NC Voters want cautious approach to reopening

PPP’s newest North Carolina poll finds that voters want a cautious approach when it comes to reopening the state. 60% say the coronavirus in North Carolina has gotten worse over the last couple weeks, to only 10% who think it’s gotten better and 22% who believe the situation has been steady. 47% think the worst is yet to come for the virus in North Carolina with just 30% believing that the worst is over.

57% of North Carolinians are ‘very concerned’ about the coronavirus, with 83% at least ‘somewhat concerned.’ By a 45-34 margin they’re more worried about themselves or someone in their family getting sick than they are about the impact the virus is having on the economy.

Because of that only 36% think restrictions on gyms, bars, and movie theaters should be lifted, to 55% opposed to loosening those restrictions. And even fewer- just 28%- say they would personally feel comfortable going to those venues. Similarly only 25% think restaurants should be allowed to open at full capacity with 55% preferring the status quo of partial capacity with social distancing guidelines.

79% of voters think it’s important for people to wear masks, including 64% who say it’s ‘very important.’ There’s bipartisan agreement on that issue. 94% of Democrats, 76% of independents, and 62% of Republicans think it’s important to wear a mask in public.

Roy Cooper continues to get good marks for his handling of the virus- 52% approve of the job he’s doing to 35% who disapprove. He has a 50-41 lead over Dan Forest in his reelection bid.

In other key North Carolina races Joe Biden leads Donald Trump 48-46 and Cal Cunningham has a 44-40 advantage over Thom Tillis. Biden’s lead comes thanks to a 49-40 advantage with independents. Cunningham’s lead is up a tick from a 43-41 advantage on our last poll.

PPP interviewed 1,157 North Carolina voters on June 22nd and 23rd. The margin of error is +/-2.9% and the full results are here