#NCSEN Team Harris releases internal polling
So far, we’ve seen data mostly from PPP, Elon and the newcomer American Insights. The campaign of US Senate Republican hopeful Mark Harris has released the results of some internal polling on the race conducted late last week by an unnamed pollster. The poll supports earlier statements by Harris consultant Tom Perdue that there is no clear frontrunner in the GOP primary.
The campaign did not release cross-tabs or the text of the poll questions. Here are some of the highlights:
The Survey Toplines:
- · 700 NC registered republican and unaffiliated voters.
- · Margin of error of +/- 3.7%. Poll was completed Thursday night of last week.
- · 82% republican and 18% unaffiliated voters for the survey.
- · Gender split 344 male and 356 female.
- · The Republican voters have voted in at least three of the last four primaries and a high percentage (78%) voted for the Marriage Amendment.
- · The unaffiliated voters move from party to party to support a candidate they prefer and a high percentage of them (55%) also voted for the Marriage Amendment.
- · 12% of all respondents identified as African American; 3% as Asian or other; and 85% as white.
- · Fifty-two percent were over 50 years of age and 48% were from 22 to 49.
- · Some additional highlights: Harris name ID: Positive 28%; Negative 7%, Tillis Name ID: Positive 41%; Negative 18%.
- · Asked who they preferred to win/would vote for in the GOP Primary:Harris 22%; Tillis 33%; Brannon 12%; all other candidates and undecided 33%.
- · Among active church goers who attend some type religious service at least three times a month, Harris gets 34%; Tillis, 23%; and Brannon 21%.
- · After being told of “character” issues in the race at the end of the survey, the ballot question was asked again. This time Harris was at 38%; Tillis at 27%; and Brannon at 23%.
- · Asked which candidate would be the strongest against Kay Hagan, Harris was at 36%; Tillis, 39%; and Brannon, 21%.
- · After being told of opponents character issues, as reported by the news media, Harris was at 47%; Tillis at 21%; and Brannon at 26%.
This poll flies in the face of all other recent surveys showing Harris in single digits near the rear of the pack. Some of the questioning seems to indicate a “push poll” — a highly controversial, but effective campaign tool. These surveys are more about “pushing” voters in one direction or another regarding certain issues or candidates.
I think it’s interesting that NO ONE between 18 and 21 was polled. (Most of them have cell phones as their only source of contact — making it harder for them to be reached by pollsters.)
Eighty-two percent of respondents were Republicans, and TWELVE percent of the respondents were African-American? Given the racial breakdown in party registration, that seems quite high and unrepresentative. Is someone seriously suggesting that 12 percent of the primary electorate will be black?
At least one question in the poll would suggest that Team Harris may be trying to go negative on Speaker Thom. That would be in line with some of the pastor candidate’s comments in his recent interview with us.
Team Harris seems to be celebrating this poll as an indication of how wide open the race is. I don’t see the evidence for all of this optimism on their part. If this survey is valid, it shows Tillis performing much better than in other surveys AND much closer to the magic 40 percent mark needed to avoid a runoff altogether.
It sounds like a poll that would make Theam Tillis jump for joy. Why hasn’t Theam Tillis released any polling — much less polling that contradicts what PPP & co. have been showing?
This poll is out of whack in lots of areas with the other polls that have come out, and it evidences some push polling. The absence of the pollster’s identity is also very odd.
Was this a state-wide poll? I dont see where it says, but I coulda missed it. It just popped in my head, because I know some candidate’s numbers are wildly different in different parts of the state.
But bottomline though… If you dont release full information about “your” poll, I have to assume it’s littered with bias and there’s no credible way one can evaluate the results. Thus, this is essentially a big campaign ad dressed up like an actual “data” thing. This seems entirely un-useful and un-insightful to me.
“(Most of them have cell phones as their only source of contact — making it harder for them to be reached by pollsters.) ”
I’m just actually curious about that… is that still true nowadays? I’ve been cell-only for years now, and it’s been pretty quiet, but I’ve actually gotten some poll calls in the last year… from Gallup I think. Anyway – it surprised me and so I’m wondering how much of a truism that still is. *shrug*
I find the “character” thing a tad amusing, and maybe kind of off-putting too…. since I now mainly know Harris as the guy who gives really long, unclear answers to avoid saying directly and forthrightly that he supports pathways to residency for currently illegal immigrants. Most people I know consider that essentially as “amnesty”. If he had said it outright instead of the hemming/hawing I’ve read, I’d at least have a better opinion about “that” part of his stance.
Also, polls that don’t use methodology to specifically zero in on PRIMARY voters are of questionable usefulness.
Using a push poll to persuade people to donate to a failed campaign is unethical. Shame on the preacher for listening to Hayes and his buddies.
His campaign is full of NCGOP establishment and they are working hard for Tillis. This poll was designed to cast doubt on Brannon not Tillis and the results show they got the desired outcome. If there is a runoff then Harris will endorse Tillis to help him become the nominee.