McCrory Slips Against Cooper Amid Backlash to Divisive ‘Bathroom Bill’
Voters in North Carolina appear to be turning on embattled Republican Governor Pat McCrory. A poll published today by Elon University shows his Democratic rival, state Attorney General Roy Cooper, pulling ahead 48-42 among registered voters – a six point lead. Only 37 percent of voters approve of the job McCory is doing, with another 49 percent saying they disapprove of his job performance. A second poll released April 12 and conducted by WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA finds a similar gap, with a 47-43 lead for Cooper.
McCrory has been rattled in recent weeks by intense public outcry following his signing of controversial bill HB2, banning transgender citizens from using public restrooms that conform to their gender identity. Numerous entertainers, among them Pearl Jam, Boston, Ringo Starr, and Bruce Springsteen have canceled appearances in North Carolina in protest, along with many business canceling or reconsidering plans to expand into the state.
As pressure to resolve the situation mounts on North Carolina state leaders, citizens are struggling with the practical repercussions. In Wake County North Carolina alone, the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau reports as much as $3.2 million in lost business as a result of HB2.
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Image: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher Q. Stone via Wikimedia