Poll says most Mainers optimistic on economy

AUGUSTA – Most Mainers have an optimistic outlook for their state as well as themselves despite a downturn in the economy, a new survey suggests.

The poll shows that 63 percent of Mainers do not believe the state is in the grip of an economic recession, while 30 percent believe it is.

Northern and Down East Mainers are more likely than central and southern Mainers to believe the state has entered a recession.

Strategic Marketing Services of Portland surveyed 400 Mainers May 26-30. The random survey has an error margin of 5 percentage points.

Forty-seven percent of those responding to a wide range of questions said they believe their household economic situation will remain the same this year, while 31 percent said it would improve.

More than half said they plan to travel this summer as much as they did last summer, despite rising fuel prices. But 41 percent say they plan to travel less.

In public policy questions, Mainers are split on whether to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, with 49 percent disapproving and 43 percent approving.

On other matters, the poll showed:

. 60 percent of Maine homes have at least one personal computer, and nearly 85 percent with home PCs are linked to the Internet.

. 54 percent of those polled have cellular telephones.

. 43 percent believe President Bush is doing an “excellent” or “good” job; 36 percent say he’s doing a “fair” job; and 17 percent say he’s doing a “poor” job. Nearly 5 percent are unsure.