Talk about hidden agendas. This “push poll” was in fact a tool of tobacco lobbyists to intimidate Texas Attorney General Dan Morales, who was suing tobacco companies for $4 billion to help cover smoking-related Medicaid costs. If the bogus results didn’t frighten him, the lobbyist firm, Public Opinion Strategies, wanted to show Morales that they could turn voters against him.
[Editor’s note: This poll has been transcribed verbatim. We have left all typos (and there are plenty of them) unmarked and uncorrected.]
INTERVIEW SCHEDULE
Texas Statewide Public Opinion Strategies N = 800 Registered Voters. Margin of Error = +/- 3.46% N = 135 Oversample in East Texas. Margin Of Error = +/- 8.43% January 20-25, 1996
- And in politics today, do you consider yourself a….(ROTATE) ___ a Republican, ___ a Democrat, ___ or something else? (IF REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, ASK:) Would you call yourself a STRONG (Republican/Democrat) or a NOT-SO-STRONG (Republican/Democrat)? (IF SOMETHING ELSE, ASK:) Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican or to the Democratic party? 800 135 22% 23% STRONG REPUBLICAN 13% 11% NOT-SO-STRONG REPUBLICAN 6% 7% LEAN TO REPUBLICANS 18% 19% SOMETHING ELSE/INDEPENDENT 6% 7% LEAN TO DEMOCRATS 10% 10% NOT-SO-STRONG DEMOCRAT 17% 19% STRONG DEMOCRAT 6% 4% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% – REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 35% 34% TOTAL REPUBLICAN 30% 33% TOTAL INDEPENDENT 27% 29% TOTAL DEMOCRAT Thinking about things here in Texas…
- First, generall speaking, would you say that things in Texas are going in the right direction, or have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track? 800 135 — — 58% 55% RIGHT DIRECTION 28% 31% WRONG TRACK 14% 13% NO OPINION (DO NOT READ) * 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
- Which one of the following issues do you think should be the top priority for the Texas state legislature? (READ AND RANDOMIZE) 800 135 — — 13% 13% Bringing new jobs and businesses to Texas 30% 27% Improving the quality of education 20% 22% Fighting crime 3% 2% Protecting the environment 18% 22% Cutting wasteful spending 2% 2% OTHER (SPECIFY) ______________________________ 14% 10% ALL * – NONE 1% 3% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED (DO NOT READ) I’d like to talk to you about the job performance of some Texas elected officials. If you don’t recognize one, just say so. Here’s the first…
- Do you approve or disapprove of the job George W. Bush is doing as Governor? (IF APPROVE/DISAPPROVE, ASK:) And would you say you STRONGLY (approve/disapprove) or just SOMEWHAT (approve/disapprove)? 800 135 — — 36% 36% STRONGLY APPROVE 39% 42% SOMEWHAT APPROVE 6% 4% SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 7% 10% STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 12% 8% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * – REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 75% 78% TOTAL APPROVE 13% 14% TOTAL DISAPPROVE
- Do you approve or disapprove of the job Bob Bullock [BULL – uck] is doing as Lieutenant Governor? (IF APPROVE/DISAPPROVE, ASK:) And would you say you STRONGLY (approve/disapprove) or just SOMEWHAT (approve/disapprove)? 800 135 — — 19% 13% STRONGLY APPROVE 38% 40% SOMEWHAT APPROVE 6% 7% SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 5% 9% STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 32% 30% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * – REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 57% 53% TOTAL APPROVE 11% 16% TOTAL DISAPPROVE
- Do you approve or disapprove of the job Dan Morales [Mo – RAL – us] is doing as Attorney General? (IF APPROVE/DISAPPROVE, ASK:) And would you say you STRONGLY (approve/disapprove) or just SOMEWHAT (approve/disapprove)? 800 135 — — 18% 18% STRONGLY APPROVE 35% 39% SOMEWHAT APPROVE 8% 8% SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 7% 9% STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 31% 26% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 53% 56% TOTAL APPROVE 15% 17% TOTAL DISAPPROVE
- Do you approve or disapprove of the job John Sharp is doing as State Comptroller? (IF APPROVE/DISAPPROVE, ASK:) And would you say you STRONGLY (approve/disapprove) or just SOMEWHAT (approve/disapprove)? 800 135 — — 17% 13% STRONGLY APPROVE 28% 39% SOMEWHAT APPROVE 4% 4% SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 3% 7% STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 48% 36% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 45% 52% TOTAL APPROVE 7% 10% TOTAL DISAPPROVE
- Do you approve or disapprove of the job Gary Mauro [MAR – oh] is doing as Land Commissioner? (IF APPROVE/DISAPPROVE, ASK:) And would you say you STRONGLY (approve/disapprove) or just SOMEWHAT (approve/disapprove)? 800 135 — — 9% 9% STRONGLY APPROVE 23% 24% SOMEWHAT APPROVE 6% 4% SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 4% 4% STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 57% 57% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 32% 33% TOTAL APPROVE 10% 8% TOTAL DISAPPROVE
- Do you approve or disapprove of the job Rick Perry is doing as Agricultural Commissioner? (IF APPROVE/DISAPPROVE, ASK:) And would you say you STRONGLY (approve/disapprove) or just SOMEWHAT (approve/disapprove)? 800 135 — — 13% 13% STRONGLY APPROVE 23% 20% SOMEWHAT APPROVE 4% 4% SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 4% 5% STRONGLY DISAPPROVE 55% 56% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 36% 33% TOTAL APPROVE 8% 9% TOTAL DISAPPROVE _____________________________________________________________________________________ Now, I would like to read you a list of names of different people active in politics in Texas. For each one, please tell me whether you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person. If I name someone you don’t know too much about, just tell me and we’ll go on to the next one. The (FIRST/NEXT) name is…(ROTATE NAMES) HRD OF NVR FAV UNFAV NO OPIN. HEARD REF. — —– ——– —–
- George W. Bush 800 80% 13% 5% 1% 1% 135 81% 14% 3% 2% 1%
- Bob Bullock 800 61% 12% 15% 11% 1% 135 58% 16% 16% 9% 1%
- Dan Morales 800 53% 14% 18% 14% 1% 135 50% 13% 26% 10% 2% _____________________________________________________________________________________ Now, thinking about George W. Bush, the Governor of Texas
- Do you think George W. Bush has performed his job as Governor well enough to deserve reelection, or do you think it’s time to give a new person a chance to do a better job? 800 135 — — 68% 65% REELECT 21% 21% NEW PERSON 11% 14% DON’T KNOW/DEPENDS (DO NOT READ) * * REFUSED (DO NOT READ) _____________________________________________________________________________________ Now, thinking about Bob Bullock, the Democratic Lieutenant Governor…
- Do you think Bob Bullock has performed his job as Lieutenant Governor well enough to deserve reelection, or do you think it’s time to give a new person a chance to do a better job? 800 135 — — 43% 48% REELECT 31% 31% NEW PERSON 25% 21% DON’T KNOW/DEPENDS (DO NOT READ) 1% – REFUSED (DO NOT READ) _____________________________________________________________________________________ Now, thinking about Dan Morales, the Democratic Attorney General…
- Do you think Morales has performed his job as Attorney General well enough to deserve reelection, or do you think it’s time to give a new person a chance to do a better job? 800 135 — — 42% 39% REELECT 27% 33% NEW PERSON 30% 27% DON’T KNOW/DEPENDS (DO NOT READ) 1% – REFUSED (DO NOT READ) Thinking ahead to the 1998 Democratic Primary election for Texas Governor… (ASK Q 16-19 ONLY IF PUCHES 6-7 IN QUESTION C) (ROTATE 16-18)
- If that primary election for Governor were held today for whom would you vote if the candidates were…(ROTATE) Dan Morales …or… John Sharp 800 135 — — 44% 51% DAN MORALES 24% 20% JOHN SHARP 31% 27% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
- If that primary election for Governor were held today for whom would you vote if the candidates were…(ROTATE) Dan Morales …or… Gary Mauro 800 135 — — 47% 45% DAN MORALES 15% 14% JOHN SHARP 37% 40% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% -% REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
- If that primary election for Governor were held today for whom would you vote if the candidates were…(ROTATE) Gary Mauro …or… John Sharp 800 135 — — 19% 29% DAN MORALES 33% 27% JOHN SHARP 46% 41% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 2% 4% REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
- And if that primary election for Governor were held today for whom would you vote if the candidates were…(ROTATE) Gary Mauro Dan Morales …and… John Sharp 800 135 — — 10% 18% GARY MAURO 37% 31% DAN MORALES 25% 20% JOHN SHARP 27% 29% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) (SPLIT SAMPLE)
- A. Thinking more about Dan Morales… What do you like most about Dan Morales? That is, what do you like most about him personally, or about the job he is doing as Attorney General? (PROBE)(ACCEPT NO LESS THAN 10 WORDS)(PROBE FOR DETAILS: “WHY DO YOU LIKE THAT” “CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?” “WHAT ELSE?”) (SPLIT SAMPLE)
B. Thinking more about Dan Morales… What do you like least about Dan Morales? That is, what do you like least about him personally, or the job he is doing as Attorney General? (PROBE)(ACCEPT NO LESS THAN 10 WORDS)(PROBE FOR DETAILS: “WHY DO YOU LIKE THAT” “CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?” “WHAT ELSE?”) - And would you describe Dan Morales as a (ROTATE TOP TO BOTTOM, BOTTOM TO TOP) conservative moderate …or… liberal (IF CONSERVATIVE/LIBERAL, THEN ASK:) Do you think he is VERY conservative/liberal or just SOMEWHAT conservative/liberal? 800 135 — — 3% 2% VERY CONSERVATIVE 10% 7% SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE 36% 38% MODERATE 11% 11% SOMEWHAT LIBERAL 5% 7% VERY LIBERAL 35% 34% NOT SURE (DO NOT READ) 1% 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
- The Texas Attorney General’s office is involved in many issues. Which of the following do you think should be the top priority of Attorney General? (RANDOMIZE) 800 135 — — 16% 18% Fighting against government corruption and political payoffs 35% 33% Fighting crime 6% 4% Protecting consumers against business fraud 15% 17% Leading efforts to stop drugs and drug trafficking 1% 2% Suing tobacco companies on behalf of smokers 9% 6% Collecting child support payments 12% 14% Stopping frivolous lawsuits filed in Texas courts 4% 3% Other________________(DO NOT READ) 4% 4% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * * REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
- And, which one of the following responsibilities do you think should be the second priority of Attorney General (RANDOMIZE)(DO NOT READ CHOICE FROM Q19) 800 135 — — 15% 12% Fighting against government corruption and political payoffs 20% 21% Fighting crime 8% 7% Protecting consumers against business fraud 26% 26% Leading efforts to stop drugs and drug trafficking 2% 2% Suing tobacco companies on behalf of smokers 11% 11% Collecting child support payments 14% 16% Stopping frivolous lawsuits filed in Texas courts 2% 3% Other________________(DO NOT READ) 2% 3% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
Next . . . As you know, elected officials are held to high standards in public life. Here are some reasons people are giving to vote _against_ Dan Morales for Attorney General. Please tell me if each statment makes you much more likely to vote against Dan Morales, somewhat more likely to vote against Dan Morales or if it make no differnce at all? Here’s the first . . (RANDOMIZE) [ASK EAST TEXAS A & B QUESTION SERIES] MUCH SMWT NO DNR/ MORE MORE DIFF REF 1 2 3 4 (SPLIT SAMPLE A) - Morales supports affirmative action. 800 23% 16% 51% 11% 135 28% 16% 47% 10%
- Morales supports gun control. 800 29% 17% 45% 8% 135 34% 15% 45% 6%
- 26. Morales’ political campaign purchased two tickets to a fundraiser for Louis Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam organization. 800 33% 16% 42% 9% 135 40% 23% 33% 4%
- Juvenile crime has increased by one-third in Texas since Morales became Attorney General. 800 31% 25% 37% 7% 135 34% 26% 35% 4%
- Conservative political groups rate Morales as a liberal Democract 800 21% 17% 50% 9% 135 25% 19% 49% 6%
- As Attorney General, Morales has made consumer issues a higher priority than fighting violent crime. 800 33% 27% 32% 9% 135 36% 27% 28% 9%
- Morales has said that young gang members don’t need harsh treatment and prison, but that they need nire recreational facilities, drug counseling and summer jobs. 800 35% 21% 35% 9% 135 35 25% 34% 6%
- Victims Rights activists say Morales sold out crime victims when he settled a prisoner’s lawsuit without even taking the case to court. 800 39% 25% 25% 11% 135 40% 26% 25% 10% (SPLIT SAMPLE B)
- Morales asked for $75,000 in campaign contributions from casino gambling interests shortly before issuing a ruling on whether or not to allow gambling in Texas. 800 42% 21% 27% 9% 135 46% 22% 26% 7%
- Morales regularly flies for free in private planes provided by some of the country’s richest personal injury lawyers. 800 38% 25% 30% 7% 135 50% 24% 22% 4%
- Morales has doubled the amount of money Texas taxpayers spends on outside private lawyers for state contracts, even though he promised in his campaign to use state employed lawyers more in order to save money, 800 42% 28% 18% 12% 135 43% 25% 22% 5%
- Some of Morales’ biggest campaign contributors are wealthy personal injury lawyers. Morales has taken over 340,000 dollars in political campain contributions from them. 800 41% 22% 29% 8% 135 49% 29% 17% 12%
- Morales awarded millions of dollars in state contract to his biggest campaign contributions instead of using in-house Texas lawyers. 800 45% 26% 19% 10% 135 49% 27% 21% 3%
- Morales has been criticized by Democracts and Republicans alike for mismanagement and failing to represent state agencies effectively. 800 36% 25% 27% 13% 135 42% 28% 21% 9% ____________________________________________________________________
- Now that you’ve has a chance learn more about Dan Morales’ record, do you think Dan Morales has performed his job as Attorney General well enough to deserve reelection, or do you think it’s time to give a new person a chance to do a better job? 800 135 — — 21% 15% REELECT 58% 70% NEW PERSON 20% 15% DON’T KNOW/DEPENDS (DO NOT READ) 1% – REFUSED (DO NOT READ) ____________________________________________________________________ Changing the subject to something else all together, I’d like to ask you some questions about lawsuits in Texas.
- There has been some public debate about lawsuits lately. First, do you think there are too many frivolous lawsuits being filed today, or not? 800 135 — — 88% 86% YES 8% 7% NO 5% 7% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED (DO NOT READ) ____________________________________________________________________ Next I’d like to ask you about some specific situations where people engage in risky activities but still consider suing if they get hurt. Here’s the first . . .
- Do you think people who drink alcohol and get drunk and injure themselves or others should be allowed to sue the alcohol industry and claim money damages for medical costs they say were caused by their drinking? 800 135 — — 4% 4% YES 95% 93% NO 1% 2% DON’T KNOW (>DO NOT READ) * 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) ___________________________________________________________________
- Do you think people who eat meat or dairy products like cheese and butter and later develop heart disease should be allowed to sue meat companies or dairy farmers to claim money damages for their medical costs? 800 135 — — 5% 1% YES 92% 95% NO 2% 4% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) ___________________________________________________________________
- Do you think people who smoke cigarettes should be allowed to sue tobacco companies and claim money damages for medical costs they say were caused by their smoking? 800 135 — — 10% 10% YES 88% 88% NO 2% 1% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) ___________________________________________________________________
- Do you think people who use a gun or a knife and injure themselves should be allowed to sue the gun or knife manufacturer and claim money damages for medical costs, even if the product was not faulty? 800 135 — — 2% 1% YES 98% 96% NO 1% 2% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) ___________________________________________________________________
- Several states, including Texas, are considering whether to sue tobacco companies in hopes of recovering medical expenses for Medicaid patients who were smokers. How familiar would you say you are with this lawsuit, very, somewhat, not very or not at all familiar? 800 135 — — 9% 9% VERY FAMILIAR 35% 30% SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR 25% 25% NOT VERY FAMILIAR 30% 34% NOT AT ALL FAMILIAR 1% 1% DO NOT KNOW (DO NOT READ) * 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) ___________________________________________________________________
- From what you know, do you favor or oppose the proposed lawsuit? (IF ANSWER, ASK) Would that be strongly (favor/oppose) or just somewhat (favor/oppose)? 800 135 — — 10% 11% STRONGLY FAVOR 11% 11% SOMEWHAT FAVOR 21% 19% SOMEWHAT OPPOSE 47% 47% STRONGLY OPPOSE 10% 11% DO NOT KNOW (DO NOT READ) * 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) ___________________________________________________________________
- I’d like to read you two different opinions on the cigarette lawsuit, and please tell me which comes closest to your own. . . (ROTATE) 800 135 — — 79% 78% I believe that people should be able to choose what’s the best for them. While I might not smoke, if people choose to, that’s their decision. or. . . 18% 17% I believe that if something is not good for people, they should not do it. I think the government should act to stop people from smoking. 3% 4% DO NOT KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) _____________________________________________________________________
- There is some controversy over the lawsuit and whether or not it should be filed. Let me give you some information about both sides of the issue. (ROTATE) Supporters of the lawsuit say the state should sue tobacco companies to recover the health care costs the state now has to ay for smokers who get ill and enter Medicare. They say it is fair to try to make cigarette manufacturers pay for smokers’ illnesses, and for the state to sue to try to recover the money. Opponents of the lawsuit say it is bad for Texas. They say it sets a bad precendent for the state to sue other businesses in the future to collect money if the state comes up short in its own budget. The lawsuit is certain to take years and years in court. And in the end, if the lawsuit wins the only real winners will be outside personal injury lawyers hired by the state who could earn hundreds of millions of dollars in contingency fees. Knowing both sides, how do you feel? Do you agree with supporters of the lawsuit, opponents, or do you not have an opinion one way or the other? 800 135 — — 13% 16% SUPPORTERS 61% 55% OPPONENTS 22% 22% NO OPINION 3% 7% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) _____________________________________________________________________
- I am now going to read you a number of people and organizations who support and oppose the filing of this lawsuit . . .(ROTATE) Groups that support this new lawsuit include the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, the attorney general and a few wealthy personal injury lawyers. Groups that oppose this new lawsuit include most of the state’s major employers, the tobacco industry, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, State Chamber of Commerce, Texas Dairy Association, conservative groups Based on this information, whose side are most likely to take? (ROTATE) 800 135 — — 24% 22% The side of those who support the lawsuit . . .or. . . 62% 58% The side who oppose the lawsuite 13% 19% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) _____________________________________________________________________ Next, please tell me if you agree or disagree with this statement . . .
- Finding money for the Medicaid funding shortfalls is a big problem we need to fix, but having the state of Texas hire private injury lawyers to sue tobacco companies to pay for sick people who smoke is not a fair or reasonable way to solve out Medicaid funding problems. (IF RESPONSE, ASK) Would that be a STRONGLY (AGREE/DISAGREE) or just SOMEWHAT (AGREE/DISAGREE)? 800 135 — — 51% 43% STRONGLY AGREE 17% 17% SOMEWHAT AGREE 11% 10% SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 15% 14% STRONGLY DISAGREE 7% 13% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) _____________________________________________________________________ People knowledgeable about the proposed lawsuit say there are a lot of things that would make the lawsuit a bad deal for Texas. Here are some of their arguments _AGAINST_ the lawsuit, for each, please tell me if you think it is an extremely strong argument, a very strong argument, a somewhat strong argument, or a weak argument against the lawsuit. (RANDOMIZE) The (first/next) one is . . . (DNR) Extremely Very Smwt Don’t (DNR) Strong Strong Strong Weak Know Ref 1 2 3 4 5 6
- In order to bring the lawsuit, the state will rely on “statistical analysis” of all smokers to prove guilt rather than having to prove that any one smoker was actually harmed by smoking. 800 18% 17% 24% 29% 12% 1% 135 19% 20% 19% 29% 11% 2%
- The Attorney General is going to contract the case out to private trial lawyers who would pay $1 million to get the case and then would take hundreds of millions in contingency fees if they win. 800 33% 23% 15% 20% 9% 1% 135 36% 23% 15% 16% 9% 2%
- The Attorney General’s own former Consumer division said this lawsuit was designed to mend political fences with the trial lawyer community. 800 17% 14% 21% 31% 17% 1% 135 19% 19% 21% 22% 17% 1% (SPLIT SAMPLE A)
- Even if the state won the lawsuit, the private trial lawyers would take the first one-third of the award, the federal government would take most of what is left, and then the state must pay court costs and expenses. After paying the federal government, attorney and court fees, the private trial lawyers end up getting at least four times more than Texas taxpayers. 800 40% 23% 12% 18% 7% * 135 44% 20% 9% 16% 9% 2% (SPLIT SAMPLE B)
- Even if the state won the lawsuit, the private trial lawyers would take the first one-third of the award, the federal government would take most of what is left, and then the state must pay court costs and expenses. After paying the federal government, attorney and court fees, the private trial lawyers end up getting at least ten times more than Texas taxpayers. 800 41% 23% 14% 14% 7% 1% 135 39% 27% 6% 16% 11% 1% (SLPIT SAMPLE A)
- Legal experts say that if the state can bring this lawsuit against tobacco companies because of people who smoke, then the state could sue beer and liquor manufacturers because of people who drink too much. 800 31% 23% 15% 26% 5% 1% 135 36% 17% 11% 27% 8% 2% (SLPIT SAMPLE B)
- One of the private lawyers the Attorney General wants to use in this lawsuit has tried several times without success to sue beer and liquor companies on behalf of alcoholics. 800 23% 19% 15% 33% 9% 1% 135 27% 16% 18% 28% 10% 1% (SLPIT SAMPLE A)
- Smoking is legal and everyone should be responsible for their own behavior. The state should not be suing tobacco companies because people chose to smoke. 800 52% 23% 11% 11% 3% 1% 135 48% 27% 11% 8% 5% 2%
- If the Attorney General actually won this lawsuit, thousands of innocent people who work for cigarette manufacturers could lose their jobs and only a few wealthy personal injury lawyers would get even richer. 800 27% 20% 17% 28% 8% 1% 135 30% 19% 15% 26% 8% 2%
- The state is already collecting millions of dollars in cigarette taxes so it’s hypocritical to turn around and sue tobacco companies for even more money. 800 34% 22% 16% 21% 6% 1% 135 39% 20% 13% 19% 7% 2% (SPLIT SAMPLE A)
- Dan Morales is filing this lawsuit just so he can stay in the newspapers and try and run for higher office. 800 18% 14% 18% 37% 12% 1% 135 38% 17% 17% 17% 9% 2% (SPLIT SAMPLE A)
- This lawsuit is payback plain and simple. Dan Morales is picking some of his biggest personal injury lawyer campaign contributors to represent the state and have a chance at hundreds of millions in contingency fees. 800 26% 16% 17% 26% 15% 1% 135 36% 13% 17% 17% 16% 2%
- This lawsuit will tie up the courts for years, wasting time and taxpayer money when it has little chance of winning. Even if the state wins, the case will be appealed for years to come. 800 40% 25% 14% 16% 5% 1% 135 42% 26% 13% 16% 3% 2% (SPLIT SAMPLE B)
- Attorney General Morales is being duped by a few of Texas’ richest personal injury lawyers. Even if Morales has good intentions, the lawyers are just in it for the money. 800 32% 20% 18% 22% 8% 1% 135 27% 24% 9% 28% 11% 1% (SPLIT SAMPLE A)
- The state should not be gambling with lawsuits. If the Attorney General has a good case his office should prosecute it, not hire private contingency-fee lawyers for a cut of the action. 800 41% 28% 17% 8% 6% 1% 135 48% 23% 11% 9% 6% 2% (SPLIT SAMPLE A)
- No state elected official should be allowed to hire outside attorneys for state work who have made contributions to that elected official. 800 37% 23% 19% 14% 6% * 135 41% 25% 19% 13% 2% 2% (SPLIT SAMPLE B)
- It is not right for the Attorney General to hire outside lawyers if those same lawyers have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to his compaign. 800 36% 22% 20% 16% 6% 1% 135 34% 24% 20% 17% 4% 1% (SPLIT SAMPLE B)
- Every hour the Attorney General and his staff spend on this lawsuit is an hour not spent fighting violent crime. 800 41% 23% 14% 17% 4% 1% 135 35% 24% 11% 23% 6% 1% (SPLIT SAMPLE B)
- The Attorney General held secret meeting with several of Texas’ richest personal injury lawyers to try and talk them into giving his office one million dollars to get this case. 800 26% 18% 15% 27% 13% 1% 135 30% 18% 16% 18% 17% 1% (SLPIT SAMPLE B)
- The Attorney General should focus on more important issues like crime and child support enforcement. 800 46% 26% 14% 10% 4% 1% 135 42% 23% 14% 13% 6% 3% ___________________________________________________________________________
- Now that you have had an opportunity to hear more about the […unreadable…] manufacturers, do you favor or oppose the lawsuit? (IF RESPOND FAVOR/OPPOSE, THEN ASK:) Would that be STRONGLY (FAVOR/OPPOSE) or just SOMEWHAT (FAVOR/OPPOSE)? 800 135 — — 9% 8% STRONGLY FAVOR 6% 3% SOMEWHAT FAVOR 13% 17% SOMEWHAT OPPOSE 66% 63% STRONGLY OPPOSE 6% 7% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 15% 11% TOTAL FAVOR 79% 80% TOTAL OPPOSE __________________________________________________________________________ (SPLIT SAMPLE A)
- Would you be more likely or less likely to support Attorney General Dan Morales if he decided not to file this lawsuit to sue tobacco companies, and instead focused on other issues like fighting crime and drugs and child abuse? (If more/less likely, ask: And would this make you MUCH (more/less) LIKELY or just SOMEWHAT (more/less) LIKELY? 800 135 — — 37% 33% MUCH MORE LIKELY 28% 38% SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY 8% 5% SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY 13% 9% MUCH LESS LIKELY 14% 14% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 65% 71% TOTAL MORE LIKELY 21% 14% TOTAL LESS LIKELY ___________________________________________________________________________ (SPLIT SAMPLE B)
- Would you be more likely or less likely to support Attorney General Dan Morales if he filed this lawsuit against tobacco companies and made it a top priority item of the Attorney General? (If more/less likely, ask: And woudl this make you MUCH (more/less) LIKELY or just SOMEWHAT (more/less) LIKELY?) 800 135 — — 10% 9% MUCH MORE LIKELY 7% 1% SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY 22% 25% SOMEWHAT LESS LIKELY 47% 49% MUCH LESS LIKELY 13% 14% DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% – REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 17% 10% TOTAL MORE LIKELY 69% 7