06.24.09
Texas Lyceum poll shows economy, unemployment as main concerns
The one theme that jumps out from reviewing the Texas Lyceum Poll is that Texas is in flux. With almost half the respondents (46%) identifying as independent of either major political party. And there is no clear favorite for either party’s choice for governor, or who should replace Kay Bailey Hutchison in the US Senate, if she does decide to challenge Rick Perry. The poll finds a state that is worried about the economy and unemployment in Texas and the country. But also extremely willing to spend money to make health care more accessible and affordable, develop new energy technology, and improve education.
Here are the two excerpts from summaries:
..finds Texans slow to choose sides in next year’s race for governor and a possible race for U.S. Senate.
But Gov. Rick Perry leads U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, his major challenger in the Republican primary, with 33% to her 21% and more than 40% of potential Republican primary voters still undecided. Kinky Friedman leads a Democratic trial heat where 80% of the voters haven’t decided. And while Houston Mayor Bill White leads a field of eight in a field for a Senate special election, nearly three out of four voters don’t name a favorite in that contest.
[...]
finds Texans concerned about the national economy and their retirement prospects, but relatively confident about the state economy and in most cases, about their immediate personal financial situations.
They’re open to allowing civil unions and/or same-sex marriages; in favor — across party lines — of requiring people to show photo identification before being allowed to vote; split on using tax money to pay for stem cell research; and while they generally support federal efforts to deal with the economy, most agree with the state’s decision not to take federal stimulus money to bolster the unemployment insurance program.
Employment and the economy are foremost in their minds, and they believe the worst is still ahead. They remain optimistic about their children’s prospects, and they’re willing to give the federal government more time before making a final judgment regarding the success of federal efforts to fix the economy.
While there is still strong public support for Voter ID, attitudes on same sex marriage and civil unions appear to be changing.
Most Texans don’t oppose same-sex unions, but they’re split in their support for marriage or civil unions. While more than a third (36%) oppose either arrangement, 32% said they would support civil unions and another 25% think same-sex marriages should be permitted. The poll found a distinct partisan
difference, with civil unions as the preference of 29% of Democrats, 31% of Independents and 37% of Republicans; same-sex marriage the preferred alternative of 36% of Democrats, 25% of Independents, and 14% of Republicans.
Allowing neither of those alternatives was the preference of 29% of Democrats, 35% of Independents, and 43% of Republicans.[...]
The recent legislative session ended without any resolution of the Voter ID issue, which divided Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature. But voters support the idea (71%), and more than half of them “strongly” support it (54%). It’s a winner across party lines, with support among Democrats (58%), Independents (68%), and Republicans (86%). Support for Voter ID is stronger among Anglos (78%) and African-Americans (75%) than with Hispanics (59%), but all of those groups support the idea. And only 2% of Texans are undecided on the issue.
But with so much of the peoples focus now on economic issues it’s likely in the next election cycle that these other issues will be taking a back seat to choosing leaders that will do what’s needed on the issues most important to Texans. Also President Obama has an excellent approval rating in Texas with 68% like the way he’s handling the job as president.
It’s good information worth poring over, it’s findings are likely to be cussed and discussed over in the near future. All the pertinent information can be found at the Texas Lyceum Poll Page 2009.