America s Voice Election Eve Survey Findings from a Survey of 1220 Likely 2012 General Election Voters Nationwide David Mermin and Brittany L. Stalsburg Washington, DC Berkeley, CA New York, NY LakeResearch.com 202.776.9066 Brian Nienaber Alexandria, VA tarrance.com 703.684.6688
Voters support President Obama s decision to stop deporting young immigrants by more than 2 to 1. 7 Favor/Oppose President Obama's policy 46 26 18 Favor policy Oppose policy Not sure/dk Earlier this year, President Obama announced that the U.S. government would stop deporting immigrant youth who came to this country as children but are not legal residents. To qualify, these young immigrants must pass a background check and be in school, or the military, or have a high school diploma. Do you favor or oppose this policy or are you not sure? [IF FAVOR/OPPOSE, ASK:] Is that strongly/not so strongly favor/oppose? 2
Almost a quarter of voters say Obama s policy was either a very or the single most issue to their voting decision for President this year. The issue of immigration in general was the most issue to 4% of voters. Of voters who say the policy was the single most issue, 7% favor the policy. 18 Importance to Presidential vote 28 2 2 Single most issue Very Somewhat Not too Not at all Don't know How would you say this new policy on young immigrants was in making your voting decision for President this year? Was it the SINGLE most issue in your voting decision, a VERY issue, SOMEWHAT, NOT TOO, or not AT ALL in your voting decision for President this year? 3
Obama s policy mobilizes Latinos, African Americans, and Democrats while the policy is less to the presidential vote of Republicans, Independents, and white voters. Importance to Presidential Vote Total Democrats Independents Republicans 4 3 8 20 19 Whites African Americans Latinos 11 4 =Single most issue 38 =Single most /very issue How would you say this new policy on young immigrants was in making your voting decision for President this year? Was it the SINGLE most issue in your voting decision, a VERY issue, SOMEWHAT, NOT TOO, or not AT ALL in your voting decision for President this year?. 4
Latinos, Democratic and black women, older voters, and those who live in New England are most likely to say Obama s policy was either the single most or very issue to their voting decision. Of voters who oppose the policy, only % say it was the single most issue determining their vote. Most likely to say Obama s policy was a very or the single most issue to vote Latinos 38% Democratic women 32% Age 70-74 32% Black women 31% New England 31% How would you say this new policy on young immigrants was in making your voting decision for President this year? Was it the SINGLE most issue in your voting decision, a VERY issue, SOMEWHAT, NOT TOO, or not AT ALL in your voting decision for President this year?.
Support for Obama s policy cuts across party lines, with strong majorities of Democrats and Republicans in favor and over a third of Republicans who also support the decision. Favor/Oppose President Obama's policy Not sure/dk Democrats 11 8 68 7 14 Independents 19 4 60 17 Republicans 4 37 3 Earlier this year, President Obama announced that the U.S. government would stop deporting immigrant youth who came to this country as children but are not legal residents. To qualify, these young immigrants must pass a background check and be in school, or the military, or have a high school diploma. Do you favor or oppose this policy or are you not sure? [IF FAVOR/OPPOSE, ASK:] Is that strongly/not so strongly favor/oppose? 6
A slight gender gap exists with women being more likely to favor Obama s policy. Unsurprisingly, more than threequarters of Latinos favor this policy, but a majority of white voters favor the decision as well, including 41% who strongly favor the policy. Favor/Oppose President Obama's policy Not sure/dk Women 16 47 9 20 Men 32 26 4 14 Whites 41 2 18 African Americans 13 11 7 66 Latinos 14 10 71 77 9 Earlier this year, President Obama announced that the U.S. government would stop deporting immigrant youth who came to this country as children but are not legal residents. To qualify, these young immigrants must pass a background check and be in school, or the military, or have a high school diploma. Do you favor or oppose this policy or are you not sure? [IF FAVOR/OPPOSE, ASK:] Is that strongly/not so strongly favor/oppose? 7
The gender gap is actually driven by Republicans, as a majority of Republican men oppose Obama s policy compared to 38% of Republican women. White women are also slightly more favorable toward the policy compared to white men, while for Latinos, women drive the intensity of support. Democratic women Democratic men Republican women Republican men White women White men Latino women Latino men Favor/Oppose President Obama's policy 38 1 37 8 6 1 12 44 19 11 6 18 1 42 39 67 68 76 6 36 34 49 76 73 77 77 Not sure/dk 16 12 2 1 20 14 12 Earlier this year, President Obama announced that the U.S. government would stop deporting immigrant youth who came to this country as children but are not legal residents. To qualify, these young immigrants must pass a background check and be in school, or the military, or have a high school diploma. Do you favor or oppose this policy or are you not sure? [IF FAVOR/OPPOSE, ASK:] Is that strongly/not so strongly favor/oppose? 8
Washington, DC Berkeley, CA New York, NY LakeResearch.com 202.776.9066 David Mermin dmermin@lakeresearch.com Brittany L. Stalsburg bstalsburg@lakeresearch.com Alexandria, VA tarrance.com 703.684.6688 Brian Nienaber bnienaber@tarrance.com