| Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #13734 |
| In Harrisburg, Mixed Reaction to Obama Comments: While half of Harrisburg-area adults familiar with comments presidential candidate Barack Obama made last week say they disagree with what Obama said, 56% say they were not personally offended by his words describing how some Americans are "bitter" about economic circumstances. Overall, 50% of those familiar with the candidate's statement say they disagree with it, and 43% say they agree. Among Democrats, 51% agree; among independents, 57% agree. While 53% of conservatives say they were personally offended, 52% of Republicans say they were not offended. When it comes to the potential fallout from the remarks, 44% say they will have no long-term impact on the Obama campaign; 42% say they will have a negative impact. 14% say they will have a positive impact. |
| Filtering: SurveyUSA interviewed 700 adults from the Harrisburg area; 534 identified themselves as being familiar with Obama's comments and were asked the questions which follow. Research conducted exclusively for WHP-TV in Harrisburg. |
| 1 | In general, do you agree? Or do you disagree? With what Barack Obama said? |
| 534 Familiar With Comments | All | Gender | Age | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Attend Religious Service | Gun Ownership | |||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 4.3 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Regularl | Occasion | Almost N | Yes | No | |
| Agree | 43% | 46% | 40% | 48% | 45% | 38% | 42% | ** | ** | ** | 32% | 51% | 57% | 25% | 52% | 58% | 38% | 52% | 47% | 40% | 46% |
| Disagree | 50% | 47% | 53% | 41% | 49% | 57% | 51% | ** | ** | ** | 62% | 41% | 36% | 71% | 39% | 37% | 55% | 42% | 47% | 53% | 47% |
| Not Sure | 7% | 7% | 6% | 11% | 6% | 5% | 7% | ** | ** | ** | 6% | 7% | 7% | 4% | 9% | 5% | 8% | 7% | 5% | 7% | 7% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Familiar With Comments | 100% | 52% | 48% | 25% | 40% | 35% | 92% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 43% | 41% | 13% | 35% | 35% | 15% | 53% | 22% | 25% | 49% | 49% |
| 2 | Do you personally find Obama's comments offensive? Or not offensive? |
| 534 Familiar With Comments | All | Gender | Age | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Attend Religious Service | Gun Ownership | |||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 4.3 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Regularl | Occasion | Almost N | Yes | No | |
| Offensive | 40% | 39% | 41% | 30% | 39% | 47% | 40% | ** | ** | ** | 46% | 33% | 39% | 53% | 28% | 34% | 43% | 35% | 38% | 42% | 38% |
| Not Offensive | 56% | 58% | 54% | 65% | 57% | 49% | 55% | ** | ** | ** | 52% | 62% | 60% | 45% | 65% | 64% | 53% | 61% | 59% | 55% | 57% |
| Not Sure | 4% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | ** | ** | ** | 3% | 5% | 1% | 3% | 6% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 5% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Familiar With Comments | 100% | 52% | 48% | 25% | 40% | 35% | 92% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 43% | 41% | 13% | 35% | 35% | 15% | 53% | 22% | 25% | 49% | 49% |
| 3 | In the long run, do you think Obama's comments will have a positive impact on his campaign? A negative impact? Or no impact at all? |
| 534 Familiar With Comments | All | Gender | Age | Race | Party Affiliation | Ideology | Attend Religious Service | Gun Ownership | |||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 4.3 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Other | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | Regularl | Occasion | Almost N | Yes | No | |
| Positive Impact | 14% | 18% | 9% | 15% | 11% | 15% | 12% | ** | ** | ** | 10% | 18% | 12% | 10% | 13% | 10% | 11% | 15% | 16% | 9% | 15% |
| Negative Impact | 42% | 40% | 44% | 32% | 46% | 43% | 42% | ** | ** | ** | 43% | 39% | 43% | 49% | 36% | 38% | 42% | 40% | 43% | 41% | 43% |
| No Impact At All | 44% | 43% | 45% | 51% | 42% | 41% | 45% | ** | ** | ** | 46% | 42% | 45% | 41% | 50% | 51% | 47% | 44% | 38% | 49% | 40% |
| Not Sure | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | ** | ** | ** | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 2% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Familiar With Comments | 100% | 52% | 48% | 25% | 40% | 35% | 92% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 43% | 41% | 13% | 35% | 35% | 15% | 53% | 22% | 25% | 49% | 49% |