Chafee Leads In Rhode Island Governor Match-ups
March 2, 2010
Tuesday, March 02, 2010Ex-Senator Lincoln Chafee is the leader for now in Rhode Island's race for governor.
The first Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 telephone survey of the race finds Chafee, a Republican turned independent, ahead in two hypothetical three-way contests, regardless of which Democratic hopeful ends up as the party's nominee.
Chafee earns the support of 37% of likely voters in Rhode Island to 27% for Democrat Frank Caprio, the state's current treasurer, and likely Republican nominee John Robitaille's 19%. Seventeen percent (17%) are undecided.
When State Attorney General Patrick Lynch is the Democrat in the race, he earns 24% of the vote to Chafee's 38% and Robitaille's 22%. Given this match-up, 16% are undecided.
Chafee was appointed to the Senate in 1999 following the death of his father, Senator John Chafee. He was elected to a full Senate term in 2000 but lost his bid for reelection in 2006. Chafee, who often clashed with the Senate GOP leadership because of his liberal political views, became an independent in 2007.
Chafee's political views are perhaps understandable given that Rhode Island has been a reliably Democratic state in presidential and congressional contests for years now. While the national political mood has soured toward incumbents and Democrats in particular, there's little sign of that thus far in the state.
Barack Obama carried 63% of the vote in Rhode
Island in 2008, and 62% of the state's voters currently approve of the job he
is doing as president. Thirty-seven percent (37%) disapprove. These figures
includes 38% who strongly approve of the job the president is doing and 26% who
Strongly Disapprove. This is considerably higher than the job approval ratings
Obama earns nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking
Poll .
Like the rest of the country, however, the economy continues to be a concern. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Rhode Island voters characterize their personal finances as good or excellent, but 17% say their finances are poor. While 18% say their own finances are getting better, 45% say they are getting worse.
Current Republican Governor Don Carcieri is term-limited and cannot seek reelection. Democrats will choose their gubernatorial nominee in a September 14 primary.
Chafee leads among male and female voters in both potential governor's race match-ups. Voters not affiliated with either major party also prefer Chafee in either contest.
Four percent (4%) of Rhode Island voters have a very favorable opinion of Robitaille, formerly an aide to Governor Carcieri. Nine percent (9%) view him very unfavorably.
For Caprio, very favorables total 21% and very unfavorables eight percent (8%).
Lynch is viewed very favorably by 12% and very unfavorably by 25%.
Twenty-six percent (26%) regard Chafee very favorably, while 22% see him very unfavorably.
At this early stage of the campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the very favorable and very unfavorable figures more significant than the overall favorability totals.
Forty-eight percent (48%) of Rhode Island voters think it is possible to balance the federal budget without raising taxes, but 29% disagree.
Forty-six percent (46%) favor an across-the-board tax cut for all Americans, an idea rejected by 37%. Still, 52% of voters in the state believe that tax cuts are a better job-creator than increased government spending. Seventeen percent (17%) see increased spending as a better tool.
Rhode Island voters are more optimistic about the national security scene than many voters nationally. Fifty-seven percent (57%) in the state say the United States and its allies are winning the war on terror. Fifteen percent (15%) say the terrorists are winning.
Forty-six percent (46%) believe America is safer today than it was before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree.
Two-thirds (66%) of voters in Rhode Island trust the judgment of the American people more than that of the country's political leaders when it comes to important national issues. Sixteen percent (16%) trust the judgment of the leaders more.
Fifty-nine percent (59%) say the federal government has become a special interest group, and 65% believe that government and big business often work together in ways that hurt consumers and investors.
Forty-four percent (44%) currently approve of the job Carcieri is doing as governor, with 15% who strongly approve. Fifty-four percent (54%) disapprove of his performance, including 34% who strongly disapprove.
Like the rest of the country, however, the economy continues to be a concern. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Rhode Island voters characterize their personal finances as good or excellent, but 17% say their finances are poor. While 18% say their own finances are getting better, 45% say they are getting worse.
Current Republican Governor Don Carcieri is term-limited and cannot seek reelection. Democrats will choose their gubernatorial nominee in a September 14 primary.
Chafee leads among male and female voters in both potential governor's race match-ups. Voters not affiliated with either major party also prefer Chafee in either contest.
Four percent (4%) of Rhode Island voters have a very favorable opinion of Robitaille, formerly an aide to Governor Carcieri. Nine percent (9%) view him very unfavorably.
For Caprio, very favorables total 21% and very unfavorables eight percent (8%).
Lynch is viewed very favorably by 12% and very unfavorably by 25%.
Twenty-six percent (26%) regard Chafee very favorably, while 22% see him very unfavorably.
At this early stage of the campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the very favorable and very unfavorable figures more significant than the overall favorability totals.
Forty-eight percent (48%) of Rhode Island voters think it is possible to balance the federal budget without raising taxes, but 29% disagree.
Forty-six percent (46%) favor an across-the-board tax cut for all Americans, an idea rejected by 37%. Still, 52% of voters in the state believe that tax cuts are a better job-creator than increased government spending. Seventeen percent (17%) see increased spending as a better tool.
Rhode Island voters are more optimistic about the national security scene than many voters nationally. Fifty-seven percent (57%) in the state say the United States and its allies are winning the war on terror. Fifteen percent (15%) say the terrorists are winning.
Forty-six percent (46%) believe America is safer today than it was before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree.
Two-thirds (66%) of voters in Rhode Island trust the judgment of the American people more than that of the country's political leaders when it comes to important national issues. Sixteen percent (16%) trust the judgment of the leaders more.
Fifty-nine percent (59%) say the federal government has become a special interest group, and 65% believe that government and big business often work together in ways that hurt consumers and investors.
Forty-four percent (44%) currently approve of the job Carcieri is doing as governor, with 15% who strongly approve. Fifty-four percent (54%) disapprove of his performance, including 34% who strongly disapprove.
Click here for original article
Lincoln Chafee has forged a path of independence and he is now prepared, with your support, to bring his unquestioned integrity, proven record of working together for the common good, and ability to represent our state at the highest levels of business and government to the Governor's Office.
Wed., Sep. 8, 2010
'Get Involved' Party for Chafee for Governor
Please join us to learn about volunteer and internship opportunities for Lincoln Chafee's Independent Gubernatorial Campaign!
Location: Campaign Headquarters, 1800 Post Road, Suite #27 (under Staples, next to liquor store), Warwick RI 02886When: 5:30 PM
More Info
