Poll: Most Rhode Islanders Support Ban on Assault Weapons
Friday, February 01, 2013
A day after Public Policy Polling (PPP) released a poll that showed where Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee stood among potential opponents in the 2014 governor’s race, the organization has released another survey that touches on a hot-button issue in the Ocean State.
PPP announced today that, in its latest poll of Rhode Island residents, 64 percent of individuals in the state support a ban on assault weapons.
“Even 38% of Republicans favor it, more than in most states where we've polled on it,” PPP said. “Unsurprisingly voters in the dark blue state have a very dim view of the NRA- 31% see it positively to 56% with a negative opinion, and they trust President Obama over the NRA on gun issues by a 59/30 margin.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSpeaking of the President, Obama has a nearly 60-percent approval rating in Rhode Island as 59 percent of voters are pleased with his efforts compared to the 36 percent that don’t. Of course, it’s not all good news for the President as 44 percent of Republican participants want him impeached.
“We've polled this in several states over the last few weeks and found that Republicans everywhere want to impeach Obama...for what I'm not sure,” the organization said.
Obama’s approval rating is strong in Rhode Island but not nearly as strong as one particular politician who appears to have an easy path to re-election … nearly two years before he has to run again.
“Jack Reed may be the least vulnerable Senator in the country up for reelection next year,” PPP said. “Reed is one of only eight Senators who we find with an approval rating at 60% or higher in our polling, with 62% of voters giving him good marks and only 32% of voters disapproving of him. He leads by at least 29 points in hypothetical match ups against 5 different Republicans we tested.”
Reed’s toughest opponent, it appears, would be Brendan Doherty and, even in that scenario, he still leads by a 63-34 percent margin.
Reed also leads Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian 60-30 and Cranston Mayor Allan Fung 63-29.
PPP even had a little fun with this poll, seeing how former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling would do. Not surprisingly, following the 38 Studios controversy, many Rhode Islanders aren’t fans.
“We also- just for fun- tested Curt Schilling as a possible foe against Reed,” PPP said. “The result is the most lopsided general election Senate poll result we've ever found in the history of PPP- Reed would lead Schilling 75-10.
The 38 Studios mess has destroyed Schilling's reputation- only 9% of voters in the state have a positive opinion of him to 74% with a negative one.”
To see the full results of the PPP poll, click here.