| Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #18927 |
| On Primary Eve, Similarities and Differences Among Tampa-Area Republicans, Democrats: SurveyUSA contacted 1,000 Tampa-area registered voters and asked them questions about some of the issues in the 2012 presidential race. Highlights:
Overall, clear majorities of Tampa-area Republicans, Democrats, and independents each say the "the economy and jobs" is the most important issue, although by different margins: Democrats and independents say it is most important by margins of 4:1; Republicans by a margin of 2.5:1. 21% of Republicans say the federal deficit is the most important issue, compared with just 6% of Democrats. The 61% of voters who picked "the economy and jobs" as the most important issue were asked what the second-most important issue was to them: by 2:1, Democrats say health care; Republicans split between health care and the deficit. 2 of 3 Democrats blame the mortgage crisis mostly on lenders; 44% of Republicans agree, but 19% of Republicans say borrowers are most to blame -- among Democrats, only 9% most blame borrowers. While Democrats by a 4:1 margin say the government should be doing more to help the housing market recover, Republicans are divided over whether the government should be doing more or less. On immigration, Democrats familiar with the DREAM Act support it 2:1; Republicans oppose it 2:1. When asked about a variant of the DREAM Act that would only apply to those who join the military, Republicans support it 5:4; Democrats oppose 5:4. Overall, Tampa registered voters are split on whether the 2012 Republican Presidential primary contest has been more negative than most previous elections or about the same. Democrats by 5:4 and independents by 3:2 say the race is more negative than usual. By 5:4, Republicans say the race is about the same. Filtering: SurveyUSA interviewed 1,169 Tampa-area adults. Of them, 1,000 were registered to vote and were asked the questions which follow. |
| 1 | Which one of these issues is most important to you when you think about the 2012 elections? The economy and jobs? The federal budget deficit? Health care? Immigration? Taxes? Housing and mortgages? National security? Or something else? |
| 1000 Registered Voters | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| Economy And Jobs | 61% | 53% | 69% | 64% | 59% | 63% | 74% | 63% | 56% | 54% | 69% | 55% | 60% | 68% | 65% | 33% | 64% | 52% | 66% | 68% |
| Federal Budget Deficit | 14% | 21% | 6% | 15% | 19% | 10% | 13% | 11% | 13% | 18% | 12% | 16% | 15% | 6% | 15% | 34% | 13% | 23% | 10% | 5% |
| Health Care | 13% | 10% | 17% | 11% | 11% | 15% | 4% | 7% | 20% | 17% | 6% | 19% | 13% | 8% | 15% | 12% | 13% | 8% | 15% | 16% |
| Immigration | 2% | 3% | 1% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 6% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| Taxes | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 5% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| Housing And Mortgages | 2% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 0% | 5% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 0% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| National Security | 3% | 6% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 5% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 7% | 3% | 6% | 1% | 1% |
| Something Else | 2% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 5% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 6% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% |
| Not Sure | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Registered Voters | 100% | 42% | 34% | 22% | 46% | 54% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 31% | 44% | 56% | 81% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 90% | 37% | 36% | 18% |
| 2 | Which one of those issues is the second-most important to you when you think about the 2012 elections? |
| 611 Who Picked Economy / Jobs | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 4 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| Federal Budget Deficit | 27% | 32% | 17% | 35% | 35% | 20% | 20% | 23% | 30% | 33% | 22% | 32% | 25% | 26% | 41% | ** | 24% | 40% | 22% | 24% |
| Health Care | 41% | 34% | 44% | 45% | 33% | 47% | 40% | 45% | 35% | 43% | 43% | 39% | 41% | 48% | 31% | ** | 42% | 28% | 45% | 47% |
| Immigration | 5% | 7% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 8% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 6% | 0% | 0% | ** | 5% | 11% | 3% | 0% |
| Taxes | 12% | 15% | 14% | 6% | 11% | 13% | 16% | 12% | 13% | 8% | 14% | 10% | 12% | 10% | 18% | ** | 13% | 10% | 12% | 11% |
| Housing And Mortgages | 10% | 7% | 14% | 6% | 9% | 11% | 10% | 11% | 11% | 7% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 16% | 6% | ** | 10% | 5% | 14% | 12% |
| National Security | 3% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 5% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 0% | 0% | ** | 3% | 4% | 2% | 4% |
| Something Else | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 3% | ** | 1% | 0% | 1% | 2% |
| Not Sure | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 0% | 0% | ** | 2% | 2% | 2% | 0% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Who Picked Economy / Jobs | 100% | 36% | 38% | 23% | 44% | 56% | 27% | 22% | 24% | 27% | 49% | 51% | 80% | 9% | 10% | 3% | 93% | 32% | 40% | 20% |
| 3 | On housing and mortgages, who is most responsible for the mortgage crisis? Borrowers? Lenders? Regulators? Or someone else? |
| 1000 Registered Voters | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| Borrowers | 15% | 19% | 9% | 13% | 17% | 13% | 13% | 20% | 15% | 12% | 16% | 13% | 15% | 10% | 16% | 31% | 13% | 23% | 10% | 9% |
| Lenders | 53% | 44% | 64% | 51% | 49% | 56% | 62% | 52% | 48% | 50% | 57% | 49% | 54% | 55% | 49% | 34% | 55% | 39% | 58% | 71% |
| Regulators | 26% | 29% | 21% | 30% | 28% | 24% | 20% | 20% | 32% | 30% | 20% | 31% | 25% | 30% | 31% | 27% | 26% | 29% | 28% | 19% |
| Someone Else | 4% | 5% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 4% | 7% | 2% | 1% |
| Not Sure | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Registered Voters | 100% | 42% | 34% | 22% | 46% | 54% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 31% | 44% | 56% | 81% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 90% | 37% | 36% | 18% |
| 4 | Should the government be doing more to help the housing market recover? Doing less? Or doing about the same amount as it is now? |
| 1000 Registered Voters | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| More | 51% | 37% | 69% | 44% | 48% | 53% | 57% | 56% | 49% | 44% | 56% | 46% | 49% | 55% | 62% | 31% | 52% | 41% | 54% | 67% |
| Less | 29% | 42% | 16% | 26% | 33% | 24% | 30% | 25% | 28% | 30% | 27% | 30% | 31% | 22% | 20% | 68% | 26% | 45% | 20% | 9% |
| About The Same | 18% | 18% | 15% | 24% | 18% | 18% | 10% | 17% | 19% | 23% | 13% | 21% | 17% | 19% | 18% | 1% | 19% | 12% | 22% | 21% |
| Not Sure | 3% | 2% | 1% | 7% | 1% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 4% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Registered Voters | 100% | 42% | 34% | 22% | 46% | 54% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 31% | 44% | 56% | 81% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 90% | 37% | 36% | 18% |
| 5 | Should workers who have illegally entered the United States ... be allowed to keep their jobs and apply for US citizenship? Should they be allowed to keep their jobs as temporary guest workers, but NOT be allowed to apply for citizenship? Or should they lose their jobs and have to leave the country? |
| 1000 Registered Voters | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| Keep Jobs & Apply For Citizenship | 30% | 19% | 39% | 34% | 25% | 33% | 31% | 29% | 27% | 31% | 30% | 29% | 28% | 41% | 38% | 14% | 31% | 15% | 33% | 58% |
| Guest Workers | 28% | 30% | 28% | 26% | 31% | 25% | 28% | 27% | 24% | 31% | 28% | 28% | 28% | 35% | 15% | 23% | 29% | 33% | 31% | 16% |
| Leave The Country | 40% | 48% | 32% | 39% | 42% | 39% | 39% | 42% | 47% | 35% | 40% | 40% | 42% | 23% | 41% | 53% | 38% | 48% | 35% | 26% |
| Not Sure | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 5% | 10% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 1% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Registered Voters | 100% | 42% | 34% | 22% | 46% | 54% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 31% | 44% | 56% | 81% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 90% | 37% | 36% | 18% |
| 6 | Are you familiar with the federal DREAM Act, a proposed law which would provide a path to citizenship for people brought illegally to the US as children? |
| 1000 Registered Voters | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| Yes | 49% | 47% | 47% | 56% | 61% | 40% | 45% | 49% | 51% | 52% | 47% | 51% | 47% | 62% | 49% | 62% | 49% | 50% | 48% | 65% |
| No | 42% | 43% | 44% | 34% | 32% | 50% | 53% | 44% | 37% | 35% | 48% | 36% | 43% | 27% | 46% | 31% | 42% | 41% | 44% | 30% |
| Not Sure | 9% | 9% | 8% | 10% | 8% | 10% | 3% | 7% | 12% | 13% | 5% | 12% | 9% | 11% | 5% | 7% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 5% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Registered Voters | 100% | 42% | 34% | 22% | 46% | 54% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 31% | 44% | 56% | 81% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 90% | 37% | 36% | 18% |
| 7 | Do you support? or oppose? The DREAM Act? |
| 493 Familiar With DREAM Act | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 4.5 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| Support | 51% | 31% | 65% | 61% | 45% | 59% | 43% | 47% | 60% | 52% | 45% | 56% | 50% | 50% | 58% | 22% | 55% | 25% | 60% | 81% |
| Oppose | 44% | 62% | 27% | 38% | 51% | 34% | 57% | 44% | 38% | 40% | 50% | 39% | 45% | 33% | 42% | 78% | 40% | 71% | 34% | 17% |
| Not Sure | 5% | 6% | 7% | 1% | 4% | 7% | 0% | 9% | 2% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 17% | 0% | 0% | 5% | 4% | 7% | 2% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Familiar With DREAM Act | 100% | 40% | 32% | 25% | 56% | 44% | 20% | 21% | 27% | 32% | 41% | 59% | 78% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 88% | 38% | 35% | 23% |
| 8 | Would you support? Or would you oppose? A version of the DREAM Act that only applied to people who joined the military? |
| 493 Familiar With DREAM Act | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 4.5 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| Support | 44% | 54% | 44% | 32% | 44% | 44% | 42% | 43% | 44% | 46% | 43% | 45% | 41% | 44% | 70% | 45% | 44% | 55% | 42% | 28% |
| Oppose | 51% | 40% | 51% | 66% | 51% | 50% | 54% | 54% | 50% | 47% | 54% | 49% | 54% | 49% | 25% | 45% | 51% | 40% | 52% | 68% |
| Not Sure | 5% | 7% | 6% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 7% | 3% | 6% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 10% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 3% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Familiar With DREAM Act | 100% | 40% | 32% | 25% | 56% | 44% | 20% | 21% | 27% | 32% | 41% | 59% | 78% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 88% | 38% | 35% | 23% |
| 9 | How would you say negative campaign ads affect your voting decisions? Do negative ads make you not want to vote? Do they make you want to get out and vote even more? Or do they not really affect you one way or the other? |
| 1000 Registered Voters | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| Make You Not Want To Vote | 34% | 29% | 39% | 36% | 32% | 36% | 15% | 36% | 42% | 41% | 25% | 41% | 34% | 24% | 46% | 19% | 35% | 27% | 41% | 32% |
| Want To Vote Even More | 20% | 22% | 20% | 18% | 17% | 23% | 28% | 12% | 18% | 21% | 20% | 20% | 19% | 31% | 15% | 37% | 19% | 23% | 17% | 20% |
| Do Not Affect You | 45% | 49% | 40% | 45% | 51% | 40% | 56% | 53% | 39% | 37% | 54% | 38% | 46% | 46% | 36% | 44% | 45% | 49% | 42% | 48% |
| Not Sure | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Registered Voters | 100% | 42% | 34% | 22% | 46% | 54% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 31% | 44% | 56% | 81% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 90% | 37% | 36% | 18% |
| 10 | Are most negative campaign ads ... the absolute truth? Mostly truthful? About half true and half untrue? Mostly untrue? Or completely untrue? |
| 1000 Registered Voters | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.1 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| Absolute Truth | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 5% | 0% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 1% |
| Mostly Truthful | 12% | 13% | 14% | 8% | 12% | 12% | 12% | 20% | 7% | 12% | 16% | 10% | 12% | 14% | 15% | 8% | 13% | 13% | 10% | 13% |
| Half True / Half Untrue | 61% | 65% | 59% | 58% | 58% | 64% | 64% | 62% | 66% | 55% | 63% | 60% | 62% | 52% | 61% | 57% | 61% | 58% | 68% | 59% |
| Mostly Untrue | 22% | 18% | 22% | 29% | 25% | 20% | 20% | 14% | 26% | 25% | 17% | 26% | 22% | 29% | 17% | 35% | 21% | 25% | 18% | 25% |
| Completely Untrue | 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Not Sure | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Registered Voters | 100% | 42% | 34% | 22% | 46% | 54% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 31% | 44% | 56% | 81% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 90% | 37% | 36% | 18% |
| 11 | So far, has the 2012 Republican Presidential Primary race been more negative than most previous elections? Less negative than most previous elections? Or just about the same as most previous elections? |
| 1000 Registered Voters | All | Party Affiliation | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Tea Party Member | Ideology | ||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.2 pct points | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | |
| More Negative | 48% | 38% | 52% | 60% | 51% | 45% | 41% | 40% | 45% | 60% | 41% | 53% | 47% | 49% | 53% | 47% | 48% | 39% | 56% | 57% |
| Less Negative | 5% | 7% | 3% | 5% | 3% | 6% | 8% | 6% | 5% | 2% | 7% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 7% | 4% | 5% | 8% | 3% | 1% |
| About The Same | 46% | 54% | 44% | 35% | 43% | 48% | 48% | 53% | 50% | 37% | 50% | 43% | 47% | 42% | 40% | 48% | 46% | 51% | 40% | 41% |
| Not Sure | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Registered Voters | 100% | 42% | 34% | 22% | 46% | 54% | 22% | 21% | 26% | 31% | 44% | 56% | 81% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 90% | 37% | 36% | 18% |