A new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of Arizona finds a majority favoring the state’s new law cracking down on illegal immigration, but that it also continues to divide the state on racial and partisan lines. In addition, support falls if the law’s potentially onerous burdens to carry papers proving citizenship are explained, but only slightly.
A first question was asked: “Based on what you know or have heard about the new Arizona immigration law, do you favor or oppose it?” The top-line number is 53% in favor, to 36% opposed. The numbers among Republicans are 89%-7%, Democrats are 12%-79%, and independents are 46%-28%. Support among whites is at 63%-26%, Hispanics are at 15%-76%, and blacks are at 8%-80%.
The top-line numbers similar to a recent Rocky Mountain Poll, with some minor differences in the internal figures when allowing for the larger margins of error in sub-groups.
Research 2000 then asked a follow-up question: “Arizona now requires anyone passing through or living in their state to carry papers proving citizenship that can be produced at the command of any law enforcement officers. Do you approve or disapprove of this requirement?” The number here is 48% in favor, to 44% against, only slightly down from the 53%-36% for the first question.
The fall in support is spread evenly across the demographic groups. Republicans approve of mandatory citizenship/residency papers by 85%-11%, Democrats are at 10%-88%, and independents are 37%-41%. Whites support it by 58%-35%, Hispanics are at 9%-81% and blacks are at 4%-83%.
The poll of 600 likely voters has a margin of error of ±4%.
