The Roanoke College Poll: A Profile of the Tea Party in Virginia

SALEM, Va., Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke College recently asked 601 Virginia residents for their thoughts on the Tea Party, finding that one-third (33%) agreed with the movement, another third (32%) were opposed, and the final third (35%) did not have an opinion. 

Analysis of the results finds that Virginia's Tea Party supporters look very much like people who disagree with the movement with regard to most demographic characteristics. But they are very conservative.

Seventy-five percent of supporters call themselves conservative; only 18% are moderate, and 5% are liberal. Those who disagree with the Tea Party are 38% liberals, 48% moderates, and 14% conservatives. Most of the supporters are Republican (55%) with fewer describing themselves as Independent (33%) or Democrat (5%). Among those who do not support the Tea Party, 60% are Democrats, 29% Independents, and 5% are Republicans.  Tea Party supporters voted overwhelmingly for John McCain for President in 2008 (81%), and an even higher percentage (84%) voted for Bob McDonnell for Governor in 2009.

Tea party supporters are considerably more likely than those who disagree with the movement to think that Virginia is headed in the right direction (65%-39%) and to approve of Governor McDonnell's job performance (82%-32%).

Tea Partiers have much more negative views of the national government. Compared to those who disagree with the Tea Party, they are much more likely to say the country is headed in the wrong direction (93%-48%), more likely to trust the national government rarely or never (74%-26%), and to disapprove of President Obama (86%-14%).

Supporters are more likely to think that government is trying to do things better left to individuals and businesses (85%-29%) and to prefer a smaller government with fewer taxes (94%-33%).

On the policy issues surveyed, those who support the Tea Party were not significantly different from those who call themselves conservative.

For more information and details, please visit http://roanoke.edu/News_and_Events/Campus_News/RC_Poll_report_on_Tea_Party.htm.

SOURCE Roanoke College

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