Polling Memo: Voters Stand Firm on Keystone XL
Consistency: Voters Still Want to Build the Keystone Pipeline
On January 18, 2012, President Obama rejected building the 1,700-mile long pipeline known as Keystone XL. This pipeline would transport oil from Canada to US refineries and “[promised] thousands of temporary jobs for the recovering U.S. economy.”1 As headlines boasted Obama’s unpopular decision, voter backlash immediately ensued.
In February 2012, data from Fox News showed 67% of voters in support of building the Keystone Pipeline. About a week later, Quinnipiac University confirmed, with 64% saying the pipeline “should be built.”
In June 2012, the Washington Post found 59% still in favor of Keystone XL. Why? Maybe it had something to do with the fact that a full 83% believed it would “create a significant number of jobs.”
Today, while President Obama continues to play games with American jobs, twiddling his thumbs and stalling on a final decision, voters prove unwavering as new data from Pew shows 2/3 (66%) saying to Obama, “Build the Keystone Pipeline.” In fact, even 54% of Democrats support it.
POLLSTER: Anderson Robbins Research (D) / Shaw & Company Research (R) for Fox News
DATE: Conducted 2/6-9/2012
SAMPLE: Sampled 1,110 RVs; MoE ±3.0%
SOURCE: Q46; http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/10/fox-news-poll-methodology-santorum-surge-obama/
POLLSTER: Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D
DATE: Conducted 2/14-20/2012
SAMPLE: Sampled 2,605 RVs; MoE ±1.9%
SOURCE: Q52; http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-centers/polling-institute/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=1709
POLLSTER: PSRAI for Washington Post
DATE: Conducted 6/14-17/2012
SAMPLE: Sampled 1,002 Adults; MoE ±3.5%
POLLSTER: Pew Research Center
DATE: Conducted 3/13-17/2013/2012
SAMPLE: Sampled 1,501 Adults; MoE ±2.9% @ 95% confidence interval
SOURCE: http://www.people-press.org/2013/04/02/keystone-xl-pipeline-draws-broad-support/
1 yr, 2 months & 18 days after Obama rejected it, voters still say build Keystone Pipeline nrcc.org/2013/04/05/pol… #tcot
— Topline Translator (@ToplineReport) April 5, 2013