Polling from 3 key states — and 5 key districts — finds strong support for the climate and clean energy bill. Every major recent poll has come to the same conclusion (see Swing state poll finds 60% “would be more likely to vote for their senator if he or she supported the bill” and Independents support the bill 2-to-1). Perhaps that’s why E&E News found “At least 67 senators are in play” on climate bill.
In the new polls, likely 2010 voters were asked:
“Congress is considering an energy plan that has two key parts. One part would require factories and power companies to reduce their emissions of the carbon pollution that causes global warming by 17% (20% in MO) by the year 2020 and by 80% by the year 2050. The other part would require power companies to generate 15% of their power from clean energy sources like wind and solar by the year 2025. Would you favor/oppose this entire plan?”
The results:
- 75% of voters in Michigan favor.
- 68% of voters in Ohio favor.
- 67% of voters in Missouri favor.
And this matches every recent poll:
- New CNN poll finds “nearly six in 10 independents” support cap-and-trade
- Yet another major poll finds “broad support” for clean energy and climate bill: “Support for the plan among independents has increased slightly”
- 63% of likely voters (and 59% of independents) in AK, AR, IN, ME, MI, MO, MT, NC, NV, ND, NH, OH, PA, SD, VA, WV support the bill (see here)
- Public opinion snapshot: Public backs key elements of global warming bill
- Zogby: 71% of likely voters support House climate bill
- Mark Mellman must read on climate messaging: “A strong public consensus has emerged on the reality and severity of global warming, as well as on the need for federal action” — ecoAmerica “could hardly be more wrong”
The same question was asked in five swing House district and the result was the same:
- 61% of voters in Florida’s 2nd district support.
- 69% of voters in New Mexico’s 2nd district support.
- 63% of voters in Ohio’s 16th district support.
- 70% of voters in Virginia’s 5th district support.
- 68% of voters in Washington’s 8th district support.
This new polling was done August through October by “by The Mellman Group, a leading Democratic firm, and Public Opinion Strategies, a leading Republican firm” for The Pew Environment Group
“Our surveys consistently find that voters across these three states and five congressional districts support efforts to address global warming and require the use of more clean energy sources,” said Mark Mellman, president of The Mellman Group. “These voters see global warming as a serious threat that is happening now and favor action to reduce carbon emissions.”
It is worth adding that “all respondents heard this argument summarizing the opposition’s strongest case”:
Opponents of the plan say this cap and trade plan is nothing more than a hidden $2,000 per year tax on average families. This proposal puts a tax on companies which will be passed on to all Americans forcing them to pay more every time they drive, buy groceries, or flip on a light switch. This backdoor tax will make our struggling economic situation worse, costing us hundreds of thousands of jobs and making it harder for average families to survive the recession. And, people in the Midwest and South who rely more on coal will end up paying significantly more for energy. It makes no sense to hurt our own economy as long as China, India, and others continue to build polluting coal plants.
And “after hearing strongly worded messages from both sides,” voters still strongly supported the climate and clean energy bill.
You can find details on the 8 polls here. The polling reveals the strongest arguments for the climate and clean energy bill and has some interesting implications for messaging, which I will cover in a later post.
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