Elon University has new poll numbers tracking North Carolinians’ attitudes on Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents are “somewhat familiar” or “very familiar” with OSW. Asked if they have a favorable or unfavorable view of OSW, the results are split — 45 percent said unfavorable and 45 percent unfavorable.
A greater percentage — 23 percent — had a strongly unfavorable view than the percentage — 19 percent — that had a strongly favorable view. Asked if they supported or opposed OWS as a movement, a plurality of 40 percent said neither. Twenty-six percent strongly opposed and 32 strongly supported.
According to the poll results, Tar Heel State residents view the Tea Party slightly less favorably than they do OWS. Forty-six percent have an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party, compared to 42 percent who have a favorable view.
Asked who they view as “head” of the Tea Party, 14 percent said Sarah Palin and 5 percent Michele Bachmann. Forty-nine percent said they didn’t know.
As I’ve pointed out in the past, Elon draws from a sample of all North Carolinians for its polls, not likely voters. As a result — and a result of its wording of questions — its results tend to be more left-of-center.