Voters Side with Gov. Jindal Over Obama Administration in Oil Crisis

By Brad O'Leary and Tim McGinnis

Washington, D.C. — Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's decision to act immediately and do everything in his power to help stem the impact of the Gulf oil spill may have ruffled feathers in the Obama administration, but it is decidedly popular with American voters, according to a recent poll conducted by Zogby International. The Poll was conducted June 25-28 and surveyed 2,061 likely voters.

The Poll asked:

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal ordered the Louisiana National Guard and his own State government to take action to protect the state's coastline eight weeks after the gulf spill started, even though some operations would take place in federal waters. The Federal government stepped in to try to stop Jindal's efforts because they were not coordinated with the federal response. Do you agree with Jindal acting unilaterally, or should he have waited for federal authorities?

Overall, 65% of voters agree with Jindal's unilateral action, and just 21% say he should have waited for federal authorities.

An even stronger majority of Independent voters (70%) side with Jindal, while only 15% side with the Obama administration and the federal government.

A 61% majority of young voters age 18-29 agree with Jindal's actions to protect Louisiana from the oil spill, and just 25% say he should have waited.

A sizeable 68% of voters who had to pay taxes last year agree with Jindal acting unilaterally, as do 54% of voters who did not have any tax liability last year (due to either low income or numerous tax deductions).

Finally, 93% of Tea Party followers and 66% of small business owners agree that Jindal acted properly in the aftermath of the BP oil rig explosion, and just 3% of Tea Party followers and 20% of small business owners think he should have waited for the Obama administration's direction.

"Oil gushing at a rate of 60,000 barrels a day doesn't wait for bureaucratic confusion and government red tape," said Brad O'Leary, publisher of The O'Leary Report. "In times of crisis, Americans always prefer quick, targeted and decisive action to federal foot-dragging."

The Zogby International Poll was commissioned by The O'Leary Report newsletter. The Poll surveyed 2,061 voters June 25-28, and has a margin-of-error of plus-or-minus 2.2 percentage points. To view full Poll results and crosstabs, go to OLearyReport.com.