KAET-ASU Poll

A new statewide poll of 415 registered voters conducted by KAET-TV/Channel 8 and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University April 21-24, 2005, found that Janet Napolitano continues to receive high marks for the job she is doing as governor of Arizona. Sixty-one percent of those interviewed said they approved of the job she is doing, 27 percent disapproved and 12 percent had no opinion. Democrats (89 percent) and registered voters with high school educations or less (75 percent) rated the governor the highest. At this time, a majority of Republicans (61 percent) approve of the job she is doing.

The poll also found that a majority (57 percent) of those interviewed supported the Minuteman Project, in which citizen volunteers patrolled the Arizona-Mexico border near Douglas. Thirty-four percent were opposed to the project. Men were more likely than women (61 percent to 43 percent) to support the Minuteman Project and Republicans more likely (70 percent) than Democrats (43 percent) and political independents (59 percent).

A majority (61 percent) of registered voters supports requiring high school students in Arizona to pass the AIMS test before graduating. Support for the AIMS test cut across all demographic and political groups. Democrats were, however, less likely (55 percent) than Republicans (73 percent) or independents (68 percent) to support the test.

The other issue that found wide support in Arizona was President George W. Bush’s Guest Worker Program. Sixty-two percent of all registered voters support his plan and 29 percent do not support it. Interestingly, a majority of voters said they would favor the plan even if it included a provision that allowed permanent status for those already in the country illegally. Fifty-four percent favored such a plan and 37 percent were opposed. Republicans were more supportive of the plan (74 percent) than Democrats (62 percent). The survey also found that that 75 percent of all registered voters in Arizona felt that companies that knowingly hire illegal aliens should be punished.

The most divisive issue measured in this month’s poll related to whether voters supported the actions of Army reservist Patrick Haab, who was charged with aggravated assault for holding seven illegal immigrants at gunpoint at a rest stop earlier in the month. Forty-four percent of those polled support what he did and 41 percent were opposed to his actions. Support for Haab came primarily from older voters, people with high school educations or less, and from Republicans.

Finally, the poll found that one-fourth (23 percent) of those interviewed have curtailed their driving “significantly” since gas prices have steadily risen. Lower socio-economic voters are the most likely to have reduced driving. Nevertheless, more voters in Arizona are opposed to federal regulation of gasoline (48 percent) than are supportive (37 percent). Voters under 45 years of age (63 percent) and women (48 percent) are most supportive of regulation.

The statewide poll has a sampling error of plus or minus 4.8 percent. Forty-nine percent of those interviewed were male; 51 percent were female. Sixty percent of the interviews were conducted in Maricopa County, 18 percent in Pima County, and 22 percent in the less populated counties. The sample was 40 percent Republican, 35 percent Democrat and 25 percent independent.

1. First, we would like to know how you feel about the job Janet Napolitano is doing as governor of Arizona. Do you:

2. The Minuteman Project is a group of citizen volunteers who have been patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border to watch for people coming into the United States illegally and reporting them to the U.S. Border Patrol. Do you support or oppose the Minuteman Project?

3. Patrick Haab, an army reservist, recently was arrested and charged with aggravated assault for holding seven illegal immigrants at gunpoint at a rest stop in Arizona. Some people support what he did and others feel that what he did was wrong. Do you tend to support or oppose Haab’s actions?

4. The price of gasoline has risen to record levels over the past few weeks. Has the price of gasoline caused you to reduce the amount of miles you drive:

5. Do you believe the federal government should step in and regulate the price of gas or do you think the price should be determined by demand on the open market?

6. President Bush has proposed a "guest worker" program that would give undocumented workers the opportunity to apply for temporary worker status. The workers would pay taxes, be required to return home after three years and would be given no special preference if they applied for permanent citizenship. Would you support or oppose Bush’s guest worker program?

7. If the guest worker program allowed temporary workers to earn permanent legal status, would you support or oppose the program?

8. Do you think businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants should be punished?

9. In Arizona, high school students must pass the AIMS test, which tests their proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics, before they can graduate from high school. Do you think students should or should not be required to pass the AIMS test before they graduate?

Dr. Bruce Merrill and Tara Blanc will discuss the results of the poll on HORIZON Tuesday, April 26, at 7 p.m. on Channel 8.

KAET-TV is a part of Arizona State University.