percent of the Arizona law; think 45 – 36 percent it will reduce illegal immigration and want 66 – 26 percent immigration reform to move in the direction of stricter enforcement rather than integrating immigrants into American society, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds While voters say 49 – 44 percent that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico does not make them less likely to support offshore drilling, support for offshore drilling to help America become less dependent on foreign oil is at 53 – 40 percent, down from 62 – 32 percent in an August 20, 2008, Quinnipiac University survey “The Arizona immigration law has emerged as a major divide in the country, but the numbers are on the side of those supporting it,” said Peter A Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute “The strong plurality who says they would like a similar law in their own state probably portends the law will be an issue in many, many campaigns this November across the country Depending on how those elections and court challenges come out, copy cat Arizona laws could be a hot issue in state capitals after November.” The support for the Arizona law comes despite the 45 – 40 percent belief by voters that it will lead to discrimination against Hispanics -more- Quinnipiac University Poll/June 1, 2010 – page Support for the Arizona law and the desire to have a similar statute in their own state follows a similar demographic pattern: More than two-thirds of Republicans; more than half of independents and less than a third of Democrats are in favor On the desire to have a similar law in their own state, men agree 55 – 35 percent, while women agree 42 – 36 percent The biggest gaps come along generational lines: Voters 18 to 34 years old oppose such a law in their state 43 – 36 percent, but voters 35 to 54 years old support such a law 52 – 33 percent and voters over 55 support such laws 55 – 32 percent White voters back the idea 53 – 32 percent, while black voters oppose it 43 – 26 percent and Hispanic voters oppose it 52 – 37 percent “Support for the Arizona law and its extension divides along political and racial lines, with much stronger support from men than women,” Brown said “While young voters are split on the law in Arizona, they don’t want it in their state “And no group believes a boycott is a good idea.” On offshore drilling, there is a clear partisan hue to the data Although 53 percent overall support new exploration, that breaks down to 78 percent of Republicans, 49 percent of independent voters and only 41 percent of Democrats Republican voters say 72 – 25 percent that the Gulf oil spill has not reduced their support for offshore drilling But Democrats are having second thoughts 54 – 38 percent, as are independent voters 48 – 45 percent “Despite their support for continued offshore drilling, voters disapprove 42 – 39 percent of President Barack Obama’s handling of the oil spill,” said Brown “Given that Democrats are generally preferred on issues like the environment; these numbers are a warning sign to the White House that the oil spill could become a political problem.” From May 19 – 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,914 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research For more data or RSS feed– http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter 13 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? Approve Disapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove DK/NA Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His 39% 42 19 23% 58 19 55% 29 16 39% 44 17 37% 47 17 41% 39 21 33% 47 20 69% 21 10 50% 24 26 AGE IN YRS 18-34 35-54 55+ INCOME 100K POL PHIL Lib Mod Con 46% 35 18 38% 41 21 57% 29 15 38% 46 16 34% 44 22 39% 43 17 43% 45 13 43% 37 20 25% 57 18 WHITE NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve Disapprove DK/NA 38% 42 19 41% 42 17 25% 54 21 31% 48 21 37% 49 15 27 In general, how serious a problem you think illegal immigration is in the United States? A very serious problem, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not a problem at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Very serious 59% Smwht serious 26 Not very serious 10 Not a problem at all DK/NA 77% 18 - 44% 34 14 59% 26 11 2 62% 23 11 57% 29 62% 26 50% 27 10 44% 30 15 11 - AGE IN YRS 18-34 35-54 55+ Very serious 45% Smwht serious 31 Not very serious 16 Not a problem at all DK/NA 62% 27 - 68% 23 1 INCOME 100K POL PHIL Lib Mod Con 61% 24 10 36% 38 21 - 62% 26 49% 32 12 55% 32 76% 16 WHITE NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Very serious problem 64% Smwht serious 24 Not very serious Not a problem at all DK/NA 47% 33 15 - 75% 22 - 68% 25 - 66% 26 1 TREND: How serious a problem is illegal immigration into the United States – a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, not too serious a problem or not a problem at all? Jun Mar 2010 2006 Very serious 59 Smwht serious 26 Not too serious 10 Not a problem at all DK/NA 57 31 28 Do you think immigration reform should primarily move in the direction of integrating illegal immigrants into American society or in the direction of stricter enforcement of laws against illegal immigration? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Integration 26% Stricter enforcement 66 DK/NA 10% 85 41% 50 21% 70 24% 70 28% 63 22% 71 32% 54 14 47% 44 AGE IN YRS 18-34 35-54 55+ Integration 39% Stricter enforcement 56 DK/NA 24% 70 18% 71 11 INCOME 100K POL PHIL Lib Mod Con 25% 67 52% 42 29% 65 30% 63 25% 67 11% 83 WHITE NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Integration 23% Stricter enforcement 69 DK/NA 35% 59 12% 83 17% 77 24% 70 29 Based on what you've heard or read, you approve or disapprove of Arizona's new immigration law? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Approve Disapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove DK/NA 51% 31 18 75% 12 13 28% 49 23 57% 26 16 59% 30 11 45% 31 24 58% 26 16 25% 40 35 34% 54 12 AGE IN YRS 18-34 35-54 55+ INCOME 100K POL PHIL Lib Mod Con 39% 38 23 46% 30 24 28% 55 17 55% 29 16 58% 26 17 57% 31 12 59% 33 48% 33 19 71% 14 14 WHITE NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Approve Disapprove DK/NA 52% 26 21 49% 42 68% 15 17 66% 19 15 59% 27 14 30 Would you want your state to pass a law similar to Arizona's new immigration law or not? Yes No DK/NA Yes No DK/NA Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His 48% 35 17 71% 16 13 29% 51 20 51% 33 15 55% 35 11 42% 36 22 53% 32 15 26% 43 31 37% 52 11 AGE IN YRS 18-34 35-54 55+ INCOME 100K POL PHIL Lib Mod Con 36% 43 21 44% 35 20 23% 62 16 52% 33 15 55% 32 14 54% 34 12 51% 40 46% 37 16 68% 17 14 WHITE NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Yes No DK/NA 50% 31 19 42% 48 10 64% 19 16 61% 25 14 54% 33 13 31 Do you think Arizona's new immigration law will or will not reduce illegal immigration? Will Will not DK/NA Will Will not DK/NA Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His 45% 36 19 63% 21 16 35% 44 22 47% 36 17 51% 36 12 40% 36 24 48% 34 17 30% 38 32 37% 49 15 AGE IN YRS 18-34 35-54 55+ INCOME 100K POL PHIL Lib Mod Con 39% 37 24 39% 37 23 34% 51 15 50% 35 16 45% 38 17 52% 34 14 54% 38 41% 40 19 60% 23 17 WHITE NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Will Will not DK/NA 45% 34 21 46% 42 12 57% 25 18 52% 31 17 50% 35 15 32 Do you think Arizona's new immigration law will or will not lead to discrimination against Hispanics? Will Will not DK/NA Will Will not DK/NA Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His 45% 40 15 26% 63 11 63% 20 17 41% 44 15 45% 46 45% 36 19 40% 46 14 57% 16 27 68% 21 11 AGE IN YRS 18-34 35-54 55+ INCOME 100K POL PHIL Lib Mod Con 57% 23 20 45% 37 18 71% 18 10 45% 43 12 35% 52 13 42% 46 11 53% 40 51% 35 14 24% 60 15 WHITE NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Will Will not DK/NA 42% 41 17 54% 38 31% 58 11 35% 54 11 41% 48 11 33 Some have suggested that Arizona should be boycotted because of its new immigration law Do you think a boycott of Arizona is a good idea or a bad idea? Good idea Bad idea DK/NA Good idea Bad idea DK/NA Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His 12% 76 12 5% 90 21% 62 17 7% 82 11 16% 78 9% 75 16 9% 82 10 22% 52 26 24% 70 AGE IN YRS 18-34 35-54 55+ INCOME 100K POL PHIL Lib Mod Con 15% 69 16 12% 74 14 19% 69 11 12% 79 9% 81 10 8% 85 16% 79 15% 75 10 4% 86 WHITE NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 10% 77 13 17% 76 5% 86 6% 87 8% 82 10 34 To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, you support or oppose - drilling for new oil supplies in currently protected areas off shore? Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His 53% 40 78% 18 41% 52 49% 45 59% 37 49% 42 53% 42 55% 33 11 58% 31 11 AGE IN YRS 18-34 35-54 55+ INCOME 100K POL PHIL Lib Mod Con 50% 44 53% 41 31% 66 56% 39 55% 36 58% 36 53% 44 51% 43 72% 21 WHITE NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Support Oppose DK/NA 56% 36 45% 51 67% 27 61% 33 57% 40 TREND: To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, you support or oppose drilling for new oil supplies in currently protected areas off shore? Support Oppose DK/NA Jun 2010 Aug 20 2008 53 40 62 32 35 Does the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico make you less likely to support drilling for new oil supplies in currently protected areas off shore or not? Yes No DK/NA Yes No DK/NA Yes No DK/NA Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His 44% 49 25% 72 54% 38 48% 45 43% 53 45% 47 44% 51 42% 43 15 52% 40 AGE IN YRS 18-34 35-54 55+ INCOME 100K POL PHIL Lib Mod Con 48% 46 45% 47 62% 34 45% 51 42% 50 43% 53 45% 53 WHITE NoColl Coll BrnAgn Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath Support DrillQ34 42% 51 19% 76 52% 45 32% 62 35% 59 45% 53 52% 43 25% 68 ... their support for offshore drilling But Democrats are having second thoughts 54 – 38 percent, as are independent voters 48 – 45 percent “Despite their support for continued offshore drilling, voters. . .Quinnipiac University Poll/ June 1, 2010 – page Support for the Arizona law and the desire to have a similar statute in their own state follows a similar demographic pattern: More than... problem.” From May 19 – 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,914 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas