Indiana

Smoke Free Indy Poll Supports Status Quo

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I just took a look at the details of the Smoke Free Indy/Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids poll.   The poll is actually pretty telling, but not for the reasons that you might think. 

The poll of 500 likely voters says nerly 70% of the public supports a total ban on smoking in most places, including bars and resteraunts.  I’d like to say I was shocked, but that’s the same percentage as a poll done last year by IUPUI.  By the way, that poll showed more than 80% of the Marion County residents liked the current compromise.  So in essence nothing has changed.

What’s really interesting are some other things the poll says.  For example, 61% of the respondents said they think the city was on the right track.  And only 26% thought the city was on the wrong track.   If I were a Democrat  looking at next year’s Mayor race, I would be very concerned about those numbers because it’s a reflection on the current leadership.    The breakdown of the poll was 34% Republican, 35% Democrat  and 28% independant.    That demographic also includes 21% minority population  and more than 80% above the age of  35.   Nearly 76% have some college education.  Forty percent called themselves conservative, 20% liberal and 35% moderate.

In addition, the poll also showed that even if there was a tougher smoking ban, not that much would change.  About 68% said their bar and resteraunt habits wouldn’t change if there was a new smoking ban in place and 73% had the same response for bowling allies.

This tells me the current compromise is working just fine so there’s no real need to change anything.  Thanks guys!

The poll was taken on July 8 and 10 and has a margin of error of  4.38%.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on July 21, 2010 (boomark / email).