TO THE EDITOR:
A Jan. 26 article "Poll rates Carrboro below Donald Trump" was a poor interpretation of our polling data. The best way to compare the poll numbers of two different entities, to control for their differing levels of name recognition, is to look at their net favorability ratings. We found that among North Carolinians with an opinion about Carrboro, 28 percent rate it favorably and 11 percent unfavorably. That’s a net favorability rating of +17. Donald Trump on the other hand is seen positively by 44 percent of North Carolinians, and negatively by 49 percent of them. That’s a net favorability rating of -5. So, Carrboro comes out 22 points ahead of Trump on net favorability.
You know who actually does have worse poll numbers in North Carolina than Donald Trump? Grayson Allen. Only 12 percent of voters see him positively (compared) to 28 percent who have a negative opinion about him, for a net favorability rating of -16. As Tar Heels, let’s focus our disdain on Grayson and leave poor wonderful Carrboro alone.
Tom Jensen
Director of Public Policy Polling
