What NC thinks about the National Guard, public safety and crime
Good morning and welcome to Under the Dome. I’m Avi Bajpai.
As the Trump administration steps up its deployments of the National Guard to cities across the country, new polling from Elon University reveals what North Carolinians think of the president’s efforts so far, and the potential for deployments to cities here.
The poll, which surveyed 800 people between Sept. 23 and Oct. 1, found that President Donald Trump’s “proposals to send the National Guard to some U.S. cities in a law enforcement capacity” this year received support from 42% of respondents and were opposed by 47%.
The remaining 11% of respondents said they were unsure if they supported or opposed the deployments.
Asked about potential deployments to five cities in North Carolina “for law enforcement purposes,” respondents expressed the greatest support for sending the guard to Charlotte (43%) and Durham (41%), followed by Raleigh (40%), and Greensboro and Winston-Salem (38%).
Nearly half of those surveyed said they opposed sending the guard to these cities, with opposition registering between 46% and 49%, depending on the city.
Between 10% and 14% of respondents said they were unsure.
The Elon poll also asked how concerned people were about their “personal safety from crime” if they were to spend time in each of the five cities.
Near-majorities (49%) said they were very or somewhat concerned for their safety in Charlotte and Durham. Winston-Salem (42%), Raleigh (41%), and Greensboro (41%) all recorded lower levels of concern.
The 800 respondents across the state were also asked about their concern for their safety from crime in different kinds of areas and places.
Most concern for safety was for outdoor areas with large crowds, where 61% said they were very or somewhat concerned, and 40% said they were only a little concerned, or not concerned at all.
A slightly smaller share of respondents, 59%, said they were very or somewhat concerned for their safety on public transportation. Similar levels of concern were lower for public places like shopping malls (53%), K-12 schools (49%), churches and other places of worship (32%), and at home (21%).
Other highlights from the wide-ranging Elon poll:
- Trump’s job approval came in at 39% approve, 50% disapprove, 10% unsure;
- Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s job approval was 42% approve, 29% disapprove, 34% unsure;
- The General Assembly’s job approval was 24% approve, 35% disapprove, 41% unsure;
- 27% said the national economy has improved since Trump took office, 24% said it is about the same, and 49% said it has worsened;
- 51% said they had a very or somewhat favorable view of Roy Cooper, the former governor and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, while 34% said their view was very or somewhat unfavorable, and 14% said neither favorable nor unfavorable;
- 40% said they had a very or somewhat favorable view of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley, 32% said their view was very or somewhat unfavorable, and 28% said neither favorable nor unfavorable.
What we’re working on
- NC Republicans unveil new congressional map that could pick up a seat for GOP
- See the new congressional map released by NC GOP, and which counties are affected
- NC Republicans draw Don Davis out of his district in attempt to take 11th seat
- How the NC House could expel Rep. Cecil Brockman if he doesn’t resign
- NC attorney general sues Trump administration over canceled rooftop solar grants
- Judge orders UNC trustees to preserve records related to ex-provost’s lawsuit
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