McLAUGHLIN & ASSOCIATES CPAC - STRAW POLL - MARCH 2016 1. FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU WHEN DECIDING WHOM TO SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT? 1. ECONOMIC ISSUES, LIKE THE ECONOMY IN GENERAL, JOBS, TAXES, GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND BALANCING THE BUDGET 2. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES, LIKE LIFE, FAMILY, CHILDREN AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 3. NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES, LIKE DEFEATING RADICAL ISLAMIC TERROR AND ISIS 4. RESTORING HONESTY AND INTEGRITY TO GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC ISSUES 48.9 NAT'L SECURITY ISSUES 25.6 HONESTY/INTEGRITY/GOV'T 13.1 SOCIAL/CULTURAL ISSUES 10.9 UNSURE 1.5 2. THINKING ABOUT THE CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STANCES DO YOU CONSIDER A DEAL-BREAKER, MEANING THAT YOU WOULD NOT VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE WHO HOLDS THAT POSITION? YOU MAY SELECT MORE THAN ONE RESPONSE. 1. SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT S USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO TAKE PRIVATE PROPERTY TO GIVE TO ANOTHER PRIVATE ENTITY 2. EXPANDING MEDICAID UNDER OBAMACARE IN THE STATES 3. REPLACING THE CURRENT TAX CODE WITH A VAT-TYPE TAX THAT WOULD CREATE A CONSUMPTION BASED TAX ON GOODS AND SERVICES 4. SUPPORTING A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS 5. SUPPORTING GOVERNMENT-MANDATED PRICE CONTROLS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS EXPAND/MEDICAID/O'CARE 37.5 GOV'T/EMINENT DOMAIN 35.5 PATHWAY/CITIZENSHIP 33.4 PRICE CONTROLS/RX DRUGS 16.7 VAT/CONSUMPTION TAX 14.9 UNSURE 12.5 3. RIGHT NOW, WHO WOULD BE YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT? TED CRUZ 39.5 MARCO RUBIO 30.0 DONALD TRUMP 14.7 JOHN KASICH 8.0 BEN CARSON 2.3 RAND PAUL 2.1 GARY JOHNSON 0.6 BERNIE SANDERS 0.5 MICHAEL BLOOMBERG 0.5 HILLARY CLINTON 0.3 MITT ROMNEY 0.3 CARLY FIORINA 0.2 OTHER 0.5 UNDECIDED 0.5
4. AND WHO WOULD BE YOUR SECOND CHOICE? Total Answering 2659 MARCO RUBIO 28.9 TED CRUZ 26.1 JOHN KASICH 18.1 DONALD TRUMP 9.4 BEN CARSON 6.5 MICHAEL BLOOMBERG 1.2 RAND PAUL 1.0 GARY JOHNSON 0.8 HILLARY CLINTON 0.6 BERNIE SANDERS 0.6 MITT ROMNEY 0.4 CARLY FIORINA 0.2 OTHER 2.0 UNDECIDED 4.1 COMBO. RIGHT NOW, WHO WOULD BE YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT? (COMBO 1ST & 2ND CHOICE) Total Answering 2659 TED CRUZ 65.7 MARCO RUBIO 58.9 JOHN KASICH 26.1 DONALD TRUMP 24.0 BEN CARSON 8.8 RAND PAUL 3.1 MICHAEL BLOOMBERG 1.7 GARY JOHNSON 1.4 BERNIE SANDERS 1.1 HILLARY CLINTON 0.9 MITT ROMNEY 0.6 CARLY FIORINA 0.5 OTHER 2.6 UNDECIDED 0.5 5. HAVE YOU DEFINITELY DECIDED ON WHICH CANDIDATE YOU WILL SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT, ARE YOU LEANING TOWARDS SOMEONE OR ARE YOU STILL TRYING TO DECIDE? Total Answering 2645 DEFINITELY DECIDED 67.5 LEANING TOWARDS SOMEONE 24.9 STILL TRYING TO DECIDE 7.0 UNSURE 0.6 6. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGER PROBLEM WITH HILLARY CLINTON? 1. SHE IS DISHONEST, OR 2. SHE WOULD CONTINUE PRESIDENT OBAMA S AGENDA AND POLICIES SHE'S DISHONEST 46.1 CONT. OBAMA POLICIES 51.7 UNSURE 2.2
7. NOW, AMONG THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE, WHO WOULD BE YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR THE REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE? NIKKI HALEY 11.7 JOHN KASICH 11.5 CARLY FIORINA 11.1 RAND PAUL 9.1 MARCO RUBIO 9.0 SCOTT WALKER 8.0 CONDOLEEZZA RICE 6.1 BEN CARSON 5.3 TED CRUZ 5.0 PAUL RYAN 3.7 BEN SASSE 3.2 RICK PERRY 1.7 CHRIS CHRISTIE 1.6 JOHN BOLTON 1.6 JEB BUSH 1.5 RICK SANTORUM 1.4 BOBBY JINDAL 1.2 MIKE HUCKABEE 0.9 SARAH PALIN 0.7 MARSHA BLACKBURN 0.7 DONALD TRUMP 0.6 LINDSEY GRAHAM 0.3 SUSANA MARTINEZ 0.3 GARY JOHNSON * OTHER 1.8 UNDECIDED 1.8 8. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING COMES CLOSER TO YOUR OWN PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT MOST REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON? 1. THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB FIGHTING FOR CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES AND STANDING UP TO PRESIDENT OBAMA OR 2. THEY ARE NOT FIGHTING HARD ENOUGH FOR CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES AND ARE TOO WILLING TO COMPROMISE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA GOOD JOB/FIGHTING 20.1 NOT FIGHT/HARD ENOUGH 72.0 UNSURE 7.9 9. WHEN IT COMES TO DEFEATING ISIS AND RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISTS OVERSEAS, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR OWN PERSONAL OPINION? 1. AMERICA SHOULD TAKE THE LEADING ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ISIS BECAUSE THE WORLD IS SAFER WHEN AMERICA LEADS THE WAY 2. AMERICA SHOULD FIGHT ISIS WITH A COALITION OF OTHER COUNTRIES AND MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES LIKE SAUDI ARABIA AND EGYPT SHOULD BE LEADING THE WAY SINCE ISIS IS IN THEIR BACKYARDS OR 3. AMERICA SHOULD PROTECT THE HOMELAND AGAINST ISIS, BUT DECREASE ITS MILITARY PRESENCE OVERSEAS AND NOT BE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST LEAD THE FIGHT 41.9 COALITION W/ MID-EAST 38.4 PROTECT THE HOMELAND 17.3 UNSURE 2.5
10. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING COMES CLOSEST TO YOUR VIEW ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES? 1. THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE U.S. AND EVENTUALLY APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP 2. THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE U.S. AND EVENTUALLY APPLY FOR LEGAL STATUS, BUT NOT CITIZENSHIP OR 3. THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES AND FOLLOW U.S. IMMIGRATION LAWS STAY/CITIZENSHIP 12.0 STAY/LEGAL STATUS 32.6 RETURN/FOLLOW U.S. LAW 51.7 UNSURE 3.7 11. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS A BETTER WAY TO REDUCE HEALTHCARE COSTS? 1. THE GOVERNMENT INCREASING REGULATIONS ON HOSPITALS, INSURANCE AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES BY PUTTING PRICE CONTROLS ON DRUGS AND MEDICAL CARE, OR 2. GIVING THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND FREE MARKETS MORE OF AN ABILITY TO DETERMINE THE COSTS OF CARE, WHICH WILL INCREASE COMPETITION AND LOWER COSTS REGS. & PRICE CONTROLS 3.3 FREE-MARKET/COMPETITION 93.0 UNSURE 3.8 12. WHEN IT COMES TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LEGISLATION, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING COMES CLOSER TO YOUR OWN PERSONAL OPINION? 1. IT IS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT PROTECTS AND STRENGTHENS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY FOR ALL PEOPLE OF FAITH, WHICH IS A FOUNDING PRINCIPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. PEOPLE AND BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS THAT VIOLATE THEIR OWN MORAL CONSCIENCE OR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. 2. IT IS A BAD IDEA BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENFORCE THE RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE, EVEN IF IT REQUIRES PEOPLE OR BUSINESS OWNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS THAT VIOLATE THEIR OWN MORAL CONSCIENCE OR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. GOOD IDEA 83.7 BAD IDEA 10.0 UNSURE 6.3 13. GENERALLY SPEAKING, DO YOU THINK EMINENT DOMAIN SHOULD? 1. BE BROADLY USED, INCLUDING TO SEIZE PRIVATE PROPERTY FROM ONE PERSON TO GIVE TO ANOTHER WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE A GREATER PROFIT WITH THE LAND 2. BE NARROWLY USED, LIMITED TO ONLY PUBLIC USE PROJECTS LIKE SCHOOLS, DAMS, HIGHWAYS AND POLICE STATIONS OR 3. NOT BE USED AT ALL BROADLY USED 1.7 NARROWLY USED 75.1 NOT USED AT ALL 16.4 UNSURE 6.9
14. THE U.S. CONSTITUTION GRANTS AUTHORS AND INVENTORS THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO THEIR CREATIONS, LIKE THE BOOKS THEY WRITE AND THE TECHNOLOGY THEY INVENT. THESE CREATIONS ARE KNOWN AS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. DO YOU THINK THAT? 1. CONGRESS SHOULD PASS LEGISLATION TO WEAKEN THESE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BECAUSE PATENTS AND COPYRIGHTS ARE OUTDATED CONCEPTS. OR 2. CONGRESS SHOULD PASS LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN THESE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BECAUSE INVENTORS AND AUTHORS SHOULD BE REWARDED FOR THEIR EFFORTS. WEAKEN IP RIGHTS 5.0 STRENGTHEN IP RIGHTS 82.2 UNSURE 12.8 15. AS YOU MAY KNOW, THERE IS NOW A VACANCY ON THE SUPREME COURT SINCE THE PASSING OF JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA. REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE SENATE HAVE COMMITTED TO BLOCK ANYONE PRESIDENT OBAMA NOMINATES. DO YOU THINK? 1. REPUBLICAN SENATORS SHOULD HOLD WITH THE SENATE LEADERSHIP AND BLOCK PRESIDENT OBAMA S NOMINEE FOR THE SUPREME COURT. OR 2. REPUBLICAN SENATORS SHOULD BREAK WITH THE SENATE LEADERSHIP AND FORCE A VOTE ON PRESIDENT OBAMA S NOMINEE FOR THE SUPREME COURT HOLD W/ LDRSHIP/BLOCK 81.9 BREAK W/ LDRSHIP/VOTE 11.8 UNSURE 6.2 16. WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF? 1. A CLASSICAL REAGAN CONSERVATIVE 2. A LIBERTARIAN CONSERVATIVE 3. A POPULIST CONSERVATIVE CLASSICAL REAGAN CONS. 66.1 LIBERTARIAN CONS. 28.4 POPULIST CONSERVATIVE 5.6 UNSURE - 17. ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION, DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF PRO-LIFE OR PRO-CHOICE? PRO-LIFE 84.5 Strongly 61.7 Somewhat 22.8 PRO-CHOICE 13.8 Somewhat 9.6 Strongly 4.2 UNSURE 1.7
18. HOW IMPORTANT IS RELIGION AND FAITH TO YOU IN YOUR DAILY LIFE? IMPORTANT 85.4 Extremely Imp. 37.6 Very Important 27.6 Somewhat Imp. 20.2 NOT IMPORTANT 13.9 Not That Imp. 8.3 Not at All Imp. 5.6 UNSURE - 19. INTO WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES DOES YOUR AGE FALL? UNDER 18 3.0 18-25 50.2 26-40 11.1 41-55 13.8 56-65 11.7 66-75 9.0 OVER 75 1.2 Mean 35.90 20. GENDER: 21. REGION: MALE 60.1 FEMALE 39.9 NEW ENGLAND 5.9 MIDDLE ATLANTIC 18.0 EAST NORTH CENTRAL 14.1 WEST NORTH CENTRAL 5.8 SOUTH ATLANTIC 40.7 EAST SOUTH CENTRAL 2.6 WEST SOUTH CENTRAL 4.4 MOUNTAIN 3.4 PACIFIC 5.2 22. AREA: EAST 23.9 MIDWEST 19.9 SOUTH 47.6 WEST 8.6