Four out of five New Hampshire residents support Gov. Chris Sununu’s stay at home order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
That’s one finding from the latest Granite State poll, which was conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. According to the online poll, 69% of those questioned said they strongly support the restrictions, with 13% saying they somewhat back the order. Nine percent were opposed to the stay-at-home order, with one in ten either not taking a stand or unsure.
Support for the order is bipartisan in New Hampshire, with 97 percent of Democrats, 82 percent of independents and nearly two-thirds of Republicans backing the restrictions.
The governor’s order, which requires residents to avoid unnecessary travel and closed non-essential businesses, was issued in mid-March and remains in effect until at least May 4. A majority of states across the country have implemented similar restrictions as the nation combats the pandemic, which causes the deadly COVID-19 disease.
President Donald Trump been pushing to restart the economy following massive job layoffs due to the shuttering of much of the economy to limit the spread of the virus. Last week, the president unveiled guidelines for states to get back to business. But he said the decisions on when the states can start to relax social distancing is up to the governors.
The poll – which was released Wednesday and Thursday – shows that just over two in three Granite Staters (68%) say that maintaining the stay-at-home order is more important than re-opening the economy. Twenty-nine percent disagree, saying that reopening the economy is most imperative. But on this question, there’s a wide partisan divide. Ninety-four percent of Democrats want the stay at home rules maintained compared to just 39 percent of Republicans. Six in ten independents say the rules should be maintained.
“What we’re seeing with the COVID-19 response is that it’s becoming as partisan as the other issues in the country. Republicans are far more likely to want to reopen the economy and keep various public spaces open than Democrats,” noted UNH Survey Center director Andrew Smith.
“Good examples of that – 65% of Republicans say keep state parks open. Only 33% Democrats say keep state parks open,” Smith said. “Thirty-two percent of Republicans say keep churches open. Only 2% of Democrats agree.”
Nearly three-quarters of those questioned said they were worried that they or someone in their family would catch COVID-19. But there’s a wide partisan divide over concerns, with 86% of Democrats worried. Such concerns drop slightly to 79% among independents but plunge to 57% among Republicans.
One thing most Democrats and Republicans appear to agree on right now is Sununu’s handling of the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. Nearly nine in ten New Hampshire residents (89%) approve of Sununu’s management of the crisis, with just 7% disapproving. The governor’s approval rating jumped 16 percentage points from a UNH survey last month.
There’s virtually no partisan divide on this question, with 93% of Republicans and independents and 86 percent of Democrats giving the governor a thumbs up.
But there’s a huge partisan divide on how Granite Staters grade the president’s handling of the crisis. He’s underwater overall, at 45 percent approval and 55 percent disapproval.
Eighty-seven percent of Republicans approve of Trump’s performance steering the federal response to the pandemic. That support drops to 60% among independents and just 3% among Democrats.
The Granite State Panel was conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center from April 16-20, with 1,155 Granite Staters questioned on-line.
Wednesday was the 50th anniversary of the first celebration of Earth Day, which is marked each year to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
Both of the two major Democrats running to challenge Sununu in this year’s gubernatorial election highlighted their environmental chops.
Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky unveiled an endorsement from the Sierra Club of New Hampshire.
Jerry Curran, who’s chair of the state’s Sierra Club chapter, called Volinsky “the strongest environmental advocate in this race.” And he pointed to the executive councilor’s opposition to the proposed Granite Bridge gas pipeline from the Seacoast to Manchester.
“As the only opponent of Liberty Utilities’ proposed Granite Bridge fracked gas pipeline, Andru Volinsky is our best hope for fighting the climate crisis and promoting a sustainable clean energy future for all,” Curran said.
Volinsky – a two-term executive councilor from Concord – also showcased an endorsement from the state contingent of the U.S. Climate Strikes Coalition.
“Andru believes in the Green New Deal and is the only candidate who does not support the Granite Bridge pipeline,” N.H. Youth climate Strike co-state lead Bridget Wilcox said as her group backed Volinsky.
New Hampshire Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes – Volinsky’s rival in September’s Democratic gubernatorial primary – emphasized his green record in an email to supporters on Earth Day.
“Protecting our environment has always been a top priority of mine. In the state senate, I led the fight on clean energy legislation. And now, I’m ready to continue that fight as governor by advancing the high quality, clean-energy jobs of tomorrow, reducing energy costs for New Hampshire families, and setting ambitious goals for clean energy including 100% renewable by 2050,” the Concord lawmaker said.
Feltes – who’s vice-chair of the state Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee – is supported by environmental leaders in the state such as Stonyfield CEO Gary Hirshberg, clean energy advocate Dan Weeks, clean water advocate and Executive Council candidate Mindi Messmer, and state Rep. Bob Backus, who’s chair of the House Science, Energy, and Technology committee.
The top outside group that backs Republicans running for governor is making an early investment in New Hampshire’s gubernatorial showdown.
The Republican Governors Association is reserving nearly $3.6 million in advertising time to run TV commercials as well as radio spots in the Granite State during the eight weeks between New Hampshire’s September 8 primary and Election Day on November 3.
“The RGA has made over $3.6 million in reservations for the fall on broadcast, cable, radio and satellite outlets. New Hampshire’s historically competitive media market makes pre-booking the most efficient way to maximize the impact of any potential investment,” RGA communications director Amelia Chasse Alcivar told the Monitor when asked about the early investment.
Sununu’s running this year for a third-two year term steering New Hampshire – and the RGA appears to view the contest as competitive.
In 2018, the RGA spent roughly $800,000 on TV spots targeting Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former state Sen. Molly Kelly. Sununu ended up winning re-election as he topped Kelly by seven percentage points.