Washington Post Poll
This Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone January 23 to 26, 2012, among a random sample of 1,064 adult Maryland residents, including landline and cell phone-only respondents. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt-SRBI of New York.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. Do you think things in the state of Maryland are generally going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
Right direction Wrong track No opinion
1/26/12 47 44 9
1/26/12 RV 47 44 9
10/22/10 RV 46 48 6
9/26/10 40 49 11
5/6/10 39 49 12
10/20/08 RV 31 63 6
10/22/07 46 47 7
10/26/06 LV 57 39 5
6/25/06 RV 44 50 6
1/7/04 57 35 9
10/24/02 LV 42 51 7
10/22/98 RV 54 36 10
6/17/98 53 34 13
12/19/93 33 56 11
2. Generally speaking, how would you rate the overall economy of Maryland: excellent, good, not-so-good or poor?
--Excellent/Good-- -----Not-so-good/Poor----- No
NET Exc. Good NET Not-so-good Poor opinion
1/26/12 47 3 44 52 39 13 1
1/26/12 RV 48 2 45 51 37 14 1
10/22/10 RV 45 2 43 54 40 15 1
9/26/10 40 3 37 59 43 16 2
5/6/10 41 3 38 57 42 15 2
10/22/07 64 6 58 35 24 10 1
1/7/04 63 4 59 36 28 8 1
10/24/02 LV 57 3 54 42 33 9 1
10/22/98 LV 76 8 67 23 18 4 2
6/17/98 75 8 67 23 17 6 3
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Martin O’Malley is handling his job as governor?
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin
1/26/12 55 16 39 36 15 21 9
1/26/12 RV 53 16 37 39 16 23 8
10/22/10 RV* 55 21 34 36 15 21 9
9/26/10 57 20 37 33 16 17 11
5/6/10 54 17 37 34 17 17 12
10/20/08 RV 53 14 39 37 16 21 10
10/22/07 53 12 40 36 18 19 11
*“Regardless of how you may vote…”
Compare to:
Bob Ehrlich:
---------Approve--------- --------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
10/26/06 LV 55 30 25 42 19 23 3
6/25/06 RV 56 21 36 41 21 20 3
1/7/04 RV 64 23 41 29 17 12 8
1/7/04 All 62 21 42 28 17 11 10
Parris Glendening:
10/24/02 LV 37 9 29 58 22 37 4
10/22/98 LV 54 16 38 40 21 19 6
6/17/98 LV 55 14 41 36 19 18 9
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way O’Malley is handling the issue of the state budget and taxes?
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin
1/26/12 41 11 31 48 19 28 11
1/26/12 RV 40 11 29 50 19 31 10
10/22/10 RV 44 NA NA 46 NA NA 11
9/26/10 RV 45 43 12
5/6/10 RV 46 40 14
10/22/07 40 49 10
5. How much would you say O’Malley has accomplished as governor: a lot, a fair amount, some, or not much?
--- A lot/Fair amt --- --- Some/Not much --- No
NET A lot Fair amt NET Some Not much opinion
1/26/12 45 9 36 50 29 20 5
1/26/12 RV 44 9 35 51 30 21 5
10/22/10 LV 51 12 39 47 25 22 2
9/26/10 RV 45 11 34 49 31 19 6
5/6/10 RV 46 8 38 48 29 20 5
10/22/07* 31 4 26 65 31 33 4
*“in his first year”
Bob Ehrlich:
---A Lot/Fair Amount--- ----Some/Not Much---- No
NET A lot Fair amt. NET Some Not much opin.
6/25/06 RV 48 8 40 51 30 21 2
1/7/04* 50 7 43 45 28 17 4
*"in his first year"
6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way (NAME) is handling his/her job as U.S. Senator?
1/26/12 - Summary table
------ Approve ------- ------ Disapprove ----- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
a. Ben Cardin 47 15 33 20 10 9 33
b. Barbara Mikulski 65 35 30 20 9 11 15
Trend:
a. Ben Cardin
---------Approve--------- --------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
1/26/12 47 15 33 20 10 9 33
1/26/12 RV 47 15 31 20 11 9 33
5/6/10 RV 48 21 27 21 10 12 31
10/22/07 52 NA NA 24 NA NA 24
b. Barbara Mikulski
---------Approve--------- --------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
1/26/12 65 35 33 20 9 11 15
1/26/12 RV 67 38 29 20 8 12 13
5/6/10 RV 58 37 22 26 8 18 16
Question 7 held for release.
8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way [ITEM] are doing their job?
1/26/12 - Summary table – all adults
Approve Disapprove No opinion
a. The Democrats in Congress 44 53 3
b. The Republicans in Congress 23 74 3
1/26/12 - Summary table – registered voters
Approve Disapprove No opinion
a. The Democrats in Congress 42 54 3
b. The Republicans in Congress 21 76 3
Compare to national:
1/15/12 - Summary table
Approve Disapprove No opinion
a. The Democrats in Congress 33 62 5
b. The Republicans in Congress 21 75 4
9. I am going to mention four phrases and ask you which one best describes how you feel about the way the federal government works. Do you feel enthusiastic, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?
----- Positive ------- ----- Negative -----
Enthusi- Satis- Dissat- No
NET astic fied NET isfied Angry opinion
1/26/12 33 3 30 66 46 21 1
1/26/12 RV 32 3 29 67 46 21 1
10/22/10 RV 39 6 33 60 41 19 1
9/26/10 RV 38 4 35 59 42 18 2
5/6/10 RV 45 5 40 53 38 15 2
Compare to national:
11/3/11 20 2 18 80 49 31 *
10. Some people think the government in Washington (is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and private businesses). Others disagree and think the government (should do more to solve our country's biggest problems). Which of these two views is closer to your own?
Washington is trying The government No
to do too many things should do more opinion
1/26/12 44 51 5
11. How about the way the state government in Maryland works. Do you feel enthusiastic, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry about the way the Maryland state government works?
----- Positive ------- ----- Negative -----
Enthusi- Satis- Dissat- No
NET astic fied NET isfied Angry opinion
1/26/12 54 4 50 43 34 9 3
12. How fair do you think the Maryland state tax system is? Overall, would you say that the tax system is – very fair, moderately fair, not too fair, or not fair at all?
--------- Fair -------- -------- Not fair -------- No
NET Very Moderately NET Not too Not at all opinion
1/26/12 56 4 52 43 23 19 2
1/26/12 RV 54 4 50 44 23 21 1
5/6/10 RV 61 8 53 37 23 13 3
10/22/07 RV 55 5 50 44 28 16 1
13. Thinking about all the Maryland state government does for you – including education, transportation and health care, do you think you get (more) value than what you pay in state taxes, (less) value than what you pay in taxes, or about the right amount?
Get more value than Get less value than About the No
what you pay in taxes what you pay in taxes right amount opin.
1/26/12 7 52 39 3
1/26/12 RV 6 53 37 3
Compare to national Washington Post-Kaiser-Harvard:
10/3/10 7 55 37 1
14. Thinking about this year’s legislative session in Annapolis, which of the following issues do you want the governor and state legislature to work hardest on: (crime), (the state budget), (the state economy), (public education), (transportation and infrastructure), (same sex marriage), (the environment) or something else?
1/26/12 1/26/12 RV
Crime 9 8
The state budget 16 17
The state economy 32 34
Public education 22 20
Transportation and
infrastructure 7 7
Same sex marriage 5 6
The environment 4 4
Something else 4 3
No opinion 1 1
15. As you may know, the state projects a large budget deficit next year. Overall do you think the budget situation is a big problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of a problem or not a problem for the people of Maryland today?
----- Problem ----- ----- No Problem ----- No
NET Big Somewhat NET Not much At all opinion
1/26/12 91 58 33 7 4 3 2
1/26/12 RV 92 59 33 6 3 3 1
5/6/10 RV 95 66 29 5 3 2 1
10/20/08 RV 97 76 21 2 1 1 1
10/22/07* 93 59 34 6 3 3 1
*10/22/07: “the state projects a one point seven billion dollar budget deficit”
16. To help reduce the nation’s budget deficit, would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose raising income taxes on those with annual incomes of [ITEM] or more?
1/26/12 – summary table*
------ Support ------ ------ Oppose ------- No
NET Strngly Smwht NET Smwht Strngly opin.
a. 70-thousand dollars 40 19 21 57 21 35 3
b. 100-thousand dollars 56 35 21 42 17 25 2
c. 250-thousand dollars 73 57 16 25 9 15 2
d. A million dollars 81 70 10 19 8 11 1
*Half sample asked item c, other half sample asked item d.
17. As the system now works, counties in Maryland determine teacher salaries, but the state covers teacher pensions. Some say half of the retirement costs should be shifted from the state to the counties so the counties consider these obligations when setting salaries. Others say the counties have bad budget situations and it is too important to maintain teacher pensions to make this change. Which comes closer to your own view--that teacher pensions should remain a state priority, or that half the costs should be paid for by counties?
Teacher pensions should Half the costs should No
remain a state priority be paid for by counties opinion
1/26/12 56 37 7
18. Would you favor or oppose raising Maryland’s gasoline tax by [ITEM], if the money is used for transportation projects such as building roads, traffic management or public transportation?
1/26/12 – summary table*
Favor Oppose Depends on project (vol.) No opinion
a. 5 cents a gallon 48 50 1 1
b. 10 cents a gallon 26 72 1 1
c. 15 cents a gallon 25 74 * 1
*Half sample asked item b, other half sample asked item c.
Trend where available
a and c no trend.
b. 10 cents a gallon
Favor Oppose Depends on project (vol.) No opinion
1/26/12 26 72 1 1
10/22/07 37 60 3 *
19. As you may know, in November 2008, Maryland voters approved slot machine casinos at five locations in the state. Overall, do you think having slot machine casinos in Maryland has been a (good) thing or a (bad) thing for the state?
Good Bad No
thing thing Both (vol.) Neither (vol.) opinion
1/26/12 54 27 1 5 12
9/26/10* 56 31 4 2 7
* “… and the first facility is scheduled to open next week.”
20. Would you favor or oppose allowing slot-machine gambling at additional locations in Maryland?
Favor Oppose No opinion
1/26/12 51 44 6
1/26/12 RV 51 43 6
Compare to:
Favor Oppose No opinion
6/25/06 RV* 60 36 4
1/7/04 59 38 3
6/18/98** 55 41 3
* “… slot-machine gambling at horse-racing tracks in Maryland.”
** “Some people are discussing a proposal to allow…”
21. What about a location in Prince George’s County, such as Rosecroft Raceway or National Harbor—would you favor or oppose allowing slot-machine gambling there?
Favor Oppose No opinion
1/26/12 57 34 9
1/26/12 RV 59 32 9
22. Would you favor or oppose allowing table games, such as blackjack and roulette at the existing slots casinos in Maryland?
Favor Oppose No opinion
1/26/12 61 34 5
1/26/12 RV 63 32 5
23. On another subject, do you favor or oppose the death penalty for people convicted of murder?
Favor Oppose No opinion
1/26/12 52 43 5
5/6/10 60 32 8
10/22/07 60 35 5
24. (Critics of the death penalty in Maryland say it is not applied fairly in the state and should be repealed). (Supporters say the death penalty should remain an option for those convicted of committing the most terrible crimes). Which view is closer to your own, that Maryland law should allow for the death penalty or should the death penalty be repealed?
Maryland law should allow Death penalty No
for the death penalty should be repealed opinion
1/26/12 57 40 4
On another subject,
25. One proposal to help meet the state’s renewable energy goals is to fund new off-shore wind-power facilities, which would be paid for by raising monthly utility bills by a couple of dollars for the average Marylander and higher bills for businesses. Would you support or oppose such a plan for wind power in the state?
Support Oppose No opinion
1/26/12 55 42 3
26. One way to pay for better waste-water plants that would help the Chesapeake Bay would be to raise water usage fees on most homeowners. Would you support or oppose such a proposal?
Support Oppose No opinion
1/26/12 46 50 3
27. Which comes closer to your own views – (immigrants today strengthen our country because of their hard work and talents), or (immigrants today are a burden on our country because they take our jobs, housing, and health care)?
Strengthen Burden No opinion
1/26/12 56 36 8
10/22/07 51 42 7
Compare to national Pew Research Center:
3/14/11 45 44 12
28. A new Maryland law allows certain undocumented immigrants to qualify for in-state college tuition if they graduate from a state high-school and their parents file state income tax returns. Do you support or oppose this law?
------ Support ------ ------ Oppose ------- No
NET Strngly Smwht NET Smwht Strngly opin.
1/26/12 58 33 25 41 12 29 1
29. Changing topics, would you favor or oppose a state law that would allow gay and lesbian couples to get married?
Favor Oppose No opinion
1/26/12 50 44 6
5/6/10 46 44 10
10/22/07 44 51 5
6/25/06 RV 42 56 3
1/7/04 35 58 7
30. Which one of the following has had the biggest influence on your thinking on allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally—(a personal experience), (the views of your friends and family), (what you have seen or read in the media), (your religious beliefs), (your education), or something else?
1/26/12
Your religious beliefs 37
A personal experience 14
The views of your friends and family 14
Your education 12
What you have seen or read in the media 4
Your personal beliefs and opinions (vol) 3
The legal, Constitutional and fairness 2
issue (vol)
All of the above (vol) 1
Something else 10
No opinion 4
Question 31 held for release.
32. Turning back to the state, do you think Martin O’Malley would make a good president, or not?
Yes No No opinion
1/26/12 26 59 15
1/26/12 RV 25 61 14
Compare to Virginia 10/12/06 – among likely voters
Yes No No opinion
George Allen 35 56 9
Mark Warner 51 41 8
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