PPP has released a poll for North Carolina today that confirms Rasmussen's poll from last week: Obama is ahead in North Carolina, 47 to 45.
Here is the link to the poll:
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/...
Some notable information in the poll. The rise of the economy as the moving factor in people's choice for President. As PPP explains:
In the previous survey the economy polled as the biggest issue for 58% of North Carolians, a new record. This week that figure increased to 64%. Obama has a 55-38 advantage with voters who name the economy as their top concern.
Of course, the biggest thing moving the electorate in North Carolina is the economy, no surprise given that the state is heavily exposed in the banking and financial industry.
Another notable shift is the number of whites in North Carolina supporting Obama. A couple of weeks ago it was 32%, this week it is 36%. Furthermore, PPPs poll today only has African Americans making up 20% of respondents, given the huge surge in voter registration by African Americans in North Carolina this year, this could be seen as a conservative estimate.
Palin's effect? Well it looks like she is now a drag on the ticket in North Carolina! Her selection has made MORE North Carolinans LESS LIKEY to vote for McCain (41% less vs 38% more likey). This nosedive is evident in urban areas (52% vs 33%), suburbs (49% vs 33%), and even small towns (39% vs 38%).
Where is Obama drawing his strength? Well according to the PPP poll it is coming from Charlotte (49%-44%) and Raleigh research triangle area (54%-38%). Even more stunning is how competitive Obama is in Western North Carolina (46%-48%) and southern parts of North Carolina (46%-48%). In the cross tabs it is also evident that the reason for much of Obama's surge is due to Independents. Right now Obama is winning Dems (74%-18%), losing Reps (9%-87%), but winning Independents handily (48%-37%). Relatedly, the largest group of undecideds left in North Carolina is among Independents.
Some have questioned the partisan id for the poll (48% Dem, 34% Rep, and 18% Indies). I'd like to remind people that the latest voter registration numbers in the state peg the electorate at 45.34% Democrats, 32.55% Republicans, and 22.07% Independents. For those interested here is the latest voter registration information for North Carolina:
Dems Reps Ind
1/05/08 2,511,446 1,919,575 1,173,399
5/03/08 2,625,522 1,933,434 1,242,924
6/07/08 2,634,241 1,933,069 1,245,209
7/05/08 2,640,850 1,934,505 1,253,102
8/02/08 2,669,616 1,937,735 1,282,698
9/06/08 2,688,252 1,941,247 1,300,848
9/12/08 2,695,336 1,944,169 1,306,550
9/20/08 2,705,614 1,948,087 1,313,400
9/27/08 2,722,815 1,955,114 1,324,875