CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM

TO: INTERESTED PARTIES

FROM: TONY FABRIZIO & DAVID LEE

RE: MISSISSIPPI STATEWIDE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY SURVEY

DATE: MAY 26, 2011

As part of a recent statewide survey in Mississippi, Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates asked
400 likely Republican primary voters their opinions on the open-seat Lieutenant Governor’s
primary.

Key Findings

• At this point in the race, State Treasurer Tate Reeves has a substantial lead over State
Senator Billy Hewes in the Republican primary for Lt. Governor.
• However, it is important to note that nearly one-third of likely Republican Primary voters
are currently undecided.

“If the Republican Primary for LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR were held today and the candidates
were (ROTATE) Tate Reeves and Billy Hewes, for whom would you vote?”

Likely GOP
Primary Voters
Reeves 51%
Hewes 18%
Undecided 31%

• Looking at the ballot results regionally, Reeves currently leads Hewes by significant
margins in 5 of the 6 largest media markets in the state.
• Reeves leads Hewes by 61 points in the Jackson media market, which historically makes
up more than one-third of the statewide Republican primary electorate.
• Hewes currently leads in his home market of Biloxi-Gulfport by a 46% to 18% margin.
• Hewes also currently leads in the two smallest media markets of New Orleans and
Greenwood/Greenville - although the leads in those markets are within the margin of
error for sample sizes that small.
 “If the Republican Primary for LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR were held today and the candidates
were (ROTATE) Tate Reeves and Billy Hewes, for whom would you vote?”

Biloxi/ Hattiesburg/ Tupelo/ New Greenwood/

All Jackson Gulfport Laurel Memphis Meridian Columbus Orleans Greenville
(36%) (17%) (14%) (11%) (8%) (7%) (6%) (2%)
Reeves 51% 70% 18% 64% 38% 53% 55% 21% 13%
Hewes 18% 9% 46% 9% 13% 17% 10% 33% 25%
Undecided 31% 20% 36% 27% 49% 30% 34% 46% 63%

• Currently Reeves holds a significant name awareness advantage over Hewes.

• Nearly half (48%) of likely Republican primary voters hold a favorable opinion of
Reeves and only 4% hold an unfavorable opinion of the State Treasurer.
• In comparison, State Senator Hewes has a current image rating of 17% favorable and 6%
unfavorable.
• At present, 78% of likely Republican primary voters either have no opinion or have never
heard of Billy Hewes.

“Now I am going to read you a list of names of people in the news. Will you please tell me if you
have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of each person? If you have no opinion or have never
heard of the person or organization, just say so… Tate Reeves.

Reeves Image Likely GOP

Primary Voters
Favorable 48%
Unfavorable 4%
No Opinion 21%
Never Heard Of 28%

“Now I am going to read you a list of names of people in the news. Will you please tell me if you
have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of each person? If you have no opinion or have never
heard of the person or organization, just say so… Billy Hewes.

Hewes Image Likely GOP

Primary Voters
Favorable 17%
Unfavorable 6%
No Opinion 23%
Never Heard Of 55%

Survey Methodology:
This survey of 400 likely Republican primary voters in the state of Mississippi was conducted
May 23-24, 2011. All interviews were conducted via telephone by professionally trained
interviewers using computer-assisted interviewing technology (CATI). Respondent selection
was random within pre-determined geographic units utilizing a sample frame that represents
actual primary voter distribution throughout the state based on past election results. The survey
has a margin of error of +/- 4.9% at the 95% confidence interval.