http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/09/22/news/wyoming/406d7262f7b69c69872574cb002107cc.txt
By JARED MILLER
Star-Tribune capital bureau
Monday, September 22, 2008 2:05 AM MDT
CHEYENNE � When it comes to hot-button political issues such as immigration, gun control and drilling on public lands, Wyoming voters rank among the most conservative in the West, a poll of six western states shows.
Wyoming voters also believe that Republican presidential candidate John McCain is far better suited to tackle many of the nation's most pressing issues than Democrat Barack Obama -- even while 81 percent support the performance of Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, the results show.
The Mason Dixon poll of 400 likely voters each in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, interviewed Aug. 13-15, has a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points.
In some cases, likely Wyoming voters' responses were more conservative than the political leanings of likely voters in Utah, which is considered among the most conservative states in the nation.
For example, 77 percent of likely Wyoming voters support efforts to stop illegal immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border, including erecting a border fence and penalizing employers who hired undocumented workers. By comparison, 74 percent of Utah voters support the efforts.
Likely Wyoming voters were far more supportive than Utahans -- 47 percent to 37 percent respectively n of deporting illegal immigrant workers to their native countries.
Only 45 percent of likely Wyoming voters were supportive of offering illegal immigrants a chance to apply for legal status, compared to 50 percent in Utah and 53 percent in all six states.
Brad Coker, managing director of Mason Dixon Polling and Research, attributed Utah's somewhat softer approach to illegal immigration to the influence of the Mormon Church, which he said has a substantial impact on voter positions in that state.
He said Mormon beliefs about being a good neighbor may lead some otherwise very conservative Utah voters to adopt a somewhat more lenient position on immigration.
“A little bit of that Mormon faith comes in to play I think, but it's not as big of a factor in Wyoming,” Coker said.
Likely Wyoming voters were also more supportive than their counterparts in the West of drilling for oil and gas on public lands. Seventy-four percent of Wyoming voters support such drilling. The regional average was 69 percent.
Wyoming voters (51 percent) were more likely than most other westerners to say that drilling on public lands to find new sources of fuel should take a higher priority than protecting the land from environmental damage.
Utah was the only state that had a larger number of voters choose exploratory drilling over environmental protection as the priority, with 61 percent saying drilling was their top choice.
Likely Wyoming voters were less inclined than voters in the other states, except Utah, to accept a higher price for energy if it came from renewable sources.
Sixty percent of Wyoming respondents said they were less inclined than voters in the other states, except Utah, to accept a higher price for energy if it came from renewable sources. The regional average was 64 percent.
Sixty-six percent of likely Wyoming voters said they would support uranium mining in the West in order to expand the use of nuclear power. The regional average was 58 percent.
Sixty-three percent of Wyoming poll respondents said the moratorium on oil-shale development should be lifted. The regional average was 58 percent.
Eighty-one percent of likely Wyoming voters said current gun-control laws are either adequate or too restrictive n far more than in other western states. The regional average was 60 percent supporting current or weaker gun laws.
Mark Winland, a Republican in Gillette, said current gun-control laws are about right. He said it's essential for the government to trust the public when it comes to guns.
“You've still got to put the control in the hands of the people and trust their responsibility,” Winland said.
In the presidential race, likely Wyoming voters said they overwhelmingly trust McCain over Obama to handle issues such as the economy, national security, immigration, protecting the environment and developing energy resources and reducing dependence on foreign energy sources.
For example, 62 percent of likely Wyoming voters said they trust McCain to handle the national economy, compared to 27 percent for Obama.
In fact, Wyoming voters were stronger in their support for the Republican presidential candidate's handling of those issues that voters in any other western state included in the poll.
Despite that, Wyoming voters continued to support the Freudenthal Administration, which is in its sixth year.
Voters were asked to rate Freudenthal's performance in one of four categories. The results were: excellent, 30 percent; pretty good, 51 percent; fair 15 percent; and poor, 3 percent. One percent of voters were undecided.
Freudenthal maintained support despite his early endorsement of Obama's presidential candidacy, which the numbers show is not popular in Wyoming.
The only western governor in the poll to exceed Freudenthal's rating was Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who received an 82 percent approval rating. However, Huntsman is a Republican in a heavily Republican state.
Jim King, University of Wyoming political scientist, said Wyoming's booming economy, along with Freudenthal's conservative view of federal regulation and his willingness to stay out of national Democratic politics, have contributed to his high marks.
Moderates and conservatives who are perhaps naturally skeptical of a Democratic governor have found no reason to continue that skepticism with Freudenthal, King said.
“They may not have voted for him, but they still acknowledge that things are going well in the state, and the governor gets the credit,” King said.
Contact capital bureau reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or [email protected]
By JARED MILLER
Star-Tribune capital bureau
Monday, September 22, 2008 2:05 AM MDT
CHEYENNE � When it comes to hot-button political issues such as immigration, gun control and drilling on public lands, Wyoming voters rank among the most conservative in the West, a poll of six western states shows.
Wyoming voters also believe that Republican presidential candidate John McCain is far better suited to tackle many of the nation's most pressing issues than Democrat Barack Obama -- even while 81 percent support the performance of Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, the results show.
The Mason Dixon poll of 400 likely voters each in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, interviewed Aug. 13-15, has a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points.
In some cases, likely Wyoming voters' responses were more conservative than the political leanings of likely voters in Utah, which is considered among the most conservative states in the nation.
For example, 77 percent of likely Wyoming voters support efforts to stop illegal immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border, including erecting a border fence and penalizing employers who hired undocumented workers. By comparison, 74 percent of Utah voters support the efforts.
Likely Wyoming voters were far more supportive than Utahans -- 47 percent to 37 percent respectively n of deporting illegal immigrant workers to their native countries.
Only 45 percent of likely Wyoming voters were supportive of offering illegal immigrants a chance to apply for legal status, compared to 50 percent in Utah and 53 percent in all six states.
Brad Coker, managing director of Mason Dixon Polling and Research, attributed Utah's somewhat softer approach to illegal immigration to the influence of the Mormon Church, which he said has a substantial impact on voter positions in that state.
He said Mormon beliefs about being a good neighbor may lead some otherwise very conservative Utah voters to adopt a somewhat more lenient position on immigration.
“A little bit of that Mormon faith comes in to play I think, but it's not as big of a factor in Wyoming,” Coker said.
Likely Wyoming voters were also more supportive than their counterparts in the West of drilling for oil and gas on public lands. Seventy-four percent of Wyoming voters support such drilling. The regional average was 69 percent.
Wyoming voters (51 percent) were more likely than most other westerners to say that drilling on public lands to find new sources of fuel should take a higher priority than protecting the land from environmental damage.
Utah was the only state that had a larger number of voters choose exploratory drilling over environmental protection as the priority, with 61 percent saying drilling was their top choice.
Likely Wyoming voters were less inclined than voters in the other states, except Utah, to accept a higher price for energy if it came from renewable sources.
Sixty percent of Wyoming respondents said they were less inclined than voters in the other states, except Utah, to accept a higher price for energy if it came from renewable sources. The regional average was 64 percent.
Sixty-six percent of likely Wyoming voters said they would support uranium mining in the West in order to expand the use of nuclear power. The regional average was 58 percent.
Sixty-three percent of Wyoming poll respondents said the moratorium on oil-shale development should be lifted. The regional average was 58 percent.
Eighty-one percent of likely Wyoming voters said current gun-control laws are either adequate or too restrictive n far more than in other western states. The regional average was 60 percent supporting current or weaker gun laws.
Mark Winland, a Republican in Gillette, said current gun-control laws are about right. He said it's essential for the government to trust the public when it comes to guns.
“You've still got to put the control in the hands of the people and trust their responsibility,” Winland said.
In the presidential race, likely Wyoming voters said they overwhelmingly trust McCain over Obama to handle issues such as the economy, national security, immigration, protecting the environment and developing energy resources and reducing dependence on foreign energy sources.
For example, 62 percent of likely Wyoming voters said they trust McCain to handle the national economy, compared to 27 percent for Obama.
In fact, Wyoming voters were stronger in their support for the Republican presidential candidate's handling of those issues that voters in any other western state included in the poll.
Despite that, Wyoming voters continued to support the Freudenthal Administration, which is in its sixth year.
Voters were asked to rate Freudenthal's performance in one of four categories. The results were: excellent, 30 percent; pretty good, 51 percent; fair 15 percent; and poor, 3 percent. One percent of voters were undecided.
Freudenthal maintained support despite his early endorsement of Obama's presidential candidacy, which the numbers show is not popular in Wyoming.
The only western governor in the poll to exceed Freudenthal's rating was Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who received an 82 percent approval rating. However, Huntsman is a Republican in a heavily Republican state.
Jim King, University of Wyoming political scientist, said Wyoming's booming economy, along with Freudenthal's conservative view of federal regulation and his willingness to stay out of national Democratic politics, have contributed to his high marks.
Moderates and conservatives who are perhaps naturally skeptical of a Democratic governor have found no reason to continue that skepticism with Freudenthal, King said.
“They may not have voted for him, but they still acknowledge that things are going well in the state, and the governor gets the credit,” King said.
Contact capital bureau reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or [email protected]