Poll:Gay Issue Causes Little Pain For Santorum;PA Voters Back Bush Over Likely Dems

Quinnipiac University ^ | May 22, 2003 | Quinnipiac University

[pittsburgh gop guy]

Pennsylvania voters say 75 -- 17 percent that Sen. Rick Santorum should not resign his U.S. Senate leadership position because of his remarks about homosexuality, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released May 22.

Voters say 58 - 27 percent that homosexual behavior is morally wrong, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. But voters say 45 -- 35 percent that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal.

Sen. Santorum has a 55 -- 33 percent approval rating, with 12 percent undecided, compared to a 55 -- 20 percent approval in an April 10 Quinnipiac University poll, when 24 percent were undecided.

Some 27 percent of Pennsylvania voters say they are "less likely" to vote for Santorum and 30 percent say they feel "less favorably" about him because of his comments about homosexual activity. But a majority say in response to both questions his comments make no difference in either how they would vote or how they feel.

"The folks back home in Pennsylvania are largely unconcerned about Sen. Santorum's remarks about homosexual activity. His approval numbers are as strong as ever," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"True, there has been a 13-point increase in the disapproval, largely coming from the undecided," Richards added.

"He's no Trent Lott, that's for sure. The handful who say he should resign from his Senate leadership position because of his remarks are probably diehard opponents. The Senator's comments caused an uproar nationally, but not back home."

Santorum has a 44 -- 23 percent favorability rating, with 20 percent mixed and 12 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

President George W. Bush has a 64 -- 31 percent approval among Pennsylvania voters, and tops likely Democratic challengers in an early look at the 2004 presidential race. The matchups show:

• President Bush over Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman 55 -- 37 percent;
• Bush over Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry 56 -- 34 percent;
• Bush over Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt 57 -- 34 percent;

In each case, Bush gets 28 -- 30 percent of the Democratic vote.

Looking at a possible Democratic presidential primary, no clear winner emerges:

• Lieberman gets 26 percent;
• Gephardt gets 17 percent;
• Kerry gets 16 percent;
• No other candidate breaks 6 percent;
• 20 percent of Democrats are undecided.

"This early in the race, the Democratic presidential contest is wide open in Pennsylvania. Sen. Lieberman and "Don't Know" are out in front and all the others are battling to come in third," Richards said.

From May 13 - 20, Quinnipiac University surveyed 952 Pennsylvania registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent. The survey includes 338 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 5.3 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the nation as a public service and for research.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

To read the actual poll results (lengthy), click on the link (http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x6162.xml).

This is good news for Rick, and W too!

[lilylangtree]

Great news for the Repubs--Santorum and W. Salute to Pennsylvanians.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

All of that was a tempest in a teapot anyway. The left and their media friends tried to drum Santorum out just as they did Trent Lott. It works too many times. Of course, Lott had no gut but Santorum stood his ground as he should have. They totally distorted what he said.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Lieberman's poor fundraising not withstanding, he could rack up nice primary wins in states like NY and PA and make the race for the nominee competitive.

"Lieberman-- for people who want to vote for Bush but don't think he's Jewish enough"

[CatoRenasci]

Voters say 58 - 27 percent that homosexual behavior is morally wrong, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. But voters say 45 -- 35 percent that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal.

Conservatives should note these numbers well, to understand what can and cannot be accomplished. If you want to discourage homosexuality -- which I do -- it is important to differentiate between what is legal and what is moral. It is quite possible to believe something is wrong, without believing the state should criminalize it. And, that seems to be where a substantial number of people come out. If you don't want to elect Democrats and have homosexual marriage shoved down your throat, don't talk about legislation, talk about morality: be content to leave people alone in their bedrooms, while making your moral objections clear. Love the sinner, hate the sin.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

yeah, but the primary is always sooooo late in PA that it does not make a dif. And Lieberman will be out of it by then. I think it is gonna come down to Kerry ($600 million of Heinz ketchup money if you ask why) and Edwards, who has tons of trial lawyer money.

Oh, and how could I forget BIG AL Sharpton? - my personal favorite!

[LS]

Folks, do you realize that in the last week we have had polls in MASS showing Bush would defeat even Kerry; in NY showing Bush would beat anyone; in PA showing Bush beating anyone; and in CA showing Bush gaining unexpected support among Hispanics.

Now, where are those guys who said Bush would be "just like his daddy?"

Who'se YOUR Daddy?

[mabelkitty]

Earth round, sky blue.

No kidding.

Where are all the lib detractors who SWORE this would kill the party??

[mabelkitty]

Very good point. My solution? Use the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" option. If it's good enough for the government, it's good enough for the unwashed masses like us.

[Republican Wildcat]

It appears Santorum lost none of the support he began with...still at 55% approval.

However, folks, these polls about President Bush are at this point worthless--let's not get excited over them. If they say this at the end of October, then we can get excited.

[Republican Wildcat]

It appears Santorum lost none of the support he began with...still at 55% approval.

However, folks, these polls about President Bush are at this point worthless--let's not get excited over them. If they say this at the end of October (2004), then we can get excited.

[canuck_conservative]

".... 30 percent say they feel "less favorably" about him because of his comments about homosexual activity. But a majority say in response to both questions his comments make no difference in .... how they feel."

Yup, that makes real sense.

Yeah. Uh-huh. Sure.

[GOPJ]

bump

[GOPJ]

bump

My solution? Use the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" option. If it's good enough for the government, it's good enough for the unwashed masses like us.

[OPS4]

Does that mean we should not ask, agendas are shaped by peoples lifestyles.

ActUp groups are subversive, would you want them in the next fox hole?

Ops4 God BLess America!

[cgk]

It's good news for now. Wait until 2004 and the Teamsters Machine charges into action with their strong-armed tactics in "getting out the vote" by bashing people's heads in, ripping signs off their personal property, and handing out detailed pamplets complete with pictures on election site steps on "How to pull the Democratic lever".

As for Santorum's remarks - he NEVER SAID THE WORD GAY! The reporter kindly inserted that word for him. Again, that reporter is a Dem, married to a Dem, who is a member of Kerry's campaign. I wonder when people are going to connect the dots.

(speaking out loud to the article, not you pitts.) ;)

[smith288]

I caught a Daily Show rerun (that show has went from sorta neutral to extreme-left lately) and they did make me laugh.

The one "correspondant" said after watching the democrat debate, he can report at that time, with 0 percent precincts reporting, Bush is the projected winner for President of the United States for 2004.

I was cracking up with that.

[The Old Hoosier]

"The Senator's comments caused an uproar nationally, but not back home."

Correction: "The Senator's comments caused an uproar among members of the overwhelmingly left-wing, homosexual Washington media elite, but not back home."