Civitas poll: McCrory’s approval ratings slump

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – A poll released Friday afternoon by the conservative group North Carolina Civitas showed Gov. Pat McCrory has the lowest approval ratings of his administration and trailing Attorney General Roy Cooper in the race for governor.

The poll of 600 likely voters was done April 23-25 and has a margin of error of 4 percent.

The poll shows 49 percent of North Carolinians have an unfavorable view of McCrory, the highest percentage since he has been governor. Only 39 percent have a favorable opinion, the lowest number of his time in office. In an October poll, by comparison, McCrory had a favorable rating of 54 percent and unfavorable rating of 37 percent.

Cooper, who is challenging McCrory in the race for governor, has only a 35 percent favorable rating and 20 percent unfavorable rating. He had a favorable rating of 52 percent in October, according to the poll.

But head to head, Cooper leads McCrory 46 percent to 36 percent at this point, according to Civitas.

• See the full poll results

Overall, Civitas said, 58 percent of North Carolinians believe the state is on the  “wrong track” and 31 percent say North Carolina is headed in the “right direction.”

If the election were today, 38 percent would pick a Republican for the General Assembly and 45 percent would pick a Democrat.

In other statewide issues, incumbent Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, leads Democratic challenger Deborah Ross 37 percent to 35 percent.

In the race to replace Cooper as attorney general, Democrat Josh Stein leads Republican Buck Newton 37 percent to 32 percent.

Some of the questions centered on  House Bill 2, although the questions only focused on the transgender bathroom issue.

Of those polled, 47 percent said the state and governor “were right to act” and 43 percent disagreed and said the state legislature and governor “should not have gotten involved.”

The poll also asked about presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Clinton polled at 43 percent favorable and 52 percent unfavorable, with Trump 30 percent favorable and 65 percent unfavorable.

In a head to head, Clinton led Trump 49 percent to 37 percent.