Suffolk University/Boston Globe

Maine Results

Region:
(N=500)
n
North Regions ----------------------------------------------- 79
South Coast ------------------------------------------------- 232
Mid Coast ---------------------------------------------------- 101
East ------------------------------------------------------------ 88

September 17-20, 2020

%
15.80
46.40
20.20
17.60

Hello, my name is __________ and I am conducting a survey for Suffolk University and the
Boston Globe. I would like to get your opinions on some issues of the day. Would you like to
spend seven minutes to help us out?
A.

Are you registered to vote in Maine?
(N=500)
n
Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 500

%
100.00

1.

Which do you most closely identify – male, female, or non-binary (transgender, gender
variant, non-conforming)?
(N=500)
n
%
Male ----------------------------------------------------------- 241
48.20
Female ------------------------------------------------------- 257
51.40
Non-Binary (transgender, gender
variant, non-conforming) -------------------------------- 2
0.40

2.

How likely are you to vote in the general election for president this November – very
likely, somewhat likely, 50-50 or not likely?
(N=500)
n
%
Very likely---------------------------------------------------- 492
98.40
Somewhat likely ---------------------------------------------- 8
1.60

3.

Are you currently registered as {RANDOMIZE}
(N=500)
n
Democrat ---------------------------------------------------- 189
Republican -------------------------------------------------- 151
Green Independent ---------------------------------------- 14
Unenrolled --------------------------------------------------- 145
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 1

%
37.80
30.20
2.80
29.00
0.20

What is your age category?
(N=500)
n
18-24 Years -------------------------------------------------- 41
25-34 Years -------------------------------------------------- 81
35-49 Years ------------------------------------------------- 125
50-64 Years ------------------------------------------------- 136
65-74 Years -------------------------------------------------- 71
75+ ------------------------------------------------------------- 42
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 4

%
8.20
16.20
25.00
27.20
14.20
8.40
0.80

4.

Fielded 9/17 – 9/20

Page 1 of 7

Likely Voter Study

 Suffolk University/Boston Globe
5.

September 17-20, 2020

For statistical purposes only, can you please tell me what your ethnic background /
ancestry is?
(N=500)
n
%
White / Caucasian ----------------------------------------- 461
92.20
Black / African American ----------------------------------- 8
1.60
American Indian / Alaska Native ------------------------- 1
0.20
Asian ------------------------------------------------------------- 3
0.60
Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander --------------- 1
0.20
Hispanic / Latino -------------------------------------------- 11
2.20
Other ------------------------------------------------------------- 7
1.40
Don’t know ----------------------------------------------------- 8
1.60

This November, the General Election in Maine will use ranked-choice voting for federal offices
of President and United States Senate. Voters will rank their first choice, second choice, etc. as
opposed to voting for just one candidate.
6.

For the presidential election this November there will be five choices for President of the
United States on your ballot listed in the following order… At this point which candidate
will you rank first on your ballot?
(N=500)
n
%
Joe Biden – Democrat ----------------------------------- 254
50.80
Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente – Alliance --------------- 1
0.20
Howie Hawkins – Green ------------------------------------ 1
0.20
Jo Jorgensen – Libertarian -------------------------------- 5
1.00
Donald Trump – Republican --------------------------- 193
38.60
Other ------------------------------------------------------------- 2
0.40
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 37
7.40
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 7
1.40

7.

{FOR 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6}
Who will you rank as your second choice for president…?
(N=9)
n
Joe Biden – Democrat -------------------------------------- 2
Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente – Alliance --------------- 1
Howie Hawkins – Green ------------------------------------ 1
Jo Jorgensen – Libertarian -------------------------------- 1
Donald Trump – Republican ------------------------------ 2
Other ------------------------------------------------------------- 1
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 1
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 0

%
22.22
11.11
11.11
11.11
22.22
11.11
11.11
0.00

{FOR 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.6}
Who will you rank as your third choice for president…?
(N=4)
n
Joe Biden – Democrat -------------------------------------- 1
Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente – Alliance --------------- 1
Howie Hawkins – Green ------------------------------------ 1
Jo Jorgensen – Libertarian -------------------------------- 0
Donald Trump – Republican ------------------------------ 1
Other ------------------------------------------------------------- 0

%
25.00
25.00
25.00
0.00
25.00
0.00

8.

9.

In the November election there will be four choices for U.S. Senate on your ballot listed
in the following order… At this point which candidate will you rank first on your ballot?

Fielded 9/17 – 9/20

Page 2 of 7

Likely Voter Study

 Suffolk University/Boston Globe

Maine Results

September 17-20, 2020

(N=500)
n
Susan Collins – Republican ---------------------------- 205
Sara Gideon – Democrat -------------------------------- 231
Max Patrick Linn – Independent-------------------------- 8
Lisa Savage – Independent ----------------------------- 19
Other ------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 27
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 6

%
41.00
46.20
1.60
3.80
0.80
5.40
1.20

{FOR 9.3 – 9.5}
10.
Who will you rank as your second choice for U.S. Senate…?
(N=31)
n
Susan Collins – Republican ------------------------------- 6
Sara Gideon – Democrat --------------------------------- 15
Max Patrick Linn – Independent-------------------------- 3
Lisa Savage – Independent ------------------------------- 2
Other ------------------------------------------------------------- 2
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 1
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 2

%
19.35
48.39
9.68
6.45
6.45
3.23
6.45

I am going to read you a short list of people and organizations. For each, please tell me if your
opinion of them is generally favorable or generally unfavorable. If you are undecided or if you
have never heard of someone, just tell me that. First take Donald Trump. Is your opinion of
Donald Trump generally favorable or generally unfavorable? (RANDOMIZE 12-19)
(N=500)

Never Heard

Favorable

Unfavorable HOF/Undecided

11. Donald Trump

0
0.00

198
39.60

285
57.00

17
3.40

12. Democratic Party

0
0.00

228
45.60

215
43.00

57
11.40

13. Republican Party

0
0.00

188
37.60

245
49.00

67
13.40

14. Janet Mills

6
1.20

259
51.80

189
37.80

46
9.20

15. Paul LePage

13
2.60

198
39.60

251
50.20

38
7.60

16. Joe Biden

0
0.00

259
51.80

217
43.40

24
4.80

17. Angus King

11
2.20

295
59.00

140
28.00

54
10.80

18. Susan Collins

2
0.40

224
44.80

226
45.20

48
9.60

19. Sara Gideon

22
4.40

279
55.80

186
37.20

13
2.60

Fielded 9/17 – 9/20

Page 3 of 7

Likely Voter Study

 Suffolk University/Boston Globe

September 17-20, 2020

20.

Do you feel the country is headed in the right direction or is on the wrong track?
(N=500)
n
%
Right Direction --------------------------------------------- 130
26.00
Wrong Track ----------------------------------------------- 323
64.60
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 47
9.40

21.

Do you feel that Maine is headed in the right direction or is on the wrong track?
(N=500)
n
%
Right Direction --------------------------------------------- 280
56.00
Wrong Track ----------------------------------------------- 176
35.20
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 44
8.80

22.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as
president?
(N=500)
n
%
Approve ------------------------------------------------------ 194
38.80
Disapprove ------------------------------------------------- 283
56.60
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 23
4.60

23.

Overall, are you better off or worse off than you were four years ago?
(N=500)
n
%
Better off ----------------------------------------------------- 236
47.20
Worse off ---------------------------------------------------- 178
35.60
No different --------------------------------------------------- 77
15.40
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 8
1.60
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 1
0.20

24.

How would you rate economic conditions in Maine today – excellent, good, fair, or poor?
(N=500)
n
%
Excellent ------------------------------------------------------ 22
4.40
Good ---------------------------------------------------------- 108
21.60
Fair ------------------------------------------------------------ 252
50.40
Poor ----------------------------------------------------------- 111
22.20
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 7
1.40
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 0
0.00

25.

Of the following ways to vote in November, how do you plan to vote? Do you plan to
vote… {ROTATE ASCENDING, DESCENDING}
(N=500)
n
%
On Election Day, in person ----------------------------- 240
48.00
By mail-in or absentee ballot --------------------------- 246
49.20
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 14
2.80
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 0
0.00

26.

How concerned are you that widespread mail-in voting will lead to voter fraud – would
you say…? {ROTATE ASCENDING, DESCENDING}

Fielded 9/17 – 9/20

Page 4 of 7

Likely Voter Study

 Suffolk University/Boston Globe

Maine Results

(N=500)
n
Very concerned -------------------------------------------- 162
Somewhat concerned ------------------------------------ 106
Not very concerned ---------------------------------------- 62
Not at all concerned -------------------------------------- 158
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 10
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 2

September 17-20, 2020
%
32.40
21.20
12.40
31.60
2.00
0.40

27.

Just your best guess. When all the votes are counted for president this November, who
do you think is most likely to be elected president – {ROTATE} Joe Biden or Donald
Trump?
(N=500)
n
%
Joe Biden ---------------------------------------------------- 224
44.80
Donald Trump ---------------------------------------------- 213
42.60
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 63
12.60
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 0
0.00

28.

I’m going to read you a list of 13 issues. Please tell me which ONE do you think is the
most important issue facing the next president?
(N=500)
n
%
Reducing the national debt ------------------------------ 10
2.00
Jobs/Economy ---------------------------------------------- 71
14.20
Schools/Education ----------------------------------------- 18
3.60
Healthcare ---------------------------------------------------- 29
5.80
Immigration policy -------------------------------------------- 9
1.80
Climate Change--------------------------------------------- 42
8.40
Terrorism/National security ------------------------------ 22
4.40
Crime/Guns -------------------------------------------------- 13
2.60
Drugs/Opioids ----------------------------------------------- 12
2.40
Choosing Supreme Court nominees ------------------ 20
4.00
Racism -------------------------------------------------------- 32
6.40
COVID-19 --------------------------------------------------- 100
20.00
Bringing the country together -------------------------- 104
20.80
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 18
3.60

29.
How would you rate President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic –
excellent, good, fair, poor {ROTATE ASCENDING – DESCENDING}
(N=500)
n
%
Excellent ------------------------------------------------------ 75
15.00
Good ---------------------------------------------------------- 100
20.00
Fair ------------------------------------------------------------- 51
10.20
Poor ----------------------------------------------------------- 269
53.80
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 5
1.00

30.

When a federally approved COVID-19 vaccine is available, will you {R/ASC-DES}
(N=500)
n
%
Take it as soon as you can ----------------------------- 153
30.60
Wait awhile until others have taken it ---------------- 248
49.60
Not take the vaccine --------------------------------------- 82
16.40

Fielded 9/17 – 9/20

Page 5 of 7

Likely Voter Study

 Suffolk University/Boston Globe

September 17-20, 2020

Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 13
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 4

2.60
0.80

31.

If a COVID-19 vaccine is mandated by the federal government, will you take it?
(N=500)
n
%
Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 265
53.00
No -------------------------------------------------------------- 177
35.40
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 52
10.40
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 6
1.20

32.

Just your best guess. Who do you think will win the presidential debates - {ROTATE}
Donald Trump or Joe Biden?
(N=500)
n
%
Donald Trump ---------------------------------------------- 228
45.60
Joe Biden ---------------------------------------------------- 217
43.40
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 51
10.20
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 4
0.80

33.

In the 2016 election for president did you vote for Republican Donald Trump, Democrat
Hillary Clinton, Libertarian Gary Johnson, Green Jill Stein, someone else, or did you not
vote in 2016?
(N=500)
n
%
Republican Donald Trump ------------------------------ 212
42.40
Democrat Hillary Clinton--------------------------------- 241
48.20
Libertarian Gary Johnson -------------------------------- 15
3.00
Jill Stein Green ------------------------------------------------ 9
1.80
Someone else ------------------------------------------------- 4
0.80
Did not vote in 2016 --------------------------------------- 17
3.40
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 2
0.40

34.

How would you describe your own political viewpoint – very liberal, somewhat liberal,
moderate, somewhat conservative, very conservative? {ROTATE .1-.5 ASCENDING TO
DESCENDING}
(N=500)
n
%
Very liberal --------------------------------------------------- 82
16.40
Somewhat liberal ------------------------------------------- 96
19.20
Moderate----------------------------------------------------- 141
28.20
Somewhat conservative ---------------------------------- 74
14.80
Very conservative ------------------------------------------ 86
17.20
Other ----------------------------------------------------------- 16
3.20
Don’t know ----------------------------------------------------- 5
1.00

35.

From which source do you get most of your news? {RANDOMIZE 35.1 - 35.6}
(N=500)
n
%
Television ---------------------------------------------------- 194
38.80
Newspapers / Magazines ------------------------------- 61
12.20
Radio ---------------------------------------------------------- 49
9.80
Social Media ------------------------------------------------ 25
5.00
Online News ------------------------------------------------ 139
27.80

Fielded 9/17 – 9/20

Page 6 of 7

Likely Voter Study

 Suffolk University/Boston Globe

Maine Results

Word of mouth (family / friends / colleagues) ------ 10
None of these------------------------------------------------ 13
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 9
36.

37.

September 17-20, 2020
2.00
2.60
1.80

What is your annual household income? (READ CATEGORIES)
(N=500)
n
Under $20,000 per year ---------------------------------- 64
Under $50,000 per year --------------------------------- 118
Under $75,000 per year ---------------------------------- 95
Under $100,000 per year--------------------------------- 73
Under $140,000 per year--------------------------------- 59
$140,000 per year or more ------------------------------ 50
Undecided ---------------------------------------------------- 41

%
12.80
23.60
19.00
14.60
11.80
10.00
8.20

Is anyone in your household a member of a labor union?
(N=500)
n
Yes ------------------------------------------------------------- 64
No -------------------------------------------------------------- 433
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 1
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 2

%
12.80
86.60
0.20
0.40

38.

Are there any members of your household who are gun owners?
(N=500)
n
%
Yes ------------------------------------------------------------ 257
51.40
No -------------------------------------------------------------- 229
45.80
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 1
0.20
Refused ------------------------------------------------------- 13
2.60

39.

How important is religion in your life – very important, somewhat important, not very
important or not at all important?
(N=500)
n
%
Very important ---------------------------------------------- 160
32.00
Somewhat important-------------------------------------- 150
30.00
Not very important------------------------------------------ 88
17.60
Not at all important ----------------------------------------- 96
19.20
Undecided ------------------------------------------------------ 2
0.40
Refused --------------------------------------------------------- 4
0.80

[THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HAVE A NICE DAY/EVENING.]

Fielded 9/17 – 9/20

Page 7 of 7

Likely Voter Study