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Could Rauner win independents with clean energy?

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Illinois

By Barton Lorimor Email | @bartonlorimor

* An analysis of a recent PPP survey by the Clean Energy Trust suggests Gov. Rauner could win over, or at least maintain some support, of independent Illinois voters by supporting President Obama’s new clean energy plan.

They may not be wrong.

From the memo…

According to a recent survey by Public Policy Polling (PPP), Illinoisans overwhelmingly support President Obama’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) by a margin of 67-31%, including 48% who strongly support it. Among Democrats, 85% approve of the CPP (73% strongly) while 67% Independents support the CPP, including 43% who strongly favor the President’s plan.

Even after negative arguments against the CPP are read to respondents, voters still overwhelmingly favor the President’s plan, with 62% of Illinois voters approving and just 31% opposed. Again, plans to limit carbon pollution are popular with Independents, who favor the CPP by a twenty-point margin, 59-39%, even after negative arguments are read.

Once respondents are read a description of the Illinois Clean Jobs bill, which would raise wind and solar production to 35% and double energy efficiency in order to meet the President’s Clean Power Plan, 67% approve while just 31% oppose. As with the CPP, Independents pace support for the Illinois Clean Jobs bill by 65- 33% margin, including 45% who strongly support.

Were Governor Rauner to support the CPP, it would greatly help him win back Democrats and Independents whose support may have waned during the ongoing and highly partisan budget crisis. By 38-15% margin, voters would look more favorably upon Governor Rauner if he supports President Obama’s initiative. That includes an astonishing 48-6% margin among Democrats and a healthy 23-point margin among Independents, whose opinion of Governor Rauner would improve by a 36-13% margin. Even 26% of Republicans would feel more favorable to Rauner if he supported the CPP.

* Full relevant results of the survey are here. Check them out and discuss in comments.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 11:52 am

Comments

I doubt there’d be tangible gains in it- for most of those Democrats the poll sights, a “more favorable” view of the Governor would be, “Okay, he’s not AS bad as Idi Amin”. But there’s a danger in NOT supporting it that’s worth avoiding.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 12:12 pm
The poll sampling does not reflect anywhere near the population make-up of Illinois. Therefore, the poll results are suspect.

Comment by Apocalypse Now Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 12:18 pm
What are the odds of Rauner supporting anything that will increase business regulation?

Comment by A Jack Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Skewed sample, skewed results. Rauner needs to show support for reasonable actions starting with the maintenance of a reliable electric grid and stop forced investments in so called green energy. All that does is ensure increased costs for all and decreased reliability.

Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Environmental issues and a concern for the preservation of the Earth as a fit place for human life will never be of much importance to most G.O.P. voters.

Comment by BobH Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 12:26 pm
Nothing but a push poll- worthless

Comment by Liberty Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 12:27 pm
The windmills are coming!! The windmills are coming!!

Comment by downstate commissioner Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 12:36 pm
one term. Gov. at this point.

Comment by Aidep Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 12:39 pm
Horrible push poll…

Let’s see … do you like soft kittens or mean grumpy skunks?

Comment by 4 percent Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 1:35 pm
How about this:

Scientists believe that the Obama clean coal plan will only reduce emissions by .01 percent resulting in no change globally because no other country will impose similar limits. However, the US will lose 100,000 jobs and your own energy bill will increase by $320 per year.

Do you support or oppose?

Comment by 4 percent Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 1:36 pm
The Rauner administration would be wise to check out the growing public support for clean energy development. It not just a “hippie pipe dream.”

Large corporations, including AT&T, DuPont, General Motors, HP, Sprint, and Walmart, are increasingly making corporate commitments to invest in renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or both.

They see that such investments make good business sense: renewable energy helps reduce long-term operating costs, enhances energy diversity and acts as a hedge against price volatility of fossil fuels.

Comment by Going nuclear Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 1:36 pm
I think that Rauner wouldn’t first have to get permission from the Koch Brothers to support the President’s new clean energy plan - and they probably would not give him that permission.

Comment by Joe M Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 1:58 pm
Pipe dreams.

Comment by walker Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 3:09 pm
Much depends upon how the question is phrased. For example, would you favor XYZ if you knew that it would call for a 35% increase in electric rates in exchange for a modest reduction in carbon emissions that would have a largely insignificant impact on anything but which would nonetheless make you feel good?

Comment by Keyser Soze Friday, Aug 14, 15 @ 3:10 pm