Thread: Arpaio, Thomas backed by most in poll

Change Type Size Arpaio, Thomas backed by most in poll
Recall efforts likely to face tough time, figures indicate
Johnathan J. Cooper
Cronkite News Service
Nov. 22, 2007 12:00 AM

A Cronkite/Eight Poll released earlier this week suggests that those trying to recall Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio face an uphill battle.

Of those with an opinion, 62 percent hold a positive opinion of Thomas and 65 percent hold a positive opinion of Arpaio. Nearly three in four of those with an opinion oppose the idea of recalling either one.

Poll director Bruce Merrill, a retired Arizona State University professor, said the support for Arpaio and Thomas will make it difficult for a citizens group to collect the more than 200,000 signatures necessary to force a recall vote. advertisement




"It's going to be very difficult for the people who want to recall both of them to get enough signatures . . . because two out of every three voters have a favorable opinion of them," Merrill said.

The recall movement began after a special prosecutor hired by Thomas issued a subpoena to the alternative weekly newspaper Phoenix New Times. Newspaper executives Jim Larkin and Michael Lacey were arrested last month by county sheriff's deputies after reporting on the secret subpoena, and Thomas dropped the investigation after a public outcry.

Leonard Clark, a recall organizer, said the movement will gather steam as his group spreads its message leading up to a February deadline.

"All of this is just a matter of going up to the big Berlin Wall with our little hammers and chipping away," Clark said. "I would love to see it the other way around, but it doesn't discourage us."

The poll said that 35 percent of Maricopa County voters with an opinion about Arpaio rated it as "very positive," while 30 percent rated it "generally positive." Eighteen percent reported a "somewhat negative" opinion, and 17 percent reported a "very negative" opinion.

For Thomas, 10 percent with an opinion reported it as "very positive," while 52 percent reported a "generally positive" opinion.

Twenty-three percent reported a "somewhat negative" opinion, and 15 percent reported a "very negative" opinion.

Overall, 35 percent said they had no opinion of Thomas, while 4 percent said the same of Arpaio.

"It makes me feel good because not only do I have Republican backing, I have Democrats and independents," said Arpaio, a Republican. "I am the sheriff of everyone."

Barnett Lotstein, a special assistant county attorney who serves as a spokesman for Thomas' office, said officials there were pleased with the poll results.

"It's an indication that the policies of the county attorney have resonated with the public, and we will continue to follow those policies," Lotstein said.

Seventy-one percent of those surveyed said they had heard about the New Times case. Of those, 49 percent said the New Times executives should not have been arrested, while 34 percent said they should have been.

The poll, conducted Thursday through Sunday by ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Channel 8 (KAET), involved 697 registered voters. It had a sampling error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

The Cronkite School operates Cronkite News Service.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... l1122.html

"It's going to be very difficult for the people who want to recall both of them to get enough signatures . . . because two out of every three voters have a favorable opinion of them," Merrill said.

...and why do you want to RECALL them????

BECAUSE THEY ENFORCE THE LAW!!!!!!

If they fire sheriff joe, we will take him!

Of those with an opinion, 62 percent hold a positive opinion of Thomas and 65 percent hold a positive opinion of Arpaio. Nearly three in four of those with an opinion oppose the idea of recalling either one.

I think both Thomas' and Arpaio's support is stronger than the polls reflect. One problem with polls is they don't necessarily reflect voter's opinions. How many of the of the 38% with a negative opinion of Thomas and the 35% with a negative opinion of Arpaio were polled illegals who aren't suppose to vote?

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.â€