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1 Eagleton Institute of Politics Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 191 Ryders Lane New Brunswick, New Jersey Fax: TUESDAY, NOV. 15, 2011 Visit for more commentary and links to questions and tables. MIXED SUPPORT FOR OCCUPY WALL STREET IN NEW JERSEY; BUT MOST SAY CAMPS SHOULD NOT BE SHUT DOWN NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ On the heels of today s early morning removal of Occupy Wall Street protestors from Zuccotti Park by New York City police, a new shows that nearly two-thirds of New Jersey registered voters who are aware of the Occupy movement believe the protestors should be allowed to maintain their camps and demonstrations. Only 23 percent say officials should shut down the camps and arrest those who will not leave. The poll, taken v before the New York crackdown, asked those who have heard about the protest whether the actions of police in other cities were appropriate. Despite general support for the rights of the protestors, Garden State voters are less certain about the movement itself. Just 34 percent say they have a favorable impression of Occupy Wall Street, while 39 percent say their impression is unfavorable, and 27 percent are not sure. At the same time, 54 percent say that they are part of the 99 percent and 53 percent say Occupy Wall Street makes them hope things will change in America. Moreover, 65 percent say taxes need to be raised on the wealthy. While many New Jersey voters do not explicitly support the Occupy Wall Street movement, a majority endorses their key messages, said David Redlawsk, poll director and professor of political science at Rutgers University. Though we asked our questions before today s NYPD action to remove the Zuccotti Park encampment, a large majority of Garden Staters are supportive of allowing camps and demonstrations to remain in place. Results are from a poll of 753 registered voters, conducted from v The full sample of registered voters has a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points. Most do not see OWS as anti-american; many say it gives them hope Most garden State voters do not support moves in some cities to close camps and arrest protestors despite lukewarm ratings for the movement. Those who view Occupy Wall Street favorably overwhelmingly support the camps (93 percent) while those unfavorable toward the movement are evenly split, with 44 percent in favor of the camps and 44 percent supporting their removal. Even 71 percent of those not sure how they feel say the camps should be allowed. The Occupy Wall Street movement is well-known: 91 percent of New Jersey voters have heard something about it. Even with mixed feelings about it, only 26 percent of New Jersey voters who have heard something -more- 1

2 2 Occupy Wall Street, v agree that the people who are part of Occupy Wall Street just make me angry, while just 14 percent agrees that the movement is anti-american. Twenty eight percent agree with the statement that Occupy Wall Street has concerns similar to the Tea Party. More than half (55 percent) of those unfavorable toward Occupy Wall Street say it makes them angry, while 30 percent of those disliking it say the movement is anti-american. But 23 percent of those unfavorable still agree that Occupy Wall Street makes me hope things will change in America. t surprisingly, those with a favorable view feel even better: 88 percent say it gives them hope for change. But even those with a neutral view are hopeful, by a 52 percent to 34 percent margin. More than half of registered voters agree that I am part of the 99 percent, while 27 percent disagree and 20 percent are not sure. Among those who favor the movement, 74 percent say they are part of the 99 percent, while 37 percent of those not favorable agree anyway. Half of those unsure about the movement call themselves part of the 99 percent. Those who say they are unsure whether they feel favorable or unfavorable about Occupy Wall Street seem nonetheless quite supportive of its efforts, noted Redlawsk. Their ambivalence toward the movement should not be taken as ambivalence about its key economic message. OWS supporters concerned with growing inequality; favor tax increases on wealthy Half of Garden State voters are very concerned about the increasing income gap between the rich and the poor in the United States, while an additional 30 percent are somewhat concerned. Concern about inequality crosses over to those who say they are unfavorable toward Occupy Wall Street. Nearly all supporters (97 percent) are at least somewhat concerned about inequality, but even two-thirds of those who do not support the movement express concern. Those unfavorable toward Occupy Wall Street do not extend their concern about inequality to supporting tax increases for the wealthy. While 65 percent of all registered voters say taxes on the wealthy should be increased, 89 percent of those favoring the Occupy Wall Street movement want the rich to pay more. But, despite expressing concern about a growing income gap, 57 percent of voters with an unfavorable impression towards the movement oppose tax increases for wealthy Americans. New Jersey voters more supportive of OWS than of Tea Party Occupy Wall Street is viewed favorably by just over one-third of New Jersey voters, substantially more than the 21 percent who favor the Tea Party. One-fifth (22 percent) of those who view the Tea Party favorably also have a favorable opinion of Occupy Wall Street; similarly, 31 percent of registered voters see both groups in a negative light. Democrats are most likely to have favorable views of the Occupy Wall Street movement (49 percent favorable vs. 26 percent unfavorable) while Republicans are far more negative (23 percent favorable, 59 percent unfavorable.) Independents are also negative by a 12 point margin: 28 percent favorable to 40 percent -more-

3 Occupy Wall Street, v unfavorable. Republicans are more likely than Democrats and independents to see Occupy Wall Street as anti- American (27 percent), more likely to say that the movement makes them angry (45 percent), and least likely to identify as part of the 99 percent (43 percent). Only 22 percent of Republicans say that Occupy Wall Street has concerns similar to the Tea Party, compared to 27 percent of Democrats and 31 percent of independents. Tea Party supporters are even more likely to say OWS is anti-american (31 percent) and to be angered by it (50 percent), even though 27 percent of Tea Party supporters agree that Occupy Wall Street has concerns similar to theirs. Even so, a plurality of Tea Party supporters (44 percent) agrees that they are part of the 99 percent while 35 percent disagree. A bare majority (51 percent) supports closing down the Occupy Wall Street camps, while 42 percent support continuation of the camps. Favoring change Voters who say New Jersey is moving in the right direction view Occupy Wall Street on unfavorable terms. Sixty-four percent of those who say New Jersey is going in the right direction because things are changing for the better have an unfavorable opinion of Occupy Wall Street. Forty-eight percent of those who say New Jersey is at least not getting worse are similarly unfavorable. Those who believe New Jersey is off on the wrong track are more likely to support the Occupy Wall Street movement: 44 percent of voters who think that the state is on the wrong track because things are not getting better favor the Occupy Wall Street movement, as do 55 percent of voters who see New Jersey changing for the worse. Most registered voters who think conditions are getting worse say they are part of the 99 percent (71 percent) as do most (59 percent) who say things are simply not getting better. But, even 49 percent of those who believe things are not getting any worse say they are a part of the 99 percent as do 44 percent of voters who see things improving in the Garden State. ### QUESTIONS AND TABLES BEGIN ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE 3

4 Occupy Wall Street, v Questions and Tables The questions covered in the release of vember 15, 2011 are listed below. Column percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding. Respondents are Registered Voters (RV). Q. I'd like to ask about some people and groups. Please tell me if your general impression of each one is favorable or unfavorable, or if you do not have an opinion. [ROTATE LIST] The Occupy Wall Street Movement The Tea Party Favorable 34% Favorable 21% Unfavorable 39% Unfavorable 48% Opin/DK 27% Opin/DK 31% Unwght N 750 Unwght N 753 Occupy Wall Street Coll Coll Favorable 49% 28% 23% 56% 35% 9% 28% 30% 39% 38% Unfavorable 26% 40% 59% 15% 35% 74% 34% 41% 42% 38% Opin/DK 25% 32% 18% 30% 30% 17% 37% 29% 20% 23% Unwght N FT PT Ret t White Black Favorable 37% 33% 34% 26% 31% 41% 28% 32% 46% 27% Unfavorable 38% 45% 41% 39% 44% 27% 30% 42% 37% 45% Opin/DK 26% 22% 25% 36% 25% 32% 42% 27% 17% 28% Unwght N Favorable 32% 35% 42% 32% 33% 35% 35% 42% 29% 34% 24% Unfavorable 35% 38% 38% 47% 41% 38% 38% 31% 57% 26% 52% Opin/DK 33% 27% 20% 20% 25% 28% 27% 27% 14% 39% 24% Unwght N Tea Party Impression Heard About OWS NJ Right/Wrong Track Fav Unfav Opin A Lot A little ne Right Wrong DK Favorable 22% 48% 20% 40% 29% 6% 21% 47% 35% Unfavorable 63% 31% 40% 46% 29% 26% 57% 25% 25% Opin/DK 15% 21% 40% 14% 43% 68% 22% 27% 40% Unwght N

5 5 Occupy Wall Street, v Q. Recent reports have shown that the income difference between the richest people and poorest people has grown wider over the last three decades. How concerned are you about this increase in the difference between top and bottom wage earners? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, somewhat unconcerned or very unconcerned? Very concerned 52% what concerned 30% what unconcerned 10% Very unconcerned 8% DK 1% Unwght N 752 Coll Coll Very concerned 70% 44% 39% 72% 53% 31% 43% 57% 49% 57% what concerned 22% 32% 38% 23% 32% 30% 33% 28% 33% 26% what unconcerned 5% 12% 11% 4% 9% 18% 12% 8% 9% 9% Very unconcerned 1% 10% 12% 1% 5% 20% 11% 4% 8% 8% DK 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 3% 1% 0% Unwght N FT PT Ret t White Black Very concerned 51% 45% 57% 51% 50% 71% 41% 45% 65% 53% what concerned 31% 34% 25% 31% 28% 13% 28% 36% 24% 30% what unconcerned 10% 19% 9% 5% 12% 4% 13% 13% 5% 8% Very unconcerned 7% 1% 8% 12% 9% 7% 16% 5% 6% 8% DK 1% 1% 2% 2% 1% 5% 2% 1% 1% 2% Unwght N <150K 150K+ Male Female Urban Suburb Exurb Very concerned 59% 59% 49% 45% 45% 57% 54% 55% 48% 52% 47% what concerned 23% 28% 37% 29% 33% 27% 35% 31% 32% 23% 29% what unconcerned 9% 7% 10% 15% 11% 8% 8% 8% 13% 11% 10% Very unconcerned 9% 6% 4% 11% 8% 7% 2% 5% 7% 11% 13% DK 0% 1% 0% 0% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% Unwght N Very concerned 33% 66% 45% 76% 34% 47% 36% 66% 58% what concerned 36% 23% 35% 22% 33% 37% 35% 25% 27% what unconcerned 16% 8% 10% 2% 18% 7% 16% 3% 6% Very unconcerned 14% 4% 10% 1% 14% 9% 12% 4% 4% DK 1% 0% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% 1% 4% Unwght N

6 Occupy Wall Street, v Q. say we need to increase taxes on wealthy Americans to ensure that they pay a fair tax rate. Others say that the wealthy already pay a large share of all the taxes and should not be required to pay more. How about you? Do you think taxes on wealthy Americans should or should not be raised? Raise 65% t raise 31% DK 3% Unwght N 749 Coll Coll Raise 84% 61% 45% 85% 72% 30% 60% 69% 65% 67% t raise 14% 35% 51% 13% 24% 68% 37% 29% 30% 30% DK 2% 4% 4% 2% 4% 2% 3% 1% 5% 3% Unwght N FT PT Ret t White Black Raise 65% 70% 66% 60% 60% 89% 66% 65% 69% 60% t raise 30% 28% 30% 38% 36% 11% 30% 32% 28% 35% DK 4% 3% 3% 1% 4% 0% 4% 3% 2% 4% Unwght N Raise 62% 69% 68% 58% 62% 68% 74% 70% 58% 64% 58% t raise 36% 27% 27% 38% 33% 30% 24% 29% 34% 31% 39% DK 2% 3% 5% 4% 5% 2% 1% 1% 8% 5% 3% Unwght N Raise 39% 78% 64% 89% 37% 81% 49% 78% 81% t raise 57% 20% 31% 9% 57% 16% 47% 20% 15% DK 3% 3% 4% 2% 6% 2% 4% 2% 4% Unwght N

7 Occupy Wall Street, v Q. As you may have heard, there is a political movement called Occupy Wall Street. How much would you say you have heard about this movement? Is it a lot, a little, or none at all? A Lot 65% A Little 26% ne at all 9% Unwght N 753 Coll Coll A Lot 69% 57% 75% 70% 62% 72% 56% 60% 69% 75% A Little 24% 30% 20% 24% 26% 23% 31% 24% 28% 18% ne at all 7% 13% 4% 6% 11% 5% 13% 15% 2% 7% Unwght N FT PT Ret t White Black A Lot 69% 58% 71% 52% 70% 59% 41% 61% 81% 66% A Little 25% 40% 18% 28% 23% 28% 47% 28% 14% 22% ne at all 7% 2% 11% 19% 6% 13% 12% 11% 4% 11% Unwght N A Lot 55% 65% 67% 85% 70% 60% 64% 67% 79% 42% 72% A Little 28% 27% 27% 13% 23% 28% 17% 24% 17% 50% 19% ne at all 17% 9% 6% 2% 7% 11% 19% 8% 4% 8% 8% Unwght N A Lot 74% 78% 42% 77% 75% 41% 76% 57% 56% A Little 22% 17% 38% 22% 19% 39% 20% 30% 34% ne at all 4% 5% 20% 2% 6% 20% 4% 13% 10% Unwght N

8 Occupy Wall Street, v [THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WERE ASKED OF THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD A LOT OR A LITTLE ABOUT OCCUPY WALL STREET] Q. For each of the following statements about Occupy Wall Street, please tell me if you agree or disagree with it. First/Next: [ROTATE QUESTIONS] Occupy Wall Street is anti-american. Agree 14% Disagree 78% DK 8% Unwght N 692 Coll Coll Agree 8% 12% 27% 6% 10% 33% 17% 16% 13% 11% Disagree 85% 79% 65% 87% 85% 54% 76% 76% 77% 85% DK 7% 9% 8% 7% 6% 13% 7% 9% 10% 4% Unwght N FT PT Ret t White Black Agree 14% 15% 14% 14% 17% 4% 7% 15% 13% 18% Disagree 80% 76% 76% 76% 76% 86% 79% 76% 85% 72% DK 6% 8% 10% 10% 7% 10% 14% 9% 2% 10% Unwght N Agree 13% 12% 16% 20% 14% 14% 12% 14% 20% 6% 18% Disagree 81% 79% 82% 73% 79% 77% 82% 79% 76% 82% 73% DK 6% 9% 2% 7% 6% 9% 7% 7% 5% 12% 9% Unwght N Agree 31% 8% 11% 2% 30% 5% 24% 5% 5% Disagree 62% 87% 75% 97% 61% 79% 70% 88% 75% DK 7% 5% 14% 1% 9% 16% 6% 7% 20% Unwght N Occupy Wall Street has concerns similar to the Tea Party movement. Agree 28% Disagree 56% DK 16% Unwght N 691 8

9 Occupy Wall Street, v Dem Ind Rep Lib Middle Conserv Coll Coll Agree 27% 31% 22% 22% 32% 23% 25% 30% 31% 23% Disagree 60% 50% 64% 64% 52% 60% 52% 53% 54% 67% DK 13% 19% 14% 14% 15% 17% 23% 16% 15% 10% Unwght N FT PT Ret t White Black Agree 31% 24% 24% 26% 26% 22% 48% 25% 24% 23% Disagree 57% 54% 60% 49% 61% 58% 29% 58% 64% 61% DK 12% 22% 16% 25% 14% 20% 23% 16% 12% 16% Unwght N Agree 27% 25% 33% 26% 31% 25% 35% 29% 26% 24% 26% Disagree 49% 62% 55% 59% 55% 57% 50% 54% 66% 48% 62% DK 24% 13% 11% 15% 14% 18% 14% 17% 7% 28% 11% Unwght N Agree 39% 78% 64% 89% 37% 81% 49% 78% 81% Disagree 57% 20% 31% 9% 57% 16% 47% 20% 15% DK 3% 3% 4% 2% 6% 2% 4% 2% 4% Unwght N The people who are part of Occupy Wall Street just make me angry. Agree 26% Disagree 69% DK 5% Unwght N 691 Coll Coll Agree 11% 28% 45% 5% 21% 59% 30% 24% 28% 22% Disagree 83% 69% 49% 93% 73% 39% 64% 72% 68% 74% DK 6% 3% 5% 1% 6% 2% 7% 4% 4% 4% Unwght N

10 Occupy Wall Street, v FT PT Ret t White Black Agree 23% 28% 27% 33% 29% 15% 23% 28% 22% 32% Disagree 74% 65% 66% 61% 67% 77% 71% 69% 76% 59% DK 3% 7% 7% 6% 4% 8% 6% 4% 2% 9% Unwght N Agree 22% 25% 23% 33% 26% 26% 18% 20% 37% 16% 42% Disagree 73% 72% 74% 64% 70% 69% 80% 74% 55% 80% 56% DK 4% 3% 3% 3% 4% 5% 2% 6% 8% 4% 3% Unwght N Agree 50% 16% 27% 2% 55% 13% 40% 14% 10% Disagree 45% 82% 64% 96% 40% 78% 54% 83% 79% DK 5% 2% 9% 1% 6% 9% 5% 3% 10% Unwght N Occupy Wall Street makes me hope things will change in America. Agree 53% Disagree 41% DK 6% Unwght N 693 Coll Coll Agree 67% 51% 35% 73% 56% 30% 45% 62% 50% 56% Disagree 27% 41% 60% 20% 38% 67% 47% 33% 44% 40% DK 6% 7% 4% 7% 6% 3% 9% 5% 7% 4% Unwght N FT PT Ret t White Black Agree 52% 55% 55% 54% 52% 67% 38% 54% 61% 51% Disagree 43% 36% 38% 40% 43% 26% 44% 43% 37% 41% DK 5% 8% 7% 6% 5% 7% 18% 4% 2% 7% Unwght N

11 Occupy Wall Street, v Agree 29% 69% 45% 88% 24% 52% 42% 65% 56% Disagree 67% 28% 46% 11% 73% 34% 55% 28% 31% DK 3% 3% 10% 1% 3% 14% 3% 8% 13% Unwght N I am part of the 99 percent. Agree 54% Disagree 27% DK 19% Unwght N 682 Coll Coll Agree 65% 51% 43% 68% 54% 42% 54% 47% 56% 58% Disagree 22% 26% 36% 17% 29% 31% 29% 30% 23% 27% DK 14% 23% 21% 15% 17% 28% 18% 24% 21% 15% Unwght N FT PT Ret t White Black Agree 55% 66% 49% 45% 53% 40% 52% 52% 61% 46% Disagree 27% 20% 24% 33% 25% 44% 33% 27% 24% 26% DK 17% 14% 27% 21% 22% 16% 15% 21% 15% 27% Unwght N Agree 58% 62% 53% 46% 51% 55% 54% 62% 43% 52% 47% Disagree 33% 34% 45% 51% 43% 38% 44% 34% 51% 32% 49% DK 9% 4% 3% 3% 6% 6% 1% 4% 6% 16% 4% Unwght N Agree 53% 58% 66% 48% 58% 50% 56% 60% 46% 57% 45% Disagree 28% 26% 18% 38% 25% 28% 31% 25% 25% 23% 31% DK 19% 16% 16% 14% 17% 22% 13% 14% 29% 20% 23% Unwght N

12 Agree 44% 63% 44% 74% 37% 50% 46% 62% 56% Disagree 35% 21% 32% 16% 35% 30% 30% 26% 16% DK 21% 16% 24% 10% 28% 20% 25% 11% 28% Unwght N Occupy Wall Street, v Q. In some cities, officials have arrested members of the occupy movement and want to eliminate their camps. In other cities, officials have tolerated the camps and have not moved against them. Which approach do you agree with more: [ROTATE] End the Occupy camps and arrest those who refuse to leave, or allow Occupy participants to continue their camps and demonstrations. End 23% Allow 68% DK 9% Unwght N 684 Registered Voters Coll Coll End 13% 21% 45% 13% 17% 52% 28% 27% 22% 17% Allow 79% 69% 47% 81% 75% 38% 67% 63% 68% 73% DK 8% 10% 9% 6% 8% 10% 4% 10% 10% 10% Unwght N FT PT Ret t White Black End 20% 23% 33% 24% 26% 19% 16% 21% 21% 37% Allow 71% 68% 58% 68% 64% 69% 75% 71% 71% 52% DK 9% 9% 9% 8% 9% 12% 9% 8% 8% 11% Unwght N End 23% 24% 20% 23% 24% 22% 21% 22% 30% 15% 30% Allow 71% 64% 78% 70% 68% 68% 71% 71% 63% 71% 60% DK 6% 12% 3% 7% 8% 10% 8% 7% 7% 14% 9% Unwght N End 51% 14% 21% 5% 44% 18% 35% 13% 14% Allow 42% 81% 63% 93% 44% 71% 56% 79% 73% DK 7% 6% 16% 2% 13% 12% 9% 8% 14% Unwght N

13 Occupy Wall Street, v vember 9-12, 2011 The was conducted by telephone from vember 9-12, 2011 with a scientifically selected random sample of 753 New Jersey registered voters drawn from a list of all NJ registered voters. Data are weighted to represent known parameters in the New Jersey registered voter population, using gender, age, race, and Hispanic ethnicity matching to US Census Bureau data. All results are reported with these weighted data. All surveys are subject to sampling error, which is the expected probable difference between interviewing everyone in a population versus a scientific sampling drawn from that population. The sampling error for 753 registered voters is +/-3.6 percentage points, at a 95 percent confidence interval. Thus if 50 percent of New Jersey registered voters favored a particular position, one would be 95 percent sure that the true figure would be between 53.6 and 46.3 percent (50 +/-3.6) had all New Jersey registered voters been interviewed, rather than just a sample. Sampling error increases as the sample size decreases, so statements based on various population subgroups are subject to more error than are statements based on the total sample. Sampling error does not take into account other sources of variation inherent in public opinion studies, such as non-response, question wording or context effects. This was fielded by Braun Research Incorporated. The questionnaire was developed and all data analysis was completed in house. The is paid for and sponsored by the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University, a non-partisan academic center focused on the study and teaching of politics and the political process. Weighted Sample Characteristics 753 New Jersey Registered Voters Based on Registration Status 34% Democrat 47% Male 15% % White 46% Independent 53% Female 35% % Black 21% Republican 28% % Hispanic 21% 65+ 8% Others 13