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Maine Voter Preference Study – Wave III

Maine Voter Preference Study – Wave III. Prepared for: Maine Today Media October 2010. Focus Groups  Surveys  Public Opinion Polling 120 Exchange Street, Portland, Maine 04101 Telephone: 207-772-4011 • Fax: 207-772-7027 www.criticalinsights.com. Introduction. Method & Approach.

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Maine Voter Preference Study – Wave III

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  1. Maine Voter Preference Study – Wave III Prepared for: Maine Today Media October 2010 Focus Groups  Surveys  Public Opinion Polling 120 Exchange Street, Portland, Maine 04101 Telephone: 207-772-4011 • Fax: 207-772-7027 www.criticalinsights.com

  2. Introduction

  3. Method & Approach • A random, statewide poll of 605 registered likely voters across Maine was conducted on October 10th and 11th as a follow up to earlier measurements conducted for Maine Today Media in mid- and late-September, respectively. • As with prior waves of measurement, the survey instrument was developed by Critical Insights, in collaboration with Maine Today Media. • Live interviews were conducted by telephone using a computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) system. • In order to qualify for inclusion in the survey, respondents had to: • Be a registered voter in the State of Maine; • Indicate that they voted in the most recent Presidential election in November 2008; and • Claim they were likely to vote in the upcoming election on November 2nd. • Subsequent analysis and compilation of data was also prepared by Critical Insights. • Results presented in this report are based on statistically weighted data to reflect the gender, age, and geographic distribution of Maine voters. • A complete profile of survey respondents may be found at the conclusion of this document.

  4. Key Results

  5. Voter Perspectives onPublic Assistance Programs in Maine • In each wave of measurement of this poll for Maine Today Media, rotating items of interest relevant to the upcoming election were included. • While Wave II of measurement focused on issues surrounding education and the gubernatorial election, the current poll focused on voters’ perspectives surrounding public assistance programs in Maine, particularly attitudes and beliefs about these programs. • Prior to being presented with any questions in this area, all respondents were provided with the following introductory material: Next, I’m going to ask you several questions about government assistance programs in Maine.Sometimes referred to as “welfare programs,” these programs are designed to promote or assure the basic well-being of those documented to be in need. These efforts aim to improve a person or family’s financial status and employment situation, as well as provide access to basic healthcare needs.Depending on the question, sometimes I’ll refer to these programs as “welfare” or as “government assistance.”

  6. Voter Perspectives onManagement of Public Assistance Programs Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “poor” and 5 means “excellent,” how well do you believe the State of Maine is currently managing its programs designed to provide assistance to the needy? A majority of voters polled give Maine an average or lesser grade for its management of public assistance programs.

  7. Voter Perspectives onManagement of Public Assistance Programs, by Preferred Gubernatorial Candidate Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “poor” and 5 means “excellent,” how well do you believe the State of Maine is currently managing its programs designed to provide assistance to the needy? A majority of LePage supporters give Maine an unfavorable rating for management of public assistance programs.Close to half of Cutler supporters responded similarly, while only one-quarter of Mitchell supporters gave Maine an unfavorable rating.

  8. Voter Perspectives onPublic Assistance Programs in Maine Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “completely disagree” and 5 means “completely agree,” please tell me your level of agreement with… “Poor people in Maine have become too dependent on government assistance programs.”

  9. Voter Perspectives on Public Assistance, by Preferred Gubernatorial Candidate Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “completely disagree” and 5 means “completely agree,” please tell me your level of agreement with… “Poor people in Maine have become too dependent on government assistance programs.” A disproportionate bloc of LePage supporters agree that poor people in Maine have become too dependent on these programs.

  10. Voter Perspectives onPublic Assistance Programs in Maine Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “completely disagree” and 5 means “completely agree,” please tell me your level of agreement with… “The State of Maine has a responsibility to provide assistance for food and housing to people in need.”

  11. Voter Perspectives on Public Assistance, by Preferred Gubernatorial Candidate Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “completely disagree” and 5 means “completely agree,” please tell me your level of agreement with… “The State of Maine has a responsibility to provide assistance for food and housing to people in need.” While strong majorities of those supporting both Mitchell and Cutler agree that Maine has a social responsibility to care for those in need, significantly fewer LePage supporters agree.

  12. Voter Perspectives on Public Assistance:“Gaming the System” A phrase sometimes heard is that some people are “gaming the welfare system.” If you had to guess, approximately what percentage of people currently receiving welfare assistance in Maine are “gaming the system”? A majority of voters believe that no more than half of those receiving public assistance are “gaming the system.” A smaller bloc of voters (21%) believe that more than half of recipients are taking advantage of the system. The remaining 16% of voters don’t know or declined to answer.

  13. Voter Perspectives on Public Assistance: “Gaming the System,”by Preferred Gubernatorial Candidate A phrase sometimes heard is that some people are “gaming the welfare system.” If you had to guess, approximately what percentage of people currently receiving welfare assistance in Maine are “gaming the system”? When asked to estimate the number of people “gaming the system” in Maine, LePage supporters tend to be more pessimistic than are supporters of either Cutler or Mitchell.

  14. Voter Perspectives on Public Assistance Does the state of Maine do enough to encourage and help those receiving government assistance to find work? Do you believe that Maine should institute a lifetime cap on the amount of state aid any recipient may receive?

  15. Voter Perspectives on Public Assistance,by Preferred Gubernatorial Candidate Does the state of Maine do enough to encourage and help those receiving government assistance to find work? Do you believe that Maine should institute a lifetime cap on the amount of state aid any recipient may receive?

  16. Perception of Most Effective Manager of Maine’s Public Assistance Programs Which of the current candidates for Governor do you believe would be most effective at managing the state’s welfare programs? * Includes aggregated totals for Shawn Moody and Kevin Scott, respectively.

  17. Respondent Profile: Wave III

  18. Respondent Gender and Age

  19. Family Status Do you have any children, age 18 or younger, living with you at home?

  20. SES: Level of Education & Income

  21. Political Party and Ideology

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