Vanderbilt University Poll

Nov 20 – Dec 5, 2013

1,002 Tennessee Residents 860 Tennessee Registered Voters

Obama Approval Among TN Registered Voters

44% 44%

38% 41% 42%

45%

40%

28%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Jan 2011 June 2011 Nov 2011 Feb 2012 May 2012 Dec 2012 May 2013 Nov 2013

Full Sample

Obama Approval Among TN Registered Voters

85% 81%

79% 77%

82%

88%

83%

68%

27%

40%

30%

35% 35% 35% 34%

23% 10% 11%

4% 7%

5% 6% 8%

6%

44% 44%

38% 41% 42%

45%

40%

28%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Jan 2011 June 2011 Nov 2011 Feb 2012 May 2012 Dec 2012 May 2013 Nov 2013

Democrats Independents Republicans Full Sample

Perception of Economy Among TN Registered Voters

15%

26%

17%

24% 23%

33% 31% 32%

44%

53% 52%

66%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Jan 2011 June 2011 Nov 2011 Feb 2012 May 2012 Dec 2012 May 2013 Dec 2013

US Economy: Very or Fairly Good TN Economy: Very or Fairly Good

Top Priority of the TN State Government Among TN Registered Voters

60% 60%

50% 48%

12% 10%

15% 17%

0%

20%

40%

60%

May 2012 Dec 2012 May 2013 Nov 2013

Economy Health Care

Opinions about Health Care Source : VU Poll

Nov 2013 N = 860; MoE: +/- 4.1%

Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion

15%

51%

63%

34%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Favorable Unfavorable Expand Don't expand

Affordable Care Act Source : VU Poll

Nov 2013 N = 860; MoE: +/- 4.1%

Given what you know about the Affordable Care Act that passed in 2010, do you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable view of it, or have you not heard enough about it to form an opinion?

15%

37%

12%

3% 5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Total Democrats Independents Republicans Tea Party

Support for Medicaid Expansion Source : VU Poll

Nov 2013 N = 860; MoE: +/- 4.1%

63%

89%

64%

42% 36%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Total Democrats Independents Republicans Tea Party

Some states like Kentucky have expanded Medicaid using money from the federal government to provide medical care for low-income people. Other states, like Georgia, have decided not to expand Medicaid. Tennessee has not yet decided whether or not to expand Medicaid. Do you think Tennessee should expand Medicaid coverage for low-income people in the state, or not?

Support for Medicaid Expansion Source : VU Poll

Nov 2013 N = 860; MoE: +/- 4.1%

83%

73%

46%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Liberal Moderate Conservative

Healthcare.gov Source : VU Poll

Nov 2013 N = 860; MoE: +/- 4.1%

14%

85%

As you may know, the federal government has set up online marketplaces for health insurance that people can use to compare plans and purchase health insurance. Have you visited any of these online health insurance exchanges, such as healthcare.gov, or haven’t you done this?

Yes

No

Government Shutdown

The Government Shutdown was a Crisis or Major Problem

The Government should not be shut down to force a Budget Deal

or Delay the ACA

67% 68%

81%

97%

68% 65%

58%

50% 49% 46%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Total Democrats Independents Republicans Tea Party

Willingness to Compromise

Which of the following comes closest to your view, even if neither is exactly right? I would prefer my legislators work with members of the other political party even if it means they have to compromise on some of their values and priorities. Or, I would prefer my legislators pursue their own values and priorities even if it means they are unwilling to work with members of the other political party.

74%

95%

81%

60%

50%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Total Democrats Independents Republicans Tea Party

Source : VU Poll Nov 2013

N = 860; MoE: +/- 4.1%

Issues in the Tennessee Legislature

65% 70%

67% 62% 64%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Total Democrats Independents

Republicans Tea Party

Some over-the-counter cold medicines, such as Sudafed, contain an ingredient called pseudoephedrine that is used to make the illegal drug called “meth.” The Tennessee state legislature recently considered making pseudoephedrine a prescription drug to help reduce meth abuse. Do you support or oppose requiring people in Tennessee to get a doctor’s prescription for pseudoephedrine drugs?

55%

40%

Issues in the Tennessee Legislature Next year, Tennessee residents will be asked to vote on an amendment to the state constitution that would allow the state legislature to pass laws that would make all abortions illegal. Do you favor giving the state legislature the constitutional authority to outlaw abortions under all circumstances, or do you oppose this?

29%

19%

26%

42% 42%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Total Democrats

Independents Republicans

Tea Party

Tennesseans' Abortion Views*

Pro-Life

Pro-Choice

*Average from last three VU Polls

Change from Open to Closed Party Primaries

Party Nominees for U.S. Senate

(From May 2013 VU Poll)

Electoral Reforms in Tennessee

17%

82%

5%

93%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Change Don't Change Legislature

Choose

Voters Choose

Approval Ratings of Statewide Officials

61%

52% 49% 48%

44% 45%

61%

51% 48%

76%

64%

57%

76%

54%

42%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Total Democrats Independents Republicans Tea Party

Bill Haslam

Bob Corker

Lamar Alexander

Approval Ratings of Tennesseans Source : VU Poll

Nov 2013 N = 860; MoE: +/- 4.1%

Joe Carr James Franklin Butch Jones Carrie Underwood

*Approval Ratings only amongst those who recognized individual

24%

54%

29%

70%

39%

76%

85% 85%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Recognize | Approve* Recognize | Approve* Recognize | Approve* Recognize | Approve*

Comparing Carr and Alexander

14% 15% 19%

49%

57%

42%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Full Sample Republicans Tea Party

Carr Approval Alexander Approval

Looking forward to 2016?

Recognition of Ted Cruz and Chris Christie

51%

67%

43%

60% 53%

71%

54%

74% 67%

76%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Total Democrats Independents Republicans Tea Party

Ted Cruz Chris Christie

Looking forward to 2016?

Approval of Ted Cruz and Chris Christie

Ted Cruz Chris Christie

26%

44%

8%

40%

30%

44% 39%

50% 54%

36%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Total Democrats Independents Republicans Tea Party