NC not so sweet on Tea

New poll numbers released today show the Tea Party movement may be losing its appeal among North Carolina voters. 

The poll by PPP today shows 40% of voters view the Tea Party favorably, while 48% view it unfavorably. That -8 number has flipped from a +8 in August 2010, when PPP found 44% of voters said they supported the goals of the Tea Party, and 36% were opposed.

PPP pollster Tom Jensen notes similar changes in other swing states. 

One caveat: the 2010 and 2011 questions aren't identical. It's possible some voters may support the goals of the movement but not the movement itself. Even in 2010, fewer than half the respondents who said they supported the Tea Party's goals identified themselves as members of the movement. 

Still, though, it raises some interesting questions for next year's elections.  North Carolina tea partiers could play a key role in the GOP primary, especially if presumed gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory were to face a more conservative challenger.  

PPP is considered by some to be left-leaning, but its polling has been highly accurate over the past few years.