Roanoke College Poll
Release April 10, 2012
1. Do you think things in the Commonwealth of Virginia are generally going in the right
direction or do you think things have gotten off on the wrong track?
Right direction
41% (243)
Wrong track
45% (264)
Unsure/mixed
14% (82)
2. Do you think things in the COUNTRY are generally going in the right direction or do
you think things have gotten off on the wrong track?
Right direction
23% (134)
Wrong track
71% (423)
Unsure/mixed
6% (38)
3. A year from now, do you expect that economic conditions in the country as a whole
will be better than they are at present, or worse, or just about the same as now?
Better
38% (210)
Worse
26% (143)
About the same
36% (200)
4. In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling his
job as Governor of Virginia?
Approve
56% (286)
Disapprove
30% (151)
Mixed/unsure
14% (73)
5. In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his
job as President of the United States?
Approve
38% (224)
Disapprove
54% (320)
Mixed/unsure
9% (51)
6. In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?
Approve
9% (54)
Disapprove
81% (471)
Mixed/unsure
10% (58)
7. What do you think is the most important problem facing the country today?
Economy (general)
34% (201)
Unemployment/jobs
19% (112)
Budget deficit/debt
7% (42)
Gas prices/energy
6% (34)
All others
34% (204)
Unsure
1% (5)
Please tell me if you have a generally favorable or unfavorable impression of the
following people or if you don’t know enough about them to have formed an opinion.
8. President Barack Obama
Favorable
41% (250)
Unfavorable
49% (297)
Mixed/unsure
8% (45)
Don’t Know
2% (11)
9. Governor Bob McDonnell
Favorable
46% (275)
Unfavorable
24% (143)
Mixed/unsure
15% (89)
Don’t Know
16% (95)
12. Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney
Favorable
27% (164)
Unfavorable
43% (261)
Mixed/unsure
16% (97)
Don’t Know
13% (80)
13. Former Governor George Allen
Favorable
38% (227)
Unfavorable
28% (169)
Mixed/unsure
10% (63)
Don’t Know
24% (144)
14. Former Governor Tim Kaine
Favorable
40% (240)
Unfavorable
32% (193)
Mixed/unsure
10% (57)
Don’t Know
19% (112)
15. As you may know, by 2014 nearly all Americans will be required to have health
insurance. People who do not buy insurance will pay a penalty while people who cannot
afford it will receive financial help from the government. Do you approve or disapprove
of this policy?
Approve
32% (189)
Disapprove
57% (343)
Mixed
9% (52)
Don’t Know
3% (15)
Results for Q. 16-20 will be released soon.
16. What is your present religion, if any? Are you Protestant, Roman Catholic, Mormon,
Orthodox such as Greek or Russian Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu,
atheist, agnostic, something else, or nothing in particular?
[NOTE TO INTERVIEWER: If the respondant says Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran,
Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Episcopalian, Church of Christ, or Disciples of Christ,
Congregational or United Church of Christ, Holiness, Reformed, Church of God,
Nondenominational or Independent Church code this as PROTESTANT and select
the appropriate response for the next question.]
17. IF RESPONDENT SAID NATIVE AMERICAN, WICCAN, PAGAN, ETC, DO NOT
READ, BUT ENTER CODE 2 (NOT CHRISTIAN) Do you think of yourself as a
Christian or not?
18. DO NOT READ QUESTION IF R VOLUNTEERED DENOMINATION IN
PREVIOUS QUESTION. RECORD RESPONSE IN APPROPRIATE CATEGORY. As
far as your present religion, what denomination or church, if any, do you identify with
most closely? Just stop me when I get to the right one. Are you (READ) Baptist,
Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Episcopalian, Church of Christ, or
Disciples of Christ, Congregational or United Church of Christ, Holiness, Reformed,
Church of God, Nondenominational or Independent Church, Something else Or none in
particular?
19. To help describe your faith, would you say that you agree or disagree with each of
the following statements:
The Bible is the word of God.
Christians should share their faith in Jesus with others who might not already
believe.
Salvation only comes through Jesus and not through the practice of other
religions.
20. Do the following terms describe your religious identity?
Born-again
Bible-believing
Evangelical
Fundamentalist
21. Are you registered to vote in Virginia?
Yes
90% (537)
No
10% (62)
22. If the election for United States Senate were held today and the two candidates
were George Allen, the Republican and Tim Kaine, the Democrat, would you vote for
[ROTATE]
Tim Kaine
36% (211)
George Allen
44% (257)
Undecided/Someone else
19% (113)
(VOLUNTEERED)
23. How much thought have you given to the coming presidential election? Quite a lot,
only a little or none at all?
Quite a lot
64% (379)
Only a little
27% (160)
None at all
10% (56)
24. Over the course of the campaign, are you getting more interested or less interested
in the outcome of the election this November or is your interest the same?
More interested
67% (393)
Less interested
19% (112)
The same
14% (81)
Results for Q. 25-27 will be released soon.
25. In addition to being a political leader, some people also see the President, whoever
it may be, as a moral leader. Do you see the President as a moral leader?
Yes
No
Unsure
26. Thinking about your vote for President, how important is it for a candidate to have
very strong religious beliefs. Is it very important, somewhat important, not very
important, or not important at all?
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not important at all
27. And what if a candidate had religious beliefs that were very different form yours?
Would you be more likely to vote for them, less likely to vote for them, or would it make
no difference to your vote?
More likely
Less likely
No difference
28. Just in general, how well do you think Barack Obama understands the needs of
people like you? Very well, fairly well, not too well, or not at all well?
Very well
24% (140)
Fairly well
27% (157)
Not too well
16% (93)
Not at all well
33% (192)
29. Just in general, how well do you think Mitt Romney understands the needs of people
like you? Very well, fairly well, not too well, or not at all well? Very well
Very well
11% (56)
Fairly well
29% (154)
Not too well
29% (153)
Not at all well
31% (165)
30. And if the election for President were held today, and the candidates were Barack
Obama and Mitt Romney, would you vote for Barack Obama, the Democrat or Mitt
Romney, the Republican [ROTATE]? [OTHER RESPONSES VOLUNTEERED]
Obama
40% (237)
Romney
46% (271)
Uncertain
8% (48)
Someone else
6% (35)
31. [IF OBAMA] How certain are you that you will vote for Obama? Are you very
certain, somewhat certain or not certain?
Very certain
Somewhat certain
Not certain
81% (190)
14% (33)
5% (10)
32. [IF ROMNEY] How certain are you that you will vote for Romney? Are you very
certain, somewhat certain or not certain?
Very certain
72% (193)
Somewhat certain 21% (55)
Not certain
7% (19)
33. [IF OBAMA] How enthusiastic are you to vote for Obama? Are you very
enthusiastic, somewhat enthusiastic or not enthusiastic?
Very enthusiastic
62% (143)
Somewhat enthusiastic
31% (73)
Not enthusiastic
7% (17)
34. [IF ROMNEY] How enthusiastic are you to vote for Romney? Are you very
enthusiastic, somewhat enthusiastic or not enthusiastic?
Very enthusiastic
31% (83)
Somewhat enthusiastic
47% (125)
Not enthusiastic
22% (57)
[IF OBAMA] Would you be likely to do any of the following activities for Obama?
35. Contribute money to his campaign?
Yes
49% (117)
No
42% (100)
Maybe
8% (19)
36. Volunteer your time for the campaign?
Yes
43% (102)
No
47% (110)
Maybe
10% (23)
37. Talk to others informally about voting for him?
Yes
58% (136)
No
37% (86)
Maybe
6% (13)
38. Put a sign in your yard or a bumper sticker on your car?
Yes
50% (117)
No
Maybe
45% (105)
6% (14)
[IF ROMNEY] Would you be likely to do any of the following activities for Romney?
39. Contribute money to his campaign?
Yes
20% (52)
No
74% (195)
Maybe
6% (16)
40. Volunteer your time for the campaign?
Yes
20% (52)
No
73% (192)
Maybe
8% (20)
41. Talk to others informally about voting for him?
Yes
45% (118)
No
48% (128)
Maybe
7% (18)
42. Put a sign in your yard or a bumper sticker on your car?
Yes
30% (79)
No
64% (168)
Maybe
6% (17)
43. [IF UNCERTAIN] Are you leaning toward voting for Romney or Obama?
Obama
15% (7)
Romney
29% (13)
Uncertain
51% (23)
Someone else
5% (2)
44. [IF UNCERTAIN] Is it possible that you won’t vote in November?
Yes
36% (74)
No
65% (134)
45. [IF YES TO 44] Would you be more likely to vote if someone other than Romney
was the Republican nominee?
Yes
56% (40)
No
24% (17)
Unsure
20% (14)
Results for Q. 46-56 will be released soon.
46. Do you happen to know if Barack Obama is Protestant, Catholic, Mormon, Jewish,
Muslim, atheist, agnostic, or some other religion?
Protestant
Catholic
Mormon
Jewish
Muslim
Atheist
Agnostic
Some other religion
DK/NA
47. [IF SOME OTHER RELIGION] And do you know if he is a Christian or not?
Christian
Not Christian
48. Does Obama’s religion make you more likely to vote for him, less likely or make no
difference in your vote?
More likely
Less likely
No difference
49. Do you happen to know if Mitt Romney is Protestant, Catholic, Mormon, Jewish,
Muslim, atheist, agnostic, or some other religion?
Protestant
Catholic
Mormon
Jewish
Muslim
Atheist
Agnostic
Some other religion
DK/NA
50. [IF SOME OTHER RELIGION] And do you know if he is a Christian or not?
Christian
Not Christian
51. Does Romney’s religion make you more likely to vote for him, less likely or make no
difference in your vote?
More likely
Less likely
No difference
52. Now thinking about the Mormon religion, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints, how much would you say you know about the Mormon religion and
its practices? A great deal, some, not very much or nothing at all?
A great deal
Some
Not very much
Nothing at all
53. Please tell me what one word best describes your impression of the Mormon
religion. Tell me just the one best word that comes to mind. [OPEN-END.]
54. [ASK IF R IS NOT A MORMON] Do you, yourself happen to know anyone who is
Mormon?
Yes
No
55. [ASK IF R IS NOT A MORMON] Based on what you have read or heard about
Mormons, do you think their religion is a Christian religion, or do you think it is not a
Christian religion?
Mormon is Christian
Mormon is not Christian
Unsure
56. [ASK IF R HAS A RELIGION OTHER THAN MORMONISM AND NOT ATHEIST,
AGNOSTIC OR NOTHING IN PARTICUALR AND NOT CHRISTIAN]
From what you know, do you think that the Mormon religion and your own religion have
a lot in common, or do you think that the Mormon religion and your religion are very
different?
A lot in common
Very different
57. Now, I'd like to ask some questions about you. How old are you?
18-29
10% (61)
30-49
33% (199)
50-64
39% (234)
65 or older
18% (109)
58. Code respondent's sex
Male
48% (292)
Female
52% (311)
59. How much education have you completed?
Less than high school
4% (24)
High School
20% (120)
Some college/tech school
24% (145)
Associate’s degree
8% (48)
Bachelor’s degree
26% (157)
Advanced degree
18% (105)
60. I'm going to read several income groups. When I come to the group that includes
your annual family income, please stop me.
Less than $20,000
10% (53)
$20,001-$35,000
11% (63)
$35,001-$50,000
19% (105)
$50,001-$75,000
20% (109)
$75,001-$100,000
16% (88)
More than $100,000
25% (138)
61. What is your race?
White
African-American
Other
78% (472)
16% (95)
6% (36)
62. In what county do you live? [IF NOT IN COUNTY, THEN WHICH CITY. IF THERE
IS A CITY AND COUNTY WITH THE SAME NAME, ASK IF THEY LIVE IN CITY OR
COUNTY.] RECODED TO REGION
Southwest Virginia
19% (115)
Shenandoah Valley
8% (49)
Southside
11% (67)
Central VA/Richmond
21% (129)
Northern VA
22% (131)
Tidewater
19% (112)
63. Politically speaking, do you consider yourself to be liberal, moderate or
conservative?
Liberal
17% (101)
Moderate
38% (223)
Conservative
Other
40% (235)
5% (27)
64. And would you describe your political party affiliation as Democrat, Republican,
Independent, some other party or no affiliation?
Democrat
30% (166)
Republican
33% (182)
Independent
29% (163)
Other/None
8% (45)
65. From what you have heard about the Tea Party movement, do you strongly agree,
agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with their views or don't you know enough to have
an opinion either way?
Strongly agree
10% (46)
Agree
30% (133)
Neutral
14% (60)
Disagree
23% (104)
Strongly disagree 23% (102)