PA voters love Pittsburgh, dislike Philly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 24, 2012

INTERVIEWS: Tom Jensen 919-744-6312

IF YOU HAVE BASIC METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL information@, OR CONSULT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF THE PRESS RELEASE

PA voters love Pittsburgh, dislike Philly

Raleigh, N.C. ? Pennsylvanians are split on Vice President Joe Biden, their Scrantonborn son, making him roughly as popular as President Obama is here. 44% see Biden favorably and an equal proportion unfavorably. It is 46-37 with independents, slightly better than the president's 47-41 approval spread with them.

Of four recent presidential candidates who were either born in or grew up in the state, Biden is overwhelmingly voters' favorites. 42% like Biden best, with 25% picking former Sen. Rick Santorum, 14% Ron Paul, and 11% Newt Gingrich. Paul gets most of his strength from independents--Biden beats him out 39-30 with them. Santorum is tops with the GOP (46%), followed by Gingrich's 22% and Paul's 15%. Biden is Democrats' pick (73%).

Pennsylvania voters like Biden's hometown, with 37% seeing it favorably and 15% unfavorably, stronger numbers than for perhaps Scranton's most recent famous product, the Dunder Mifflin paper company. The fictional setting of NBC's "The Office" is not a known quantity to most voters. 74% have no opinion of it, while those who do break down 17-9 positively. The youth of the show's audience bears out in the crosstabs: voters under 30 see the company in a good light (36-13), and its favor and notoriety go down from there, to 23-11 to 11-9 to 5-4 with successively older age brackets. Dunder Mifflin also does best with voters in the 570 area code which contains Scranton (27-11).

While Scranton is a popular city statewide, it is not voters' favorite. That would be Pittsburgh, which has a 57-17 favorability margin. Of eight cities PPP asked about, the only one of which voters have a net negative opinion is by far its most populous, Philadelphia. Only 37% see it favorably and 42% unfavorably. Between the western and eastern bookends are Bethlehem (42-10), Erie (41-11), Scranton, Allentown (34-22), Reading (31-26), and Harrisburg (38-34).

Philly is seen very well by the people in the area codes surrounding it, but worse in areas further west. Pitt is seen well by every area of the state, particularly the western parts nearest it. Harrisburg is the only city disliked by its own area code and liked by others.

PPP surveyed 671 Pennsylvania voters from May 17th to 20th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.8%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.

Public Policy Polling 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27604

Phone: 888 621-6988 Web: Email: information@

Pennsylvania Survey Results

Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion

of Joe Biden?

of the city of Erie?

Favorable........................................................ 44%

Favorable........................................................ 41%

Unfavorable .................................................... 44%

Unfavorable .................................................... 11%

Not sure .......................................................... 12%

Not sure .......................................................... 48%

Q2 Joe Biden, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum were all either born in or grew up in Pennsylvania. Of these candidates who have recently run for President, which do you have the highest opinion of?

Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the city of Reading?

Favorable........................................................ 31%

Unfavorable .................................................... 26%

Joe Biden........................................................ 42%

Not sure .......................................................... 42%

Newt Gingrich ................................................. 11% Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion

of the city of Scranton?

Ron Paul ......................................................... 14% Rick Santorum ................................................ 25% Not sure .......................................................... 8% Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion

Favorable........................................................ 37% Unfavorable .................................................... 15% Not sure .......................................................... 48%

of the city of Philadelphia?

Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion

of the city of Bethlehem?

Favorable........................................................ 37% Unfavorable .................................................... 42% Not sure .......................................................... 22% Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion

Favorable........................................................ 42% Unfavorable .................................................... 10% Not sure .......................................................... 48%

of the city of Pittsburgh?

Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion

of the city of Harrisburg?

Favorable........................................................ 57% Unfavorable .................................................... 17% Not sure .......................................................... 25%

Favorable........................................................ 38% Unfavorable .................................................... 34%

Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion

Not sure .......................................................... 28%

of the city of Allentown?

Favorable........................................................ 34%

Unfavorable .................................................... 22%

Not sure .......................................................... 44%

May 17-20, 2012

3020 Highwoods Blvd.

Survey of 671 Pennsylvania voters

Raleigh, NC 27604

information@ / 888 621-6988

Q11 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Dunder Mifflin paper company? Favorable........................................................ 17% Unfavorable .................................................... 9% Not sure .......................................................... 74%

Q12 Do you have enough Santorum in your life, or not? Have enough Santorum .................................. 52% Do not ............................................................. 18% Not sure .......................................................... 29%

Q13 Who did you vote for President in 2008? John McCain................................................... 44% Barack Obama................................................ 49% Someone else/Don't remember ...................... 7%

Q14 Would you describe yourself as very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative? Very liberal ...................................................... 12% Somewhat liberal ............................................ 18% Moderate......................................................... 28% Somewhat conservative.................................. 22% Very conservative ........................................... 19%

Q15 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2. Woman ........................................................... 50% Man................................................................. 50%

Q16 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 ........................................................ 46% Republican...................................................... 42% Independent/Other .......................................... 12%

Q17 If you are white, press 1. If African-American, press 2. If other, press 3. White .............................................................. 85% African-American ............................................ 11% Other............................................................... 4%

Q18 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........................................................... 26% 46 to 65........................................................... 38% Older than 65 .................................................. 20%

Q19 Area Code 215.................................................................. 17% 412.................................................................. 11% 570.................................................................. 14% 610.................................................................. 15% 717.................................................................. 18% 724.................................................................. 15% 814.................................................................. 10%

May 17-20, 2012

3020 Highwoods Blvd.

Survey of 671 Pennsylvania voters

Raleigh, NC 27604

information@ / 888 621-6988

Crosstabs

2008 Vote

John Barack Som eone else/Don't

Base McCain Obam a

re m e m be r

Biden Favorability

Favorable 44% 13% 74%

24%

Unfavorable 44% 78% 14%

44%

Not sure 12%

9% 13%

32%

2008 Vote

John Barack Som eone else/Don't

Base McCain Obam a

re m e m be r

Fave PA Native Who's Recently Run for Pres.

Joe Biden 42%

7% 73%

25%

New t Gingrich 11% 21%

4%

4%

Ron Paul 14% 14% 12%

23%

Rick Santorum 25% 48%

5%

28%

Not sure 8%

9%

7%

20%

2008 Vote

John Barack Som eone else/Don't

Base McCain Obam a

re m e m be r

Philly Favorability

Favorable 37% 24% 48%

31%

Unfavorable 42% 56% 29%

46%

Not sure 22% 20% 23%

23%

2008 Vote

John Barack Som eone else/Don't

Base McCain Obam a

re m e m be r

Pitt Favorability

Favorable 57% 52% 63%

47%

Unfavorable 17% 21% 14%

16%

Not sure 25% 26% 23%

38%

May 17-20, 2012

survey of 671 Pennsylvania voters

3020 Highwoods Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27604

information@ / 888 621-6988

Crosstabs

2008 Vote

John Barack Som eone else/Don't

Base McCain Obam a

re m e m be r

Allentow n Favorability

Favorable 34% 36% 31%

39%

Unfavorable 22% 18% 26%

14%

Not sure 44% 46% 43%

46%

2008 Vote

John Barack Som eone else/Don't

Base McCain Obam a

re m e m be r

Erie Favorability

Favorable 41% 47% 37%

33%

Unfavorable 11%

6% 15%

21%

Not sure 48% 48% 48%

45%

2008 Vote

John Barack Som eone else/Don't

Base McCain Obam a

re m e m be r

Reading Favorability

Favorable 31% 34% 30%

27%

Unfavorable 26% 22% 30%

27%

Not sure 42% 44% 40%

46%

2008 Vote

John Barack Som eone else/Don't

Base McCain Obam a

re m e m be r

Scranton Favorability

Favorable 37% 35% 40%

32%

Unfavorable 15% 15% 14%

20%

Not sure 48% 50% 46%

47%

May 17-20, 2012

survey of 671 Pennsylvania voters

3020 Highwoods Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27604

information@ / 888 621-6988

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