By Pearce Godwin, Insights Director Now within 100 days of Election Day, we are seeing a higher frequency of polling on the North Carolina Senate Race between incumbent Kay Hagan and House Speaker Thom Tillis. The attention of the political world is turning toward North Carolina as our race may very well be the decisive tipping point for control of the United States Senate. Republicans require a net gain of six seats to wrest control from Democrats. Three Republican pickups are almost assured – in South Dakota, West Virginia andRead More

By Sean Sullivan If you watch just one Senate race this year, make it North Carolina. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee just launched a $9.1 million TV ad campaign there. That’s a big-time investment that reaffirms 1) just how crucial North Carolina is in the battle for the majority and 2) just how expensive it will be to win the state. Let’s start with the first point by reviewing the Senate map. Republicans need to gain six seats to win the majority. They are heavy favorites to win open seatsRead More

Amidst hotly contested midterm election races voter enthusiasm is down among Americans. According to a recent Gallup poll of more than 1,500 adults in all 50 states, 53% of Americans are less enthusiastic than usual about voting and just 35% of Americans are more enthusiastic about voting than usual. That 18 point gap is the largest in recent history, including the 2010 midterm election that witnessed a record high number for voter enthusiasm. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents, just 42% are more enthusiastic than usual about voting, compared to 50%Read More

American Insights Director Pearce Godwin appeared on Time Warner Cable’s statewide political show Capital Tonight on April 16, 2014 to discuss the upcoming Republican Senate primary in North Carolina.Read More

An AI Signature Survey of over 600 registered voters in North Carolina reveals that 67% favor the use of incentives to attract out-of-state companies to the Tarheel state, particularly in high unemployment areas. Republicans, Democrats and Independents are in favor of the incentives idea.  Republicans are most in favor of incentives with 72% in favor and 12% opposed.  Democrats (65%-19%) and Independents (64%-17%) are slightly less in favor but still offer strong majority support. Men are more supportive of the practice than women.  While more than 6 in 10 women (63%)Read More

American Insights’ recent statewide poll of 611 North Carolina registered voters finds that they disapprove of President Obama’s job performance by a margin of 6 points (43% approve versus 49% disapprove).  38% strongly disapprove while 24% strongly approve. Independents disapprove of the job President Obama is doing by 32 points (29%-61%).  87% of Republicans disapprove with 10% approving, while 80% of Democrats approve with 13% disapproving.  Younger voters (18-34) are the only age group approving of the President, 48% to 42%.  Older voters (65+) disapprove by a 19 point marginRead More

American Insights’ recent statewide poll of 611 North Carolina registered voters finds that the net result of new Republican policies and subsequent protests is a state evenly divided.  The NC state legislative ballot shows Republicans and Democrats exactly tied at 41% with 30% definitely voting Republican and 26% definitely Democrat. Republicans lead the legislative ballot among Independents 38% to 28%, while Republicans earn the vote of 93% of their base to the Democrats’ 85% of theirs. The support of male and female voters almost equally diverges with men supporting RepublicanRead More

American Insights’ recent statewide poll of 611 North Carolina registered voters finds that Governor Pat McCrory enjoys a slightly positive approval rating at 43% to 40%.  19% strongly approve of his performance in office while 27% strongly disapprove. McCrory’s net approval stands at negative 2 with Independents (39%-41%), but his Republican base is better consolidated in his favor, at 70% approval, than Democrats are in disapproval, 59%.  Women are evenly divided at 41% in assessing the Governor, but men approve of the job he is doing 46% to 39%.  He earnsRead More