2012 MISSISSIPPI POLL ON-LINE RESULTS:

 

This telephone survey was conducted by the Survey Research Laboratory (SRL) of the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University with facilities that permit simultaneous use of two large rooms of telephones, though the Mississippi Poll only employed at most twelve telephone stations at a time. The SSRC is directed by Dr. Arthur Cosby, and the SRL is directed by Dr. John Edwards. A random sampling technique was used to select the household phone numbers and the cell phone numbers, and the adult 18 years of age and older who first answered the phone was interviewed. Up to ten callbacks were made, and calls were made from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weeknights, and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 1PM to 9PM on Sundays. A Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing System (CATI) was used to collect the data. Eighteen undergraduate students in Dr. Shaffer’s Political Analysis class made the phone calls. Four hundred and thirty nine adult Mississippi residents were interviewed from April 2-25, 2012. The sampling frame included both cell phones as well as household phones, and interviewers used manual dialing. The response rate was 26%. With 439 people surveyed, the sample error for the full sample was plus or minus 4.8%, which means that if every Mississippi resident had been interviewed, the results could differ from those reported here by as much as 4.8%. Some analyses examine only "likely voters," who consist of 323 individuals in the sample, which results in a sample error level of 5.6% for results in those analyses. Likely voters are determined by responses to an additive scale of the campaign interest, intent to vote in November, and knowledge of one’s U.S. Representative question items. In order to achieve a representative sample, the dataset was adjusted or weighted by selected demographic characteristics to adequately represent the diversity of the entire population, as well as by selection probabilities reflecting those adults having both cell phones and landlines and of multi-adult households. The Director of the Survey was Dr. Stephen Shaffer in the MSU Political Science Department, who also produced this on-line summary of the results. SRL Director John Edwards was of invaluable assistance in the sophisticated methodology of incorporating cell phones in the sampling frame, as well as of accurately providing the weighting framework, and of providing the impressive facilities of the SRL for the student interviewers. As with all of the Mississippi Polls, the MSU IRB approved the project as protecting human subjects, those selected for interviewing.

A NOTE ON POLL ACCURACY: Some political observers expressed a skepticism that the presidential vote in Mississippi would be "as close" as the April Mississippi Poll results, which had Obama winning 40.7%, Romney 51.1%, and 8.2% being undecided; therefore, excluding the undecideds, the April Poll showed Romney winning 55.66 percent of the two-party vote. The certified November election results in Mississippi had Romney winning 55.3%, Obama winning 43.8%, and four minor party candidates winning 0.9%; therefore, excluding the four minor candidates, Romney in actuality won 55.80 percent of the two-party vote. The difference between "predicted" (six months before the election!) and actual Romney percentages of two-party vote was 0.14% (55.80-55.66), well within sampling error of 5.6% for likely voters, and far better than for most state polls in the last study of state poll accuracy (2004 state polls across the nation, average actual-projected deviations anywhere from 2.2% for multiple polls collected right before the election to 4.9% for one poll conducted weeks before an election).

 

ROMNEY WAS INDEED STRONGER IN MISSISSIPPI THAN WAS SANTORUM, BUT THE CONTEST IS STILL SURPRISINGLY CLOSE

 

Question Wording: If the presidential election was held today, and the candidates were President Barack Obama the Democrat, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney the Republican, whom would you vote for? Obama or Romney? (Asked of 323 likely voters in the general election)

Obama         =  40.7%

Romney        =  51.1%

Undecided    =  8.2%

Source: 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

Question Wording: If the presidential election was held today, and the candidates were President Barack Obama the Democrat, and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum the Republican, whom would you vote for?  Obama or Santorum? (Asked of 323 likely voters in the general election)

Obama          =  44.1%

Santorum       =  46.2%

Undecided     =  9.7%

Source: 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

ROMNEY VISIBILITY TO VOTERS IS LOWER THAN OBAMA’S

 

Asked of 439 adult Mississippi residents: "Please label the following political figures as very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate or middle of the road, somewhat conservative, or very conservative... President Barack Obama, Republican Mitt Romney, Republican Rick Santorum, Governor Phil Bryant, and Attorney General Jim Hood." The last row indicates voters' responses to the following question: "What about your political beliefs? Do you consider yourself: very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate or middle of the road, somewhat conservative, or very conservative?" 

 

VERY LIBERAL

SOMEWHAT LIBERAL

MODERATE

SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE

VERY CONSERVATIVE

DON’T KNOW

Barack Obama

45%

22%

9%

7%

10%

7%

Mitt Romney

4%

8%

25%

32%

11%

20%

Rick Santorum

3%

9%

13%

23%

28%

24%

Phil Bryant

3%

8%

19%

30%

16%

24%

Jim Hood

12%

16%

18%

19%

9%

26%

Residents' Own Views

5%

14%

22%

30%

23%

6%

Note: Percentages total 100% across each row.

Source: 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

BRYANT’S  JOB PERFORMANCE RATING IS STARTING HIGH

 

"I'm going to ask you to rate the job performance of a few political figures and institutions. Rate each of them as excellent, good, fair, or poor. What about Governor …?" (Note: asked of 323 likely voters in 2012; results from previous governors included)

 

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

No Opinion

 

Favorable Rating (E+G)/

(E+G+F+P)

Winter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1981

12%

46%

34%

6%

2%

 

59%

1982

15%

43%

32%

8%

2%

 

59%

 Allain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1984

6%

33%

44%

9%

8%

 

42%

1986

10%

39%

40%

11%

0%

 

49%

 Mabus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 1988

14%

39%

29%

4%

14%

 

62%

1990

17%

31%

31%

20%

1%

 

48%

 Fordice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1992

8%

36%

21%

22%

13%

 

51%

1994

19%

36%

32%

12%

1%

 

56%

1996

17%

34%

29%

16%

4%

 

53%

1998

11%

44%

32%

9%

4%

 

57%

1999

11%

34%

36%

13%

6%

 

48%

 Musgrove

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000

14%

39%

18%

6%

23%

 

 

69%

2002

9%

32%

35%

18%

6%

 

44%

 Barbour 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004

12%

28%

25%

12%

23%

 

52%

2006

16%

32%

32%

16%

4%

 

50%

2008

23%

34%

31%

10%

2%

 

58%

2010

20%

30%

33%

15%

2%

 

51%

 Bryant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

8%

40%

27%

5%

20%

 

60%

Note: Percentages in first five columns total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

OBAMA’S JOB PERFORMANCE REMAINS SIMILAR TO OTHER DEMOCRATS

 

"I'm going to ask you to rate the job performance of a few political figures and institutions. Rate each of them as excellent, good, fair, or poor. What about President Barack Obama?" (Asked of entire sample; don’t knows omitted from analysis; the 1988 results combined two different surveys conducted that year.)

 

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

 

Favorable Rating (E+G)

Reagan

 

 

 

 

 

 

1981

22

31

29

18

 

53%

1982

10

30

34

26

 

40%

1984

21

33

22

24

 

54%

1986

20

35

27

18

 

55%

1988

23

38

24

15

 

61%

Bush 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1990

19

41

32

8

 

60%

1992

10

39

36

15

 

49%

Clinton

 

 

 

 

 

 

1994

6

26

39

29

 

32%

1996

11

27

34

28

 

38%

1998

15

32

30

23

 

47%

1999

13

34

24

29

 

47%

2000

10

37

25

28

 

47%

Bush 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2002

36

33

19

12

 

69%

2004

25

24

25

26

 

49%

2006

15

30

27

28

 

45%

2008

9

25

33

34

 

34%

Obama

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

14

24

23

39

 

38%

2012

18

22

25

35

 

40%

Note: Percentages in first four columns total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

LEGISLATURE'S JOB RATING REMAINS RELATIVELY POSITIVE

 

"I'm going to ask you to rate the job performance of a few political figures and institutions. Rate each of them as excellent, good, fair, or poor. What about the Mississippi state legislature?" (Asked of entire sample)

 

 

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

No Opinion

 

Favorable Rating (E+G) - (P)

1981

3%

36%

46%

8%

7%

 

+31

1982

5%

24%

43%

15%

13%

 

+14

1984

3%

25%

51%

11%

10%

 

+17

1986

2%

27%

41%

17%

13%

 

+12

1988

4%

29%

46%

12%

9%

 

+21

1990

2%

23%

50%

16%

9%

 

+9

1992

2%

16%

44%

29%

9%

 

-11

1994

2%

22%

45%

22%

9%

 

+2

1996

5%

29%

44%

12%

10%

 

+22

1998

5%

28%

45%

9%

13%

 

+24

1999

5%

35%

39%

8%

13%

 

+32

2000

3%

34%

44%

9%

10%

 

+28

2002

4%

31%

38%

15%

12%

 

+20

 

2004

4%

30%

43%

14%

9%

 

+20

2006

2%

29%

42%

17%

10%

 

+14

2008

3%

33%

44%

12%

8%

 

+24

2010

4%

26%

46%

17%

7%

 

+13

2012

5%

27%

38%

17%

13%

 

+15

Note: Percentages in first five columns total 100% across each row. In calculating the Favorable Rating, "fair" is an ambiguous category when rating an institution, so it is excluded from the analysis.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

GENERAL TRUST IN PUBLIC OFFICIALS REMAINS BELOW HISTORIC AVERAGE

 

Question Wording (asked of entire sample): “How much of the time do you think you can trust public officials in Mississippi to do what is right—almost always, most of the time, only some of the time, or rarely?”

YEAR

ALWAYS

MOST OF TIME

SOME OF TIME

RARELY

NO OPINION

POSITIVITY- (always+most of time) -(rarely)

1981

8%

39%

42%

8%

3%

+39

1990

5

27

49

17

2

+15

1992

2

14

57

26

1

-10

1994

4

25

44

25

1

+4

1996

5

26

47

20

2

+11

1998

6

30

46

14

4

+22

1999

5

38

40

13

4

+30

2000

5

32

46

15

2

+22

2002

6

35

46

12

1

+29

2004

3

29

45

22

1

+10

2006

4

23

49

23

1

+4

2008

3

29

50

17

1

+15

2010

3

24

49

22

2

+5

2012

3

24

44

28

1

-1

Note: Percentages in first five columns total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

REPUBLICANS MAINTAIN SLIGHT ADVANTAGE IN ADULT POPULATION

 

Question wording (asked of entire sample): “Generally speaking, do you consider yourself a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or what?” (Independents were asked: “Do you think of yourself as closer to the Democratic party or to the Republican party?” Those leaning towards either party were considered identifiers of that party.)

YEAR

DEMOCRATS

INDEPENDENTS

REPUBLICANS

PARTY ADVANTAGE

1981

61%

7%

32%

29D

1982

61%

14%

25%

36D

1984

56%

15%

29%

27D

1986

54%

10%

36%

18D

1988

53%

13%

34%

19D

1990

56%

8%

36%

20D

1992

47%

13%

40%

7D

1994

47%

12%

41%

6D

1996

48%

10%

42%

6D

1998

47%

11%

42%

5D

1999

51%

10%

39%

12D

2000

54%

6%

40%

14D

2002

45%

8%

47%

2R

2004

43%

11%

46%

3R

2006

47%

6%

47%

0

2008

48%

9%

43%

5D

2010

39%

11%

50%

11R

2012

41%

15%

44%

3R

Note: Percentages in first three columns total 100% across each row. Values in the last column indicate the Democratic or Republican advantage in each year, and is the difference in percentages between the two parties.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

QUALITY OF LIFE RATING IN STATE REMAINS QUITE POSITIVE

 

Asked of entire sample: “Overall, how would you rate Mississippi as a place to live—excellent, good, fair, or poor?”

YEAR

EXCELLENT

GOOD

FAIR

POOR

POSITIVE: EXCELLENT PLUS GOOD

1981

37%

40%

18%

5%

+77

1986

29%

38%

26%

7%

+67

1992

20%

46%

25%

9%

+66

1994

27%

43%

24%

6%

+70

1996

26%

50%

21%

3%

+76

1998

30%

50%

18%

2%

+80

1999

28%

45%

23%

4%

+73

2000

28%

44%

24%

4%

+72

2002

26%

48%

20%

6%

+74

2004

28%

41%

25%

6%

+69

2006

32%

40%

23%

5%

+72

2008

28%

46%

22%

4%

+74

2010

35%

44%

16%

5%

+79

2012

34%

40%

20%

6%

+74

Note: Note: Percentages in first four columns total 100% across each row. The last column combines the most positive responses, those rating Mississippi’s quality of life as excellent or good.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

FINANCIAL SATISFACTION REMAINS NEAR HISTORIC LOW

 

Asked of entire sample: “We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days. So far as you and your family are concerned, would you say that you are pretty well satisfied with your present financial situation, more or less satisfied, or not satisfied at all?”

YEAR

Pretty Well Satisfied

More or Less Satisfied

Not Satisfied At All

No Opinion

Satisfaction Level- (Pretty Well Sat. – Not Satisfied)

1984

39%

41%

19%

1%

+20

1986

32

47

21

0

+11

1988

38

43

18

1

+20

1990

35

46

18

1

+17

1992

29

41

30

0

-1

1994

36

41

22

1

+14

1996

43

37

20

0

+23

1998

41

40

19

0

+22

2004

39

38

23

0

+16

2006

39

40

21

0

+18

2008

39

40

21

0

+18

2010

34

39

26

1

+8

2012

32

45

21

2

+11

Note: Percentages in first four columns total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

ACCESS TO COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY REMAINS NEAR HISTORIC HIGH

 

Asked of entire sample: “Do you have access to a personal computer?”

YEAR

Has Access to PC

Does Not have Access

1996

50

50

1998

56

44

2000

62

38

2004

68

32

2006

71

29

2008

67

33

2010

78

22

2012

73

27

Note: Percentages total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

 

GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY AT HISTORIC AVERAGE

 

Asked of entire sample: “How likely do you think it will be that you will be living in your community five years from now? Definitely no, probably no, probably yes, or definitely yes?”

YEAR

DEFINITELY NO

PROBABLY NO

PROBABLY YES

DEFINITELY YES

DON’T KNOW

YES (Definite+Probably)

1990

6%

12%

38%

40%

4%

+78

1992

6

11

34

47

2

+81

1994

6

11

35

47

1

+82

1996

5

14

33

46

2

+79

1998

6

12

34

48

0

+82

2004

11

14

31

42

2

+73

2006

7

13

28

50

2

+78

2008

7

14

32

46

1

+78

2010

8

12

30

49

1

+79

2012

9

13

30

45

3

+75

Note: Percentages in first five columns total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

MISSISSIPPIANS VALUE STATE PROGRAMS

 

Asked of 439 adult Mississippi residents: "Now I'm going to ask you about some issues facing state and local government in Mississippi. As you know, most of the money government spends comes from the taxes you and others pay. For each of the following, please tell me whether you think state and local government in Mississippi should be spending more, less, or about the same as now."

STATE PROGRAM

SPEND MORE

SPEND THE SAME

SPEND LESS

NO OPINION

Public Grade Schools and  High Schools

74

16

8

2

Health Care and Hospitals

64

25

6

5

Public Colleges and Universities

63

29

6

2

Streets and Highways

66

27

5

2

Industrial Growth and Development

59

27

8

6

Programs for the Poor

53

28

15

4

Police Forces

56

31

9

4

Child Day Care Facilities

56

29

10

5

Encouraging Tourism

38

41

15

6

Environmental Programs

35

40

21

4

Note: Percentages total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

PROGRAM SUPPORT GENERALLY RETURNS TO HISTORIC AVERAGES

 

Asked of entire sample in years indicated: "Now I'm going to ask you about some issues facing state and local government in Mississippi. As you know, most of the money government spends comes from the taxes you and others pay. For each of the following, please tell me whether you think state and local government in Mississippi should be spending more, less, or about the same as now." (Table entries are percentages who respond that “more” should be spent; na indicated that question was not asked that year.) 

 

‘81

‘84

‘88

‘90

‘92

‘94

‘96

‘98

‘99

‘00

‘04

‘06

‘08

‘10

‘12

Schools

69

72

75

80

76

79

79

83

80

79

83

79

78

72

74

Health $

59

62

70

73

74

68

68

70

71

74

72

74

73

56

64

Colleges

59

60

68

63

68

65

60

64

61

63

63

60

55

56

63

Streets

61

65

67

70

62

64

59

66

64

59

61

60

61

50

66

Industry

71

61

71

61

69

63

57

53

58

56

63

57

61

56

59

Poor $

51

59

57

63

57

57

57

61

60

66

62

61

64

51

53

Police

58

50

57

65

63

67

62

64

65

56

59

62

63

55

56

Day Care

na

na

48

59

55

57

55

63

na

na

54

54

54

47

56

Tourism

50

45

47

52

48

49

38

45

na

46

48

41

43

43

38

Environ.

39

38

41

48

49

45

37

43

43

45

40

48

44

35

35

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT HEALTH ROLE STRONG, BUT RECENT DIP REMAINS

 

Asked of entire sample in years indicated: “Do you strong agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement? The government ought to help people get doctors and hospital care at low cost.”

YEAR

Strongly Agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Undecided

1992

27

58

10

2

3

1994

24

53

17

4

2

1996

29

55

12

3

1

1998

28

54

14

3

1

2000

33

53

11

2

1

2004

37

52

9

1

1

2006

34

52

12

1

1

2008

49

37

9

4

1

2010

30

40

18

10

2

2012

25

45

19

9

2

Note: Percentages total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

SUPPORT FOR SEX EQUALITY NEAR HISTORIC HIGH

 

Asked of entire sample: “Do you agree or disagree with the following statement—Women should take care of running their homes and leave running the country up to men?” Those agreeing with this statement are classified as “Against Equal Rights for women” and those disagreeing with the statement are classified as “For Equal Rights”.

YEAR

AGAINST EQUAL RIGHTS

FOR EQUAL RIGHTS

NO OPINION

1984

41%

53%

6%

1986

39

56

5

1988

39

55

6

1990

34

61

5

1994

24

70

6

1996

28

68

4

1998

25

70

5

1999

22

73

5

2004

25

69

6

2006

26

69

5

2008

31

64

5

2010

27

68

5

2012

24

72

4

Note: Percentages total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

RESIDENTS CONCERNED OVER RACIAL PROFILING POSSIBILITIES

 

Three questions asked of entire sample: 1) “Racial Profiling is when a law enforcement officer stops and asks a person questions or detains them, merely because of their race. Have you ever been a victim of racial profiling?” 2) “Do you believe that racial profiling is a widespread practice in Mississippi?” 3) “Do you believe that law enforcement officers should be allowed to use racial profiling to fight crime?” 

 

 

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

Ever Been Profiled?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes

18

15

15

16

15

No

81

83

85

83

83

Don’t Know

1

2

0

1

2

Is Racial Profiling  Widespread?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes

45

50

53

51

53

No

42

38

36

41

36

Don’t Know

13

12

11

8

11

Should Racial Profiling Be Allowed?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes

16

22

20

19

16

No

80

73

77

75

80

No Opinion

4

5

3

6

4

Note: Percentages total 100% down each column for each question.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

PRO-CHOICE POSTURE GAINS OVER PRO-LIFE POSITION

 

Asked of entire sample: “Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement: By law, a woman should be able to have an abortion as a matter of personal choice."

YEAR

Strong Agree

Agree

Undecided

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

2000

9%

34%

5%

32%

20%

2002

14

27

3

30

26

2006

11

31

4

31

23

2008

9

27

6

30

28

2010

15

28

6

28

23

2012

19

32

4

30

15

Note: Percentages total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

SUPPORT FOR DEATH PENALTY DIPS TO HISTORIC LOW

 

Asked of entire sample: “For someone who is convicted or murder, do you GENERALLY favor the death penalty, life in prison without parole, or a jail term that is shorter than for the rest of someone's life?”

YEAR

Death Penalty

Life without Parole

Shorter than Life Jail Term

Undecided

1996

53

40

2

5

2006

47

41

4

8

2008

44

40

7

9

2010

47

38

6

9

2012

42

42

6

10

Note: Percentages total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

ATTITUDES TOWARDS GAY MARRIAGE REMAIN SPLIT

 

“Which of these three options do you favor for gay couples: They should be allowed to get legally married; they should be allowed legally to form civil unions but not to marry; or they should not be allowed to obtain any legal recognition of their relationships.”

Legal marriage         = 24.7% (25.6%)

Civil unions              = 24.0% (21.1%)

No legal recognition = 45.7% (49.4%)

No opinion                = 5.6% (3.9%)

 

Note: Percentages total 100% down each column. Results from the 2010 Mississippi Poll are in parentheses.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

                                                     

DEFENSE SPENDING SUPPORT CONTINUES BELOW POST 9-11 HIGH

 

Asked of entire sample: “Should National Defense spending be increased, decreased, or kept about the same?”

YEAR

Increased

Decreased

Kept Same

No opinion

2002

55

8

32

5

2008

32

16

50

2

2010

34

13

46

7

2012

29

13

54

4

Note: Percentages total 100% across each row.

Source: http://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/poll/pollresults10.htm, and 2012 Mississippi Poll.

 

 

SOME RACIAL DIFFERENCES REMAIN ON KEY ISSUES

 

Asked of whites and African Americans in 2012: 1) “Do you strong agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement? Because of past discrimination blacks should be given preference in hiring and promotion.” 2) “Do you strong agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement? The government in Washington should make every effort to improve the social and economic position of blacks and other minority groups.” 3) “For someone who is convicted or murder, do you GENERALLY favor the death penalty, life in prison without parole, or a jail term that is shorter than for the rest of someone's life?” 4) “Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement. The government in Washington should see to it that every person has a job and a good standard of living.” 5) “Do you strong agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement? The government ought to help people get doctors and hospital care at low cost.” 6) “Which of these three options do you favor for gay couples: They should be allowed to get legally married; they should be allowed legally to form civil unions but not to marry; or they should not be allowed to obtain any legal recognition of their relationships.” 7) "Now I'm going to ask you about some issues facing state and local government in Mississippi. As you know, most of the money government spends comes from the taxes you and others pay. For each of the following, please tell me whether you think state and local government in Mississippi should be spending more, less, or about the same as now. Programs for the Poor." 8) “Racial Profiling is when a law enforcement officer stops and asks a person questions or detains them, merely because of their race. Have you ever been a victim of racial profiling?” 9) “Do you believe that racial profiling is a widespread practice in Mississippi?” 10) “Do you believe that law enforcement officers should be allowed to use racial profiling to fight crime?” 

 

Whites

African Americans

Racial Preferences in Hiring and Promotions

 

 

Favor

12

58

Oppose

88

42

Gov’t Should Improve Blacks’ Social and Economic Positions

 

 

Agree

39

91

Disagree

61

9

Preferred Penalty

for Murder:

 

 

Death Penalty

60

20

Life without Parole

38

66

Term ShorteR than Life

2

14

Gov’t Should Provide Jobs and Good Living Standard

 

 

Yes

40

79

No

60

21

Gov’t Should Greatly Lower Health Care Costs

 

 

Yes

57

94

No

43

6

Gay Couples Legal Options Favored:

 

 

Legal Marriage

21

34

Civil Unions

26

23

No Legal Recognition at All

53

43

Poverty Spending Desired Level:

 

 

Increased

37

90

Decreased

25

1

Kept the Same

38

9

Ever Been Profiled?

 

 

Yes

6

31

No

94

69

Is Racial Profiling  Widespread?

 

 

Yes

43

84

No

57

16

Should Racial Profiling Be Allowed?

 

 

Yes

22

7

No

78

93

Note: Percentages total 100% down each column for each question. To better illustrate racial differences, “don’t knows” have been omitted from the analysis, and some response categories have been combined.

Source: The 2012 Mississippi Poll.