WBUR Massachusetts 2012 General Election Poll Topline Results Survey of 503 Likely Voters Field Dates: February

6-9, 2012 I'm going to read you the names of several people who are active in public affairs. After I read each one please tell me if you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable view of the person. If you have never heard of the person or if you are undecided, please just say so. READ FIRST NAME. How about READ NEXT NAME? PROBE IF RESPONDENT SAYS DONT KNOW. Have you heard of READ NAME and are undecided about (him/her)? Or have you never heard of (him/her)? Order rotated Scott Brown Elizabeth Warren Barack Obama Mitt Romney Newt Gingrich John Kerry Deval Patrick Favorable 50% 39% 60% 39% 9% 51% 55% Unfavorable 29% 29% 30% 46% 72% 31% 30% Heard of / Undecided 15% 15% 6% 11% 12% 13% 11% Never heard of 6% 14% 3% 3% 6% 4% 4% Refused 1% 3% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0%

If the November two thousand twelve election for U.S. Senate were held today, and if the candidates were for Democrat Elizabeth Warren and Republican Scott Brown, for whom would you vote? Order rotated Scott Brown Elizabeth Warren Another Candidate Dont Know / Undecided Refused Question, candidate order rotated for next two questions If the November, twenty twelve election for President were held today, and the candidates were Democrat Barack Obama or and Republican Mitt Romney, for whom would you vote? Barack Obama Mitt Romney Another Candidate Dont Know / Undecided Refused 55% 34% 1% 7% 1% 43% 46% 1% 11% 0%

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If the November, twenty twelve election for President were held today, and the candidates were Democrat Barack Obama or and Republican Newt Gingrich, for whom would you vote? Barack Obama Newt Gingrich Another Candidate Dont Know / Undecided Refused 66% 19% 4% 9% 2%

Based on what you know about Mitt Romney, do you think he has held the same positions on important issues over the years, or do you think he has changed his positions on important issues? Order rotated He has held the same positions on important issues over the years He has changed his positions on important issues Dont Know / Refused 22% 67% 12%

Id like to read you some issues or characteristics that people might consider when they chose for whom to vote for U.S. Senate and ask you to compare the candidates. For each one, please tell me whether it better describes Elizabeth Warren, Scott Brown, or both of them equally. Candidate order rotated Dont Know / Refused 25% 12% 13% 17% 14% 19% 14% 19%

Order rotated Grew up in a middle class background Will stand up for regular people when in the Senate Understands the needs of middle class families Has deep roots here in Massachusetts Seems to be running a positive campaign Knows how to get the economy moving again Agrees with you on key issues that matter to you Seems to be gaining momentum lately for the November election

Elizabeth Warren 17% 30% 32% 13% 20% 23% 35% 34%

Scott Brown 28% 33% 31% 39% 23% 32% 36% 24%

Both equally 27% 21% 21% 28% 37% 14% 11% 14%

Neither 4% 4% 3% 3% 6% 12% 4% 9%

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When conflict arises, do you think political leaders should stick to their principals, or should they look for ways to compromise? Stick to their principals Look for ways to compromise Depends on the issue (not read) Dont Know / Refused During his time in the Senate, would you say Scott Brown has been willing to compromise with Democrats too often, not often enough, or just about the right amount? Too often Not often enough Just about the right amount Dont Know / Refused 8% 30% 48% 14% 25% 60% 11% 4%

As you may be aware, Scott Brown is currently the only Massachusetts Republican in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. If he loses, the congressional delegation may end up being all Democrats. In your view, would a Massachusetts delegation made up of all Democrats be a positive or a negative development? Positive development Negative development Both positive and negative Neither positive or negative Dont Know / Refused 41% 43% 2% 5% 8%

Asked only to those supporting a specific candidate for U.S. Senate. Earlier, you mentioned you are supporting _______________ for U.S. Senate. If (his/her) campaign runs negative ads as a part of the campaign, would that make you more likely to support (him/her), less likely, or would it make no difference? More likely to support Less likely to support Would make no difference Dont Know / Refused 4% 31% 55% 9%

How much have you heard or read about SuperPACs? A great deal, a fair amount, not too much, or nothing at all? A great deal A fair amount Not too much Nothing at all Dont Know / Refused 16% 29% 27% 26% 3%

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As you may know, SuperPACs are political groups which can raise unlimited sums from corporations, unions and other groups, but cannot coordinate directly with the campaigns of individual candidates. Do you think SuperPACs will have a positive influence, a negative influence, or a mixed influence on the elections this year? Positive influence Negative Influence Mixed positive and negative No influence at all Dont Know / Refused 7% 46% 41% 2% 5%

Asked only to those supporting a specific candidate for U.S. Senate. What if third party groups such as SuperPACs who support _____________ were to run negative ads as a part of the campaign? Would that make you more likely to support _____________ less likely, or would it make no difference? More likely to support Less likely to support Would make no difference Dont Know / Refused Please tell me if you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. READ FIRST STATEMENT. And would you agree or disagree that READ NEXT STATEMENT? Dont Know / Refused 4% 3% 10% 17% 4% 29% 59% 9%

Order rotated Our leaders in Washington cannot work together as well as the used to Your family can talk about politics without the conversation turning nasty It seems like there are more negative political ads on TV than there were in past elections The overall tone of politics in Massachusetts is more courteous and civil than in the rest of the country

Agree 83% 75% 60% 44%

Disagree 14% 22% 29% 39%

How many times do you think the candidates for U.S. Senate should debate? Once or twice, three to five times, or more than five times? Once or twice 3 to 5 times More than 5 times Dont Know / Refused 23% 54% 19% 4%

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Please tell me if you agree or disagree with each of the follow statements. First, do you agree or disagree that READ FIRST STATEMENT? And do you agree or disagree that READ NEXT STATEMENT? Order rotated Watching debates is a good way to learn about the positions of the candidates I might change my mind about who I am supporting for U.S. Senate based on what I hear in debates I have just one more brief topic. As you may know, a health care reform law was passed in Massachusetts in 2006 that was designed to bring health insurance coverage to all residents. Based on what you know about this law, would you say you support or oppose this law? Support Oppose Dont Know / Refused 62% 33% 6% Agree 85% 62% Disagree 14% 36% Dont Know / Refused 1% 2%

Would you say that the 2006 health care reform law was a major influence, a minor influence, or not an influence on how national health care reform law was written? Major influence Minor influence Not an influence Dont Know / Refused 54% 28% 11% 8%

As you also may know, Mitt Romney was the Governor of Massachusetts when the health care reform law was passed. He now opposes the national health care law called the Affordable Care Act that recently passed. Do you think he opposes the national law because he disagrees with it in principal, or because he is trying to win votes? Order rotated Disagrees with it in principal Trying to win votes Dont Know / Refused 25% 68% 8%

The MassINC Polling Group

Demographics For statistical purposes only, can you please tell me your race? Response options collapsed for display White / Caucasian All others Dont Know / Refused 75% 20% 5%

Age 18 to 29 30 to 44 45 to 59 60+ 17% 26% 35% 22%

Gender Male Female 49% 51%

Party Registration Democrat Republican Independent / Unenrolled 37% 11% 52%

About the Poll These results are based on a survey of 503 likely voters in the November 2012 Massachusetts General Election. The poll was conducted February 6-9, 2012. Live telephone interviews were conducted via both landline and cell phone using conventional registration based sampling procedures. Results were weighted to reflect the demographic and geographic makeup of the likely electorate based on previous turnout figures and current trends. The margin of sampling error is +/4.4 percent with a 95 percent level of confidence. The poll was sponsored by WBUR, a National Public Radio station in the Boston area.

The MassINC Polling Group