Arkansas Blog: Favorite daughter -- UPDATED

The UA has released its 2007 Arkansas Poll and among the usual trove of interesting data are results on questions about the presidential race. Sorry, Mike.

"If the presidential election were held today, who would you vote for for president?"

Hillary Clinton -- 35 percent

Rudy Giuliani -- 8 percent

Mike Huckabee -- 8 percent

Undecided -- more than 25 percent.

Among those with Democratic leanings, a heavy majority thought Clinton would win the nomination and the general election. Among a group of Republican names put to respondents, only Giuliani drew a majority (56 percent) who believed he could be elected. Others: Thompson, 45; Huckabee, 44; McCain, 32, and Romney, 28.

Among other topics, a bare 53 cent said they supported prohibition of adoption and foster parenting by gays and lesbians. (Remember that a pending ballot proposal by the Family Council to accomplish this would also prohibit adoption and foster parenting by unmarried heterosexual couples, an important negative in the campaign to defeat the gay-bashing measure.)

Said poll director Dr. Janine Parry, "...just because we don't like something doesn't mean we want to outllaw it. My sense, having tinkered with these questions for a few years now, is that while most people may not desire this for their own families, many Arkansans -- both liberals and conservatives -- are still uncomfortable dictating the family arrangements of others."

On other topics: Yes, Arkies thinks global warming is happening. The economy is the top area of respondents' concerns. Bush's approval rating is at 30, no doubt thanks to a disproportionately high report from Yellow Dog Republican NW Ark. Still not so hot overall in a state that Bush carried twice by wide margins. If Arkansas in 2008 proves pivotal, as it did in 2000 ....

Approval ratings: Gov. Mike Beebe at 70, Sens. Pryor and Lincoln at 53 and 50.

Abortion: 41 percent want to make an abortion harder to obtain. 13 percent want to make it easier and 36 percent want no change in existing law. The rest wouldn't say. But you could readily conclude that a majority prefer to keep abortion legal.

Gay marriage/civil union: Support for some form of recognition continues its inch upward. 43 percent support one or the other. 51 percent oppose both.

Immigration: A wide majority favors some type of legal status, whether temporary or a path toward legal residency, for unauthorized immigrants. Only 27 percent support deportation of all "undocumented immigrrants." (But, as we know, that 27 percent is REALLY angry and loud. See La Chingada in Rogers,)

ERA: Please circulate this to the wusses, sexists and cavemen of the Arkansas legislature: It's supported 73-18.

Check www3.uark.edu/arkpoll for more data.

Comments

Link problem

ARK. BLOG: Fixed.

Posted by: hugh mann | October 30, 2007 10:14 AM

It would seem that 35% for Mrs. Rodham Clinton is pretty "bare" as well.

Last I checked, 53% is a majority. Maybe that is why you don't want a vote on this issue.

ARK. BLOG: We'll have a vote. And this poll is very hopeful. The question does not present what will be on the ballot, but a much narrower question that will NOT be on the ballot.

Posted by: Arkansas Red | October 30, 2007 10:27 AM

I expect Cheney's popularity to climb even higher in NWA now that he's hanging out in hunting clubs that fly the Confederate Flag.

Posted by: Roland-in-Waiting | October 30, 2007 11:11 AM

HEHE.......nice try Red.......but no cigar this time.

Posted by: Charles Eddie Smith | October 30, 2007 11:22 AM

"Approval ratings: Gov. Mike Beebe at 70, Sens. Pryor and Lincoln at 53 and 50."

Gee....we're easy to please! Let's review. Dick Cheney has masterminded the complete takeover of our government. He has caused 2 wars and is working on the 3rd. Nearly a million people are dead because of his neo-con dream and lust for oil. Yet today we're upset because somewhere on a vast estate someone tacked up a Confederate battle flag. Isn't that about like taking the time to squeeze a pimple while your house is burning down? Shouldn't we be more upset with Cheney for being....Cheney?

And what's up with Pryor and Lincoln's numbers? Are we at all sure those polled didn't think the questions were about David Pryor and Abe Lincoln? Or another way the question could have been misunderstood....did the respondents think maybe the question was about President James Buchanan, the 15th President, the president Pryor to Lincoln? I doubt 53% of Arkansans know who Mark Pryor is and they sure don't know Pantsuit Blanche, all farm-y and Wal-mart-y.

Are we to believe that 53% of us like Democrats who support Cheney-Bush? Do they also support TORTURE? Does 53% want to be in the Iraq War for Oil forever? Will they give up their sons and daughters for Exxon? Maybe that's what's wrong with America? 53% of us don't know and don't care enough about what's going on to pay attention. But lord knows, if asked a question, rather than say I DON'T KNOW, most people will say something. Most people will mark a box rather than leave it blank.

It will be interesting to see how Democratic our Senators will be when Hillary is in office. Will Pryor still be in love with Lieberman then? When Hillary throws off her middle of the road conservative costume, will our Senators make a big move to the left? How strong are their follower instincts? We'll know in 2 years...assuming there are elections...assuming we'll still be here.

Posted by: Deathbyinches | October 30, 2007 11:54 AM

And what's up with Pryor and Lincoln's numbers? Are we at all sure those polled didn't think the questions were about David Pryor and Abe Lincoln?<<

Best point made on here so far.

Posted by: eLwood | October 30, 2007 02:47 PM

It would seem that 35% for Mrs. Rodham Clinton is pretty "bare" as well.<<
Arkansas inbRed

Seems 08 per cent is REALLY bare for the former governor.
I hope you're not hurting and bleeding too badly inbRed. We realize getting screwed by a raging Elephant is painful.
.

Posted by: eLwood | October 30, 2007 02:52 PM

I SWORE I heard KARN's Dawn Parker yesterday saying that the adoption ban supporters was 73%. I'd put a litle bit of money on it too. Guess they may be skewering the numbers towards their listeners????

ARK. BLOG: You are definitely wrong. )(Or Dawn Parker was.) It was 53-42 and it was only on the queston of gay adoption, not a ban of unmarried heterosexuals. go to www3.uark.edu/arkpoll and see for yourself.

Posted by: Littlecrock | October 31, 2007 12:34 PM

Arkansas Blog

Favorite daughter -- UPDATED

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