MEDIA RELEASE

Over the course of four months starting last October, PPP asked American voters nationally about their impressions of each state. Hawaii came out on top, by far, with California bringing up the rear.

Americans generally have a favorable view of most states. Only five are in negative territory, led by California (27% favorable and 44% unfavorable), Illinois (19-29), New Jersey (25-32), Mississippi (22-28), and Utah (24-27). Only seven other states have net-positive ratings in the single digits, and another breaks even (Louisiana).

Also, 54% see Hawaii positively and only 10% negatively, followed in the top ten by Colorado (44-9), Tennessee (48-14), South Dakota (42-8), Virginia (45-13), Montana (39-7), Alaska (46-17), Oregon (43-14), and North Carolina and Pennsylvania (each 40-11). Ten others are in positive territory by at least 21 points.

Women have a higher opinion of New York by 27 points more than men, Massachusetts by 22 points, Delaware and California by 16, New Hampshire by 15, Vermont and Illinois by 13, and Connecticut by 11, while men see North Dakota more favorably by 17 points, South Carolina by 15, Wyoming 14, Montana 13, and Iowa and South Dakota 10.

Democrats’ favorite states include Hawaii, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Colorado, and New York, and their least favorites are led by Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi. Republicans love Alaska and Texas, and absolutely hate California, followed distantly by Illinois and Massachusetts.

So the greatest partisan gap is for California, which Democrats like 91 points more than Republicans do, followed by Texas, which is favored more by Republicans by 82 points.

Black voters dislike 10 of the 14 Southern states.

PPP surveyed 1,200 American voters from February 9th to 12th, 700 voters from January 13th to 16th, 700 voters from December 16th to 18th, and 700 voters from October 7th to 10th, 2011. The margin of error for the February survey is +/-2.8%, and +/-3.7% for the January, December, and October surveys. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization.

PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.

For full results, including crosstabs, visit: www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_US_022112.pdf

February Toplines

Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of North Dakota?
Favorable — 33%
Unfavorable — 11%
Not sure — 56%

Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Washington state?
Favorable — 43%
Unfavorable — 17%
Not sure — 40%

Q3 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain — 45%
Barack Obama — 47%
Someone else/Don’t remember — 8%

Q4 Would you describe yourself as very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal — 11%
Somewhat liberal — 20%
Moderate — 28%
Somewhat conservative — 25%
Very conservative — 17%

Q5 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman — 50%
Man — 50%

Q6 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican, press 2. If you are an independent or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat — 40%
Republican — 37%
Independent/Other — 22%

Q7 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2. If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic — 10%
White — 72%
African-American — 11%
Other — 7%

Q8 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to 45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29 — 15%
30 to 45 — 27%
46 to 65 — 38%
Older than 65 — 20%

January Toplines

Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Iowa?
Favorable — 42%
Unfavorable — 17%
Not sure — 42%

Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Michigan?
Favorable — 38%
Unfavorable — 21%
Not sure — 40%

Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Virginia?
Favorable — 45%
Unfavorable — 13%
Not sure — 42%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of South Dakota?
Favorable — 42%
Unfavorable — 8%
Not sure — 49%

Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of New York?
Favorable — 40%
Unfavorable — 29%
Not sure — 32%

Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Tennessee?
Favorable — 48%
Unfavorable — 14%
Not sure — 38%

Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Delaware?
Favorable — 32%
Unfavorable — 16%
Not sure — 52%

Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of New Hampshire?
Favorable — 37%
Unfavorable — 18%
Not sure — 45%

Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Hawaii?
Favorable — 54%
Unfavorable — 10%
Not sure — 36%

Q11 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Oregon?
Favorable — 43%
Unfavorable — 14%
Not sure — 43%

Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Wisconsin?
Favorable — 40%
Unfavorable — 17%
Not sure — 42%

Q13 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Vermont?
Favorable — 39%
Unfavorable — 15%
Not sure — 45%

Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Kentucky?
Favorable — 42%
Unfavorable — 16%
Not sure — 41%

Q15 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Oklahoma?
Favorable — 40%
Unfavorable — 16%
Not sure — 43%

Q16 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Florida?
Favorable — 43%
Unfavorable — 21%
Not sure — 36%

Q17 Would you describe yourself as very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal — 8%
Somewhat liberal — 21%
Moderate — 27%
Somewhat conservative — 25%
Very conservative — 19%

Q18 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2. Woman — 52%
Man — 48%

Q19 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican, press 2. If you are an independent or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat — 41%
Republican — 35%
Independent/Other — 24%

Q20 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2. If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic — 10%
White — 73%
African-American — 11%
Other — 6%

Q21 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to 45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29 — 12%
30 to 45 — 28%
46 to 65 — 40%
Older than 65 — 20%

December Toplines

Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of West Virginia?
Favorable — 23%
Unfavorable — 15%
Not sure — 62%

Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Wyoming?
Favorable — 34%
Unfavorable — 11%
Not sure — 55%

Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Maine?
Favorable — 32%
Unfavorable — 15%
Not sure — 53%

Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of South Carolina?
Favorable — 34%
Unfavorable — 19%
Not sure — 47%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of New Jersey?
Favorable — 25%
Unfavorable — 32%
Not sure — 42%

Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Montana?
Favorable — 39%
Unfavorable — 7%
Not sure — 54%

Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of California?
Favorable — 27%
Unfavorable — 44%
Not sure — 28%

Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Connecticut?
Favorable — 26%
Unfavorable — 22%
Not sure — 52%

Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Missouri?
Favorable — 32%
Unfavorable — 11%
Not sure — 58%

Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Kansas?
Favorable — 28%
Unfavorable — 13%
Not sure — 58%

Q11 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Alaska?
Favorable — 46%
Unfavorable — 17%
Not sure — 37%

Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Nevada?
Favorable — 28%
Unfavorable — 26%
Not sure — 46%

Q13 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of North Carolina?
Favorable — 40%
Unfavorable — 11%
Not sure — 49%

Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Nebraska?
Favorable — 29%
Unfavorable — 11%
Not sure — 60%

Q15 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Ohio?
Favorable — 34%
Unfavorable — 18%
Not sure — 48%

Q16 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Colorado?
Favorable — 44%
Unfavorable — 9%
Not sure — 47%

Q17 Would you describe yourself as very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal — 12%
Somewhat liberal — 18%
Moderate — 27%
Somewhat conservative — 24%
Very conservative — 19%

Q18 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman — 50%
Man — 50%

Q19 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican, press 2. If you are an independent or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat — 40%
Republican — 35%
Independent/Other — 24%

Q20 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2. If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic — 8%
White — 74%
African-American — 12%
Other — 7%

Q21 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to 45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29 — 16%
30 to 45 — 28%
46 to 65 — 36%
Older than 65 — 20%

October Toplines

Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Illinois?
Favorable — 19%
Unfavorable — 29%
Not sure — 52%

Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Minnesota?
Favorable — 27%
Unfavorable — 17%
Not sure — 56%

Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Georgia?
Favorable — 31%
Unfavorable — 20%
Not sure — 49%

Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Texas?
Favorable — 40%
Unfavorable — 31%
Not sure — 29%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Massachusetts?
Favorable — 35%
Unfavorable — 27%
Not sure — 38%

Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Arkansas?
Favorable — 25%
Unfavorable — 20%
Not sure — 55%

Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Utah?
Favorable — 24%
Unfavorable — 27%
Not sure — 50%

Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of New Mexico?
Favorable — 30%
Unfavorable — 15%
Not sure — 56%

Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Louisiana?
Favorable — 24%
Unfavorable — 24%
Not sure — 52%

Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Pennsylvania?
Favorable — 40%
Unfavorable — 11%
Not sure — 49%

Q11 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Maryland?
Favorable — 31%
Unfavorable — 15%
Not sure — 54%

Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Rhode Island?
Favorable — 26%
Unfavorable — 16%
Not sure — 58%

Q13 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Indiana?
Favorable — 31%
Unfavorable — 12%
Not sure — 57%

Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Alabama?
Favorable — 27%
Unfavorable — 26%
Not sure — 47%

Q15 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Idaho?
Favorable — 30%
Unfavorable — 11%
Not sure — 58%

Q16 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Mississippi?
Favorable — 22%
Unfavorable — 28%
Not sure — 50%

Q17 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the state of Arizona?
Favorable — 39%
Unfavorable — 22%
Not sure — 39%

Q18 Would you describe yourself as very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal — 10%
Somewhat liberal — 19%
Moderate — 30%
Somewhat conservative — 26%
Very conservative — 15%

Q19 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman — 53%
Man — 47%

Q20 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican, press 2. If you are an independent or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat — 41%
Republican — 35%
Independent/Other — 24%

Q21 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2. If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic — 8%
White — 74%
African-American — 12%
Other — 6%

Q22 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to 45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29 — 12%
30 to 45 — 26%
46 to 65 — 41%
Older than 65 — 21%

— Find out more:
www.publicpolicypolling.com