CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are getting high marks for the way they handled the devastating June 23 flood from likely West Virginia voters in the most recent MetroNews West Virginia Poll.
The results, released Tuesday morning, show 71 percent of those residents questioned in mid-August approved of how Tomblin was handling the disaster with only 11 percent showing disapproval. FEMA received a 65 percent approval rate with 19 percent disapproving.
“The poll is a perception of West Virginia voters,” Rex Repass, CEO of Repass Research and director of the MetroNews West Virginia Poll said Tuesday on MetroNews “Talkline,” pointing out it wasn’t just flood survivors who were questioned.
Most of those dissatisfied with the flood response were younger than 34, Repass said.
On other issues, those polled either strongly agree or strongly disagree with the changes to the state’s conceal carry provisions.
“What we found is a very polarized electorate on this issue,” Repass said. “The highest opposition was, as you might expect, more liberal voters, Democrats, but also independents.”
The poll shows 42 percent either strongly agree or agree with the new law while 46 percent either disagree or strongly disagree with conceal carry without a permit.
Most of those questioned, 77 percent, possess either a hunting or fishing license. Nearly 25 percent watch at least one high school sporting event a month.
Those answering the poll questions, which earlier included the races for governor and president, considered themselves conservative (38 percent) or moderate (33 percent) on the issues. Those who consider themselves liberal represented 23 percent.
The MetroNews West Virginia Poll had a total sample 386 likely voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.