Poll: N.C. residents more confident about Dems

The Elon University Poll surveyed 797 people statewide Monday through Thursday and found that confidence will likely translate into Democratic victories by presidential candidate Barack Obama, Senate candidate Kay Hagan and congressional candidates. The gubernatorial election between Democrat Beverly Perdue and Republican Pat McCrory is the only race that is still up for grabs, according to the poll.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Almost two-thirds of those surveyed cited the economy as the most important issue in the election, and Democrats were seen as better able to manage the economy by a 47 to 39 percent margin. Obama topped Republican candidate John McCain by 51 to 41 percent with regard to who would do a better job in getting the economy back on course, according to the poll.

“As the economy dominates the news, it appears to be benefiting Democratic candidates,” Hunter Bacot, director of the Elon University Poll, said in a statement. “The other side of this equation is that citizens are holding the Republicans accountable for the state of the economy.”

Democrats also got more support in the survey in other domestic issues: 54 to 33 percent on education, 50 to 39 percent on energy independence, 55 to 33 percent on health care, 47 to 33 percent on Social Security, 44 to 34 percent on home foreclosures, 47 to 43 percent on taxes, 48 to 37 percent on the financial crisis and 56 to 34 percent on concerns of the middle class.

The only area where North Carolinians said they felt more confident in Republicans was the war in Iraq, where the GOP led by a 47 to 45 percent margin.