PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Mark West

Department of Mass Communication

UNC-Asheville

RE: Top of line WNC Poll results

These are 'top of line' WNC Poll results on the political questions which were asked. All tables have a sampling error of +/- 5 percent. Polling took place in the first two weeks of October 2008. A total of 490 surveys were completed by randomly-selected respondents in Transylvania, Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Polk and McDowell counties.

In the upcoming election, do you intend to vote?

91 % Yes

6 % No

2 % Don't Know

2 % No Answer

Did you vote in the last presidential election?

84 % Yes

14 % No

1 % Don't Know

1 % No Answer

In the Presidential election, for whom do you intend to vote?

34 % McCain

42 % Obama

13 % Undecided

1 % Other

1 % No Answer

While Senator Obama appears to have a substantial lead among voters in the sampled WNC counties, the high number of respondents who gave an 'undecided' response may indicate that the real support for McCain in this area is higher than these results would indicate. Nevertheless, the high numbers for Obama are surprising, considering past support for Republican presidential candidates.

In the Presidential election, for whom do you intend to vote? (likely voters only)

44 % McCain

55 % Obama

Here, only respondents who said they intended to vote in the upcoming election, and where were registered voters with a preference for either McCain or Obama, were included. Proportionally, the results remain approximately the same as in the unfiltered results presented earlier.

In the Senatorial election, for whom do you intend to vote?

23 % Dole

27 % Hagan

37 % Undecided

2 % Other

11 % No Answer

Dole and Hagan are in a statistical 'dead heat,' considering sampling error and the large undecided population. Again, considering Dole's incumbency, this is somewhat surprising, considering past support for Republican presidential candidates.

Generally, do you think of yourself as a very strong Democrat, a not-so strong Democrat, a Democratic-leaning independent, an independent, a Republican-leaning independent, a not-so-strong Republican, or a very strong Republican?

22 % Very strong Democrat

6 % Not so strong Democrat

13 % Democrat leaning independent

23 % Independent

7 % Republican leaning independent

8 % Not so strong Republican

17 % Very strong Republican

2 % Do not know

2 % No answer

A slim plurality of those responding to this survey defined themselves as independents, with a virtually similar number calling themselves very strong Democrats. Considering that the political parties in Western North Carolina have, for some time, been very close in felt affiliation, this may represent a substantial shift in popular sentiment, although only time will tell whether this change will persist.

In the Congressional election, for whom do you intend to vote?

15 % Mumpower

37 % Shuler

36 % Undecided

1 % Other

11 % No Answer

Shuler appears to have a significant lead, although a substantial proportion of the electorate appears to still be undecided. An unusually high number of respondents chose to provide no answer for this question, indicating that they are probably undecided as well.

What is your primary source of news?

45 % Television

17 % Newspaper

9 % Radio

24 % Internet

1 % Magazines

2 % Other

1 % Don't Know

0 % No Answer

Have you purchased a product after you saw it advertised somewhere?

69 % Yes

28 % No

3 % Don't Know

0 % No Answer

Where did you see that ad?

35 % Television

13 % Newspaper

2 % Radio

8 % Internet

6 % Magazines

5 % Other

1 % Don't Know

25 % No Answer

Have you ever gone online to find out more things about television shows or news, or to chat in discussion groups or online communities about things you saw on tv?

54 % Yes

45 % No

1 % No answer

How many murders would you estimate there were in Asheville in the last year?

Mean: 62.64

Have you ever personally been a victim of a violent crime?

14 % Yes

85 % No

0 % Don't know

Have you ever had a close friend or family member who has been a victim of a violent crime?

39 % Yes

58 % No

3 % Don't know

What race do you consider yourself?

3 % African-American

1 % Hispanic

92 % White

2 % American Indian

1 % Asian

2 % Other

Average age of respondent: 52

Could you please tell me which educational category best describes the amount of formal education you've had?

4 % Some high school

14 % High school graduate

24 % Some tech / college

37 % College / tech graduate

21% Post college

Do you subscribe to a daily newspaper?

36 % Yes

64 % No

In the average week, how many days do you read a daily newspaper? (asked of all respondents)

Mean : 3.57

How many hours of television do you watch in the typical week?

Mean: 20.21

Do you own your home, or do you rent?

83 % Own

15 % Rent

1 % Don't know

1 % No answer

How many people over 18 besides yourself live in your household? Mean: 1.09

Are you registered to vote as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or are you not registered to vote?

32 % Republican

35 % Democrat

22 % Independent

6 % Other

Could you please tell me which income category includes your total annual household income before taxes in 2007?

15 % Less than $20,000

19 % $20-39,000

23 % $40-59,000

16 % $60-79,000

11 % $80-99,000

15 % $100,000 +