Tim Malloy, Assistant Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 645-8043 Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-8026

FOR RELEASE: MARCH 15, 2012

PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNORS APPROVAL TANKS, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; VOTERS OPPOSE CUTS TO STATE SCHOOLS, ULTRASOUND BILL
Pennsylvania voters give Gov. Tom Corbett a 41 41 percent job approval rating, down from a 47 34 percent approval rating December 8, a drop driven mostly by Democrats and men more than women, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This is Gov. Corbetts worst approval rating since a 39 38 percent score in a June 14, 2011, survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. Women give Corbett a split 38 39 percent approval rating, down from 44 36 percent December 8. Men approve 45 42 percent, down from 51 32 percent. Democrats give the governor a negative 23 65 percent score, compared to a negative 36 43 percent December 8. Pennsylvania voters disapprove 49 36 percent of the way Corbett is handling the state budget and disapprove 53 27 percent of the way he is handling funding for the states public universities. Men disapprove of his handling of university funding 49 35 percent while women disapprove 56 21 percent. Voters oppose 65 28 percent cutting funding for public universities, with 72 20 percent disapproval among women and 58 36 percent disapproval from men. After a honeymoon as one of the countrys more popular new Republican governors, Tom Corbett takes a big hit in his job approval, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. A call for cuts in state funding to its universities may have hit a nerve with parents fearful tuitions could rise. Pennsylvania voters are divided 45 47 percent whether they agree with Corbetts claim that universities can manage the cuts by reducing operating costs rather than raising tuition. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/March 15, 2012 page 2 A total of 80 percent of voters are very concerned or somewhat concerned that tuition increases in public universities would make them unaffordable to some students. Among Pennsylvania voters, 21 percent say someone in their family currently attends a public university in the state and 54 percent say someone in their family has graduated from one of these schools. Ultrasound/Abortion Legislation There is a reverse gender gap as voters oppose 48 42 percent legislation that would require a woman seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound at least 24 hours before the procedure. Men oppose the measure 51 39 percent, while women are divided 45 45 percent. Voters with a college degree are opposed 57 35 percent while voters without a degree are divided 45 44 percent. Voters oppose trans-vaginal ultrasounds 64 23 percent, with men opposed 67 18 percent and women opposed 61 28 percent. A total of 54 percent of voters say abortion should be legal in all or most cases while 37 percent say it should be illegal in all or most cases. A plurality of Pennsylvania voters oppose requiring pregnant women seeking abortions to get ultrasounds 24 hours before an abortion, with men opposing the measure in greater numbers, Malloy said. Voters, men and women, are strongly opposed almost 3-1 to requiring women to undergo trans-vaginal ultrasounds. From March 7 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,256 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tom Corbett is handling his job as Governor? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 41% 41 18 Rep 61% 18 21 Dem 23% 65 12 Ind 46% 36 18 Men 45% 42 13 Wom 38% 39 23 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 39% 39 22 40% 47 13 47% 37 16

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Approve Disapprove DK/NA 40% 49 11 42% 37 21

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 37% 44 18 40% 41 19 45% 43 12 46% 37 18

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tom Corbett is handling his job as Governor? (*Low also 39% Apr 2011, Feb 2011) APPROVE....... High Low Sep 29 Jun 14 2011 2011* 50 32 18 39 38 23

Mar 15 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 41 41 18

Dec 08 2011 47 34 19

Nov 10 2011 46 31 23

Sep 29 2011 50 32 18

Aug 03 2011 44 36 20

15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 29% 54 17 Rep 41% 41 18 Dem 22% 63 15 Ind 24% 60 16 Men 30% 57 13 Wom 28% 52 20 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 30% 53 17 26% 62 12 30% 50 20

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Approve Disapprove DK/NA 29% 56 15 28% 54 18

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 25% 59 16 26% 55 19 33% 53 14 34% 54 13

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? (*Low also 25% Dec 2009) APPROVE....... High Low Apr 10 May 13 2003 2010* 49 24 27 25 59 16

Mar 15 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 29 54 17

Sep 29 2011 31 54 16

Aug 03 2011 34 50 16

Jun 14 2011 32 50 18

Jul 13 2010 28 57 15

19. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Pennsylvania today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA 3% 40 38 19 Rep 4% 49 32 15 Dem 2% 37 41 20 Ind 3% 36 39 22 Men 4% 39 38 19 Wom 2% 42 37 19 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 3% 42 38 17 2% 33 39 24 1 3% 46 32 17 1

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA 4% 39 41 16 2% 41 36 20 1

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 2% 38 34 25 1% 41 39 18 4% 37 40 19 3% 43 41 12 -

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Pennsylvania today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Jun 05 Dec 08 2002 2011 8 60 22 8 3 1 17 34 47 1

Mar 15 2012 Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA 3 40 38 19 -

Dec 08 2011 1 17 34 47 1

Nov 10 2011 1 18 35 45 1

Sep 29 2011 2 41 37 19 1

Aug 03 2011 3 38 36 22 1

33. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tom Corbett is handling the state budget? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 36% 49 15 Rep 54% 30 16 Dem 18% 70 12 Ind 37% 46 16 Men 42% 47 11 Wom 30% 51 18 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 36% 51 13 32% 55 13 40% 43 18

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Approve Disapprove DK/NA 36% 55 9 36% 47 17

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 29% 51 20 38% 49 13 36% 54 10 46% 43 12

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tom Corbett is handling the state budget? Mar 15 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 36 49 15 Sep 29 2011 40 45 16 Aug 03 2011 41 45 14 Jun 14 2011 33 52 15 Apr 27 2011 35 52 13

34. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tom Corbett is handling the issue of state funding for Pennsylvania's public universities? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 27% 53 20 Rep 44% 33 23 Dem 12% 73 14 Ind 29% 48 23 Men 35% 49 17 Wom 21% 56 23 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 26% 52 22 27% 56 17 31% 50 20

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Approve Disapprove DK/NA 28% 59 13 27% 50 23

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 25% 52 23 27% 55 18 28% 56 16 31% 51 18

HAVE KIDS<18 Yes No Approve Disapprove DK/NA 29% 50 21 27% 54 20

PA PUBLIC UNIVERSITY....... GRAD Q38.. ATTENDING Q39 Yes No Yes No 29% 57 14 26% 47 27 21% 61 18 29% 50 21

35. To help balance the state budget, do you support or oppose cutting funding for Pennsylvania's public universities? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 28% 65 7 Rep 44% 47 9 Dem 11% 83 6 Ind 30% 63 7 Men 36% 58 6 Wom 20% 72 8 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 26% 68 6 30% 67 3 27% 60 13

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Support Oppose DK/NA 29% 66 5 27% 65 8

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 21% 67 12 31% 61 8 30% 68 2 32% 64 5

HAVE KIDS<18 Yes No Support Oppose DK/NA 29% 65 6 27% 65 8

PA PUBLIC UNIVERSITY....... GRAD Q38.. ATTENDING Q39 Yes No Yes No 29% 64 8 27% 66 6 21% 73 6 30% 63 7

36. Governor Corbett said Pennsylvania's public universities can deal with state funding cuts without increasing tuition by reducing campus operating costs. Do you agree or disagree? Tot Agree Disagree DK/NA 45% 47 8 Rep 63% 29 8 Dem 28% 65 7 Ind 48% 45 7 Men 51% 42 7 Wom 40% 52 8 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 42% 50 8 46% 48 6 50% 41 9

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Agree Disagree DK/NA 43% 51 5 46% 45 9

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 40% 51 9 49% 46 6 44% 50 6 51% 42 7

HAVE KIDS<18 Yes No Agree Disagree DK/NA 45% 48 7 45% 47 8

PA PUBLIC UNIVERSITY....... GRAD Q38.. ATTENDING Q39 Yes No Yes No 46% 47 7 45% 47 8 33% 59 9 49% 44 7

37. If tuition increases significantly at these institutions, how concerned are you that some students would not be able to afford to go to Pennsylvania's public universities; very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not concerned at all? Tot Very concerned 51% Somewhat concerned 29 Not too concerned 11 Not concerned at all 8 DK/NA 1 Rep 34% 34 17 13 1 Dem 65% 27 4 3 Ind 50% 29 10 10 1 Men 44% 31 13 11 1 Wom 57% 28 9 5 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 55% 26 9 9 1 51% 28 15 6 1 42% 39 7 10 1

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Very concerned 51% Somewhat concerned 30 Not too concerned 10 Not concerned at all 8 DK/NA 50% 29 11 8 1

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 52% 32 7 7 1 50% 28 12 9 54% 26 11 8 47% 31 11 11 -

HAVE KIDS<18 Yes No Very concerned 56% Somewhat concerned 25 Not too concerned 10 Not concerned at all 8 DK/NA 1 49% 32 11 8 1

PA PUBLIC UNIVERSITY....... GRAD Q38.. ATTENDING Q39 Yes No Yes No 50% 29 11 9 1 52% 29 11 8 59% 24 5 11 2 48% 31 13 8 -

38. Have you or has anyone in your family graduated from a Pennsylvania public university? Tot Yes No DK/NA 54% 45 1 Rep 55% 45 Dem 55% 44 1 Ind 51% 48 1 Men 58% 41 1 Wom 49% 50 1 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 48% 51 2 56% 43 60% 40 -

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Yes No DK/NA 66% 34 48% 51 1

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 41% 56 3 65% 35 58% 42 55% 45 -

Yes No DK/NA

HAVE KIDS<18 Yes No 48% 56% 52 42 1

PA PUBLIC UNIVERSITY ATTENDING Q39 Yes No 59% 52% 39 47 1 1

39. Are you or is anyone in your family currently attending a Pennsylvania public university? Tot Yes No DK/NA 21% 78 1 Rep 20% 80 Dem 22% 77 Ind 23% 76 1 Men 19% 80 1 Wom 23% 76 1 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 24% 75 2 21% 78 19% 81 -

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Yes No DK/NA 18% 81 1 22% 77 1

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 28% 71 1 17% 82 1 21% 77 1 17% 82 1

HAVE KIDS<18 Yes No Yes No DK/NA 22% 77 1 21% 78 1

PA PUBLIC UNIVERSITY GRAD Q38.. Yes No 23% 76 1 18% 81 -

40. Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? Tot Legal all cases Legal most cases Illegal most cases Illegal all cases DK/NA 25% 29 23 14 8 Rep 12% 19 39 25 6 Dem 33% 35 14 9 10 Ind 31% 34 18 11 7 Men 21% 33 27 11 8 Wom 29% 26 19 18 9 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 30% 30 25 11 4 25% 31 20 14 10 17% 25 25 21 12

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Legal all cases Legal most cases Illegal most cases Illegal all cases DK/NA 30% 34 20 12 4 23% 27 24 16 10

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 21% 28 22 21 9 28% 28 22 14 8 24% 32 26 11 7 29% 33 25 10 2

TREND: Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? LEGAL ALL+MOST High Low Mar 18 Apr 06 2003 2006 23 32 24 17 4 17 34 26 15 9

Mar 15 2012 Legal all cases Legal most cases Illegal most cases Illegal all cases DK/NA 25 29 23 14 8

Apr 06 2006 17 34 26 15 9

Feb 13 2006 17 36 25 16 6

Dec 13 2005 18 35 26 16 5

Jul 13 2005 16 37 27 14 7

41. As you may know, the state legislature is considering a bill that would legally require women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound at least 24 hours before the procedure. Do you support or oppose this bill? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 42% 48 10 Rep 58% 32 10 Dem 30% 60 9 Ind 37% 53 9 Men 39% 51 11 Wom 45% 45 10 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 44% 47 9 38% 54 9 44% 44 12

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Support Oppose DK/NA 35% 57 8 45% 44 11

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 46% 45 9 49% 39 12 36% 55 9 37% 59 4

STAND ON ABORTION Q40 IN ALL or MOST CASES Legal Illegal Support Oppose DK/NA 28% 67 5 66% 25 10

42. In most cases a trans-vaginal ultrasound would be required due to the early stage of pre abortion pregnancies. A trans-vaginal ultra sound requires vaginal insertion of a probe. Do you support or oppose legally requiring trans-vaginal ultrasounds before a woman can get an abortion? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 23% 64 13 Rep 38% 47 15 Dem 16% 73 10 Ind 16% 72 12 Men 18% 67 15 Wom 28% 61 11 AGE IN YRS....... 18-49 50-64 65+ 26% 66 8 20% 67 13 22% 57 20

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Support Oppose DK/NA 20% 70 10 24% 61 14

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... <30K 30-50 50-100 >100K 25% 65 10 23% 60 17 23% 68 10 25% 69 6

STAND ON ABORTION Q40 IN ALL or MOST CASES Legal Illegal Support Oppose DK/NA 13% 81 7 40% 44 15