Sept. 2008: Poll Highlights | Colorado | Michigan | Minnesota | Wisconsin
Minnesota Survey -- September 2008
From September 14 to 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,301 likely voters in Minnesota; the survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percent. The survey was conducted in partnership with washingtonpost.com and The Wall Street Journal.
1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain? This table includes "Leaners".
LIKELY VOTERS..........................................
Union
MINNESOTA Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Obama 47% 4% 92% 43% 45% 49% 44% 56%
McCain 45 93 5 45 47 43 48 36
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 - 3 3 1 1 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - - - -
DK/NA 6 2 3 10 5 7 7 7
IMP ISSUE Q12.............
Energ Twin Twin
War Econ Terr Polcy Cities Suburb West East
Obama 63% 53% 4% 34% 60% 38% 42% 43%
McCain 33 38 94 62 33 55 47 51
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 1 1 1 2 3 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - - - -
DK/NA 3 8 1 3 7 4 8 5
WHITES.................................
AGE IN YRS....... NoColl College BrnAgn
18-34 35-54 55+ Degree Degree Men Wom Evngl Cath
Obama 51% 43% 50% 40% 52% 42% 46% 29% 37%
McCain 43 51 40 51 43 51 46 64 52
SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 2 2 1 1 2 - 1 2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - - - - -
DK/NA 6 5 8 8 4 6 8 6 9
PresVt2004.. BushJobAppQ25
Bush Kerry App Dis
Obama 9% 84% 4% 65%
McCain 87 10 94 26
SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 - 2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - -
DK/NA 3 4 2 7
Sep 23 Jul 24 Jun 26
TTREND: 2008 2008 2008
Obama 47 46 54
McCain 45 44 37
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 2 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - -
DK/NA 6 8 8
1a. Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the election?
LIKELY VOTERS........
CAND CHOICEQ1
MN Tot Obama McCain
Made up 85% 84% 86%
Might change 15 15 14
DK/NA 1 1 -
2a.If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Al Franken the Democrat and Norm Coleman the Republican candidate, for whom would you vote? (If undecided q2a) As of today, do you lean more toward Franken or Coleman? This table includes "Leaners".
SENATE LIKELY VOTERS...................................
Union
MINNESOTA ONLY Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Franken 42% 4% 84% 38% 42% 43% 40% 53%
Coleman 49 93 11 50 51 48 52 41
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 2 2 4 3 2 3 2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - - - -
DK/NA 6 1 4 8 3 8 6 4
2. Is your opinion of -- Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Union MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds Favorable 54% 17% 87% 56% 52% 55% 52% 58% Unfavorable 30 66 4 25 32 28 32 26 Hvn't hrd enough 12 13 7 16 12 12 13 12 REFUSED 3 3 1 3 3 4 3 4
3. Is your opinion of -- John McCain favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Favorable 56% 93% 23% 58% 62% 52% 59% 50%
Unfavorable 32 3 67 24 30 33 30 36
Hvn't hrd enough 9 4 8 15 6 12 9 11
REFUSED 3 - 2 3 2 3 2 3
4. Is your opinion of -- Joe Biden favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Favorable 39% 12% 68% 38% 42% 37% 38% 45%
Unfavorable 20 44 3 18 26 15 22 18
Hvn't hrd enough 38 43 29 43 30 45 38 35
REFUSED 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 3
5. Is your opinion of -- Sarah Palin favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Favorable 43% 81% 13% 41% 44% 42% 46% 37%
Unfavorable 33 2 64 30 32 33 30 38
Hvn't hrd enough 24 16 22 28 23 24 24 25
REFUSED 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 -
6. Do you think John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate was a good choice or a bad choice?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Good choice 56% 89% 28% 55% 58% 55% 58% 53%
Bad choice 35 8 63 34 36 34 32 41
DK/NA 9 4 9 11 6 11 9 7
7. Do you think Barack Obama's selection of Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate was a good choice or a bad choice?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Good choice 52% 31% 72% 53% 54% 50% 51% 55%
Bad choice 31 46 17 30 32 31 32 29
DK/NA 17 23 11 17 14 19 18 16
8. Does John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin for Vice President make you more likely to vote for McCain for President, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
More likely 23% 39% 5% 26% 24% 21% 24% 20%
Less likely 24 3 42 26 24 24 23 24
Doesn't make diff 52 58 52 45 50 53 51 55
DK/NA 1 - 1 2 1 1 1 -
9. Does Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden for Vice President make you more likely to vote for Obama for President, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
More likely 15% 4% 25% 16% 16% 15% 15% 20%
Less likely 11 20 4 12 11 12 12 10
Doesn't make diff 72 75 70 70 72 71 71 68
DK/NA 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 3
10. If it became necessary, who would you rather see become president of the United States, Sarah Palin or Joe Biden?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Palin 41% 85% 8% 34% 43% 39% 43% 36%
Biden 50 9 86 52 50 49 47 56
DK/NA 9 6 6 14 7 12 10 7
11. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: The vice presidential candidates picked by Barack Obama and John McCain have little to do with which candidate I will vote for, for president?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Agree 61% 63% 65% 57% 64% 58% 60% 63%
Disagree 36 36 34 39 34 38 37 35
DK/NA 3 1 2 3 2 4 3 1
12. Which of the following will be the single most important issue in your vote in the election for President this year? (READ OPTIONS)
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Terrorism 7% 17% 0% 7% 8% 7% 8% 7%
The war in Iraq 10 6 13 12 9 12 10 8
The economy 55 46 59 58 54 56 55 58
Illegal immigration 3 6 2 1 3 3 3 4
Energy policy 9 13 9 7 13 6 10 9
Health care 9 4 14 10 7 12 9 10
SOMETHING ELSE(VOL) 3 5 2 2 3 3 3 3
DK/NA 3 4 1 3 3 2 3 2
13. If elected, John McCain would be the first person to become President at age 72 - Does that make you more likely to vote for McCain, less likely to vote for McCain, or doesn't it make a difference?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
More likely 1% 4% 0% 1% 2% 1% 2% 1%
Less likely 25 5 45 25 25 26 24 28
Doesn't make diff 72 91 54 73 73 72 73 71
DK/NA 1 - 1 - 1 1 1 1
14. If elected, Barack Obama would be the first African-American President. Does that make you more likely to vote for Obama, less likely to vote for Obama, or doesn't it make a difference?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
More likely 4% 3% 8% 2% 3% 5% 3% 3%
Less likely 4 8 1 4 4 4 4 5
Doesn't make diff 91 88 90 93 92 90 92 91
DK/NA 1 1 1 - 1 - 1 -
15. How likely is it that the presidential debates could change your mind about who you will vote for this year? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Very likely 5% 1% 3% 8% 4% 5% 5% 6%
Smwht likely 19 15 14 26 17 22 20 19
Not too likely 27 31 25 28 27 26 28 23
Not likely at all 48 53 58 36 51 46 47 52
DK/NA 1 - - 1 - 1 1 -
CAND CHOICEQ1
Obama McCain
MN
Very likely 4% 4%
Smwht likely 18 18
Not too likely 26 29
Not likely at all 53 49
DK/NA - -
16. How likely is it that the vice-presidential debate could change your mind about who you will vote for this year? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Very likely 3% 1% 1% 6% 3% 3% 3% 3%
Smwht likely 13 9 10 17 10 15 14 16
Not too likely 24 24 22 28 24 25 25 18
Not likely at all 59 65 68 48 63 56 58 63
DK/NA - - - 1 - - - -
CAND CHOICEQ1
Obama McCain
MN
Very likely 1% 3%
Smwht likely 11 11
Not too likely 24 25
Not likely at all 64 60
DK/NA - -
17. Which of the following statements do you agree with: John McCain is the candidate who will bring change OR Barack Obama is the candidate who will bring change OR Neither will bring change?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
McCain 24% 56% 3% 21% 23% 25% 26% 19%
Obama 43 7 83 38 39 45 40 51
Neither 28 33 11 35 32 24 29 28
DK/NA 5 5 4 6 5 5 5 3
18. Which of the following statements do you agree with: I will be better off a year from now if John McCain is elected president OR I will be better off a year from now if Barack Obama is elected president OR I will not be better off a year from now?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Better off/McCain 29% 68% 2% 24% 34% 25% 31% 19%
Better off/Obama 31 2 63 27 29 32 28 34
Not be better off 32 24 28 40 30 34 33 40
DK/NA 8 6 6 9 7 9 8 7
19. Who do you think better understands the economy - John McCain or Barack Obama?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
McCain 45% 87% 9% 46% 47% 43% 48% 37%
Obama 45 6 83 42 44 46 42 54
DK/NA 10 7 8 12 9 11 10 8
20. Who do you think better understands foreign policy - John McCain or Barack Obama?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
McCain 66% 95% 40% 69% 66% 65% 69% 64%
Obama 24 2 46 20 26 21 21 27
DK/NA 11 3 14 11 7 14 10 9
21. If John McCain is elected President, do you think your taxes will go up, go down, or stay about the same?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Up 29% 8% 40% 34% 25% 32% 27% 30%
Down 6 13 2 5 7 5 6 8
Same 60 76 51 58 66 54 61 58
DK/NA 6 3 7 3 3 8 5 5
22. If Barack Obama is elected President, do you think your taxes will go up, go down, or stay about the same?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Up 52% 84% 21% 54% 56% 49% 54% 53%
Down 11 - 21 12 12 10 10 14
Same 31 12 51 30 29 33 31 30
DK/NA 5 4 7 3 3 7 5 4
23. Barack Obama says he will cut taxes for 95 percent of working families. John McCain says Obama will actually raise taxes overall on most American families. Whom do you believe?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
McCain 42% 87% 7% 40% 43% 41% 44% 40%
Obama 38 4 74 36 37 39 36 42
DK/NA 20 10 19 23 20 20 20 17
24. Do you think the news media has treated Sarah Palin fairly or unfairly?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Fairly 51% 24% 76% 53% 52% 51% 50% 57%
Unfairly 41 71 18 39 42 41 43 36
DK/NA 7 5 6 8 6 9 8 7
25. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Approve 24% 59% 2% 17% 24% 25% 26% 20%
Disapprove 71 35 98 77 72 70 70 77
DK/NA 5 7 - 6 4 5 5 3
26. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Very satisfied 1% 3% 0% 0% 2% 1% 1% 0%
Smwht satisfied 16 36 2 14 18 15 17 13
Smwht dissatisfied 35 45 26 35 34 35 36 34
Very dissatisfied 47 14 72 50 46 48 45 53
DK/NA 1 1 - - - 1 1 -
27. Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Right thing 36% 72% 6% 33% 35% 36% 38% 31%
Wrong thing 59 21 91 59 61 57 56 64
DK/NA 6 7 2 7 5 7 6 5
28. Regardless of how you intend to vote, what would you prefer the next president do about the war in Iraq?
A) Begin immediately a withdrawal of American troops, with a fixed date to have them all out within 18 months. OR
B) Keep troops in Iraq until the situation is more stable, and then begin to withdraw them, without a fixed date for full withdrawal.
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
A) Begin immediate
withdrawal/18 mos 40% 14% 67% 37% 35% 44% 38% 44%
B) Stay until stable/
No fixed dates 56 84 29 59 62 51 57 51
DK/NA 4 2 4 4 3 5 5 5
29. Which best describes your family's financial situation - Getting ahead, falling behind or holding steady?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
Getting ahead 11% 16% 6% 10% 15% 8% 11% 13%
Falling behind 25 16 36 24 22 28 24 25
Holding steady 64 68 58 65 63 64 64 61
DK/NA - - - - - - - -
30. As you think about your own financial situation, which of the following economic issues worries you the most right now -- A) declining retirement fund values, B) declining real estate values, C) rising health care costs D) rising gasoline prices, or E) rising food prices?
Union
MN Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht HsHlds
A) Retirement funds 17% 14% 18% 19% 20% 15% 17% 20%
B) Real estate vals 12 16 11 10 12 12 12 9
C) Health care cost 23 16 28 24 22 24 24 21
D) Gasoline prices 29 36 23 30 31 28 29 35
E) Food prices 13 14 15 11 10 16 13 11
DK/NA 5 4 5 6 5 5 5 3
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