The Civitas Institute, associated with several organizations such as the John Locke Foundation funded by the family of Art Pope, has a new twist on the “Gov. Perdue's popularity keeps falling” theme. It notes in its new poll that outgoing Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory now leads Perdue by 14 points. Is it a case of buyer's remorse, the institute asks?
McCrory must be wondering about all those voters: Where were you when I needed you? (He lost the race for governor last year to Bev Perdue.)
Here's part of the Civitas Poll's analysis:
RALEIGH, N.C. – Just nine months after defeating Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory in the race for Governor, Bev Perdue now trails McCrory by 14 points in a hypothetical matchup according to a new poll released today by the Civitas Institute.
According to the live caller poll of 600 voters, if the election for Governor were held today, 46 percent of voters would support McCrory. 32 percent would vote for Perdue. 22 percent of voters were unsure.
McCrory leads among Republicans (80-7) and Unaffiliateds (45-28), while Perdue is only garnering a bare majority of her own party’s support (52-21).
“It’s pretty clear that many voters in North Carolina are now having buyer’s remorse,” said Civitas Institute Senior Legislative Analyst Chris Hayes. “Perdue’s $1.6 billion tax increase proposal and her handling of the budget crisis have cost her politically – so much so that even voters who overwhelmingly backed her are now not willing to voice support for her.”
