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NEWS
Polling Montanans: Annual Survey Breaks Down Residents’ Views on Politics, Issues
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
For the last 27 years, students at Mon-
tana State University-Billings have con- ducted a random telephone survey of Montana residents, gauging their polit- ical opinions and views on topics in the news.
Students called cell phones and landline numbers across the state in
MONTANA POLL RESULTS
November, surveying 435 residents. The margin of error is 4.8 percent.
The poll found 20 percent of respon- dents disapproved of Gov. Steve Bull- ock’s performance in o ce while 30 percent did not have an opinion. Dem- ocratic Sen. Jon Tester had an approval rating of 47 percent, while 39 percent disapproved. Republican Sen. Steve Daines had a 48 percent approval rating
while 22 percent disapproved. Forty-four percent of respondents
approved of Republican Rep. Ryan Zin- ke’s performance in o ce, while 21 per- cent disapproved.
Two-thirds of respondents disap- proved of Democratic President Barack Obama’s performance in o ce, up slightly from 60 percent a year ago.
Here’s a breakdown of other results:
From our family to yours...
Would you support or oppose the adoption of a Colorado-style marijuana legalization policy in Montana?
STRONGLY OPPOSE: 195 STRONGLY SUPPORT: 95 SOMEWHAT SUPPORT: 70 SOMEWHAT OPPOSE: 42 NEITHER SUPPORT/OPPOSE: 18 DON’T KNOW: 12
In your opinion, are gun laws in Montana too strict, about right, or not strict enough?
ABOUT RIGHT: 282
NOT STRICT ENOUGH: 74 TOO STRICT: 55
DON’T KNOW: 20
What do you think is the most important problem facing the United States today?
TERRORISM: 105 GOVERNMENT: 46 ECONOMY: 40 FEDERAL DEBT: 36 IMMIGRATION: 34
Which of the following statements best describes your opinion on the state of the U.S. economy?
SOMEWHAT WEAK: 134 VERY WEAK: 108 SOMEWHAT STRONG: 95 NOT STRONG OR WEAK: 78 VERY STRONG: 10
If you had to choose today, which of the following candidates for the Republican nomination for President would you support? Asked only Republicans and Independents who lean Republican. Top four picks.
DONALD TRUMP: 44 BEN CARSON: 38 TED CRUZ: 28 MARCO RUBIO: 27
If you had to choose today, which of the following candidates for the Democratic nomination for President would you support? Asked only Democrats or Independents who lean Democrat. Top three picks.
HILLARY CLINTON: 55 BERNIE SANDERS: 35 NONE/OTHER: 9
If Hillary Clinton were the Democratic Party’s candidate and Donald Trump were the Republican Party’s candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?
DONALD TRUMP: 221 HILLARY CLINTON: 129 DON’T KNOW: 80
SOURCE: MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BILLINGS \ HTTP://WWW.MSUBILLINGS.EDU/URELATIONS/RELEASES/2015/POLL_2015.PDF
www.ThreeRiversBankMontana.com
DECEMBER 16, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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