Eight percent of respondents leave open the possibility to vote for Ksenia Sobchak during the Russian presidential elections.
MOSCOW, November 1, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey devoted to Russian attitudes towards Ksenia Sobchak and her initiative to run for president.
Over the recent five years the public perceptions of K. Sobchak have not changed much. Almost everyone knows who she is (98%). However the attitudes towards Sobchak are extremely negative: 64% of those who know her said so during the latest survey; the share of positive answers is 20%.
In addition to indifference (35%), Russians express distrust (27%) and dislikes (23%) towards this TV and radio personality and politician. On the negative side, people blame her for the conduct and communication style (10%), obtrusiveness (8%), and publicity concerns (4%). On the positive side, people perceive her as a straightforward (5%), intelligent (5%) and nice-looking (5%) person. According to 26%, Sobchak does not have any positive characters in principle.
Most of Russians are aware that K. Sobchak is running for president (75% of those who know about her). More than half of respondents (57%) oppose her candidacy; 33% are indifferent. Sixty-nine percent of Russians (those who have heard of her) consider that this new presidential candidate does not have any political future as a president; 6% disagree with that.
The share of potential voters is 8% among those who know who K. Sobchak is (the share of those who might vote for Sobchak during the presidential elections). The support level is higher among residents of Moscow and St Petersburg (16%). More than half of Russians (those who are aware of her activities), 57%, think that the goal she is pursuing is self-promotion. Fifteen percent say she is driven by political reasons (4% say she is going to be a president; 11% - that she is going to outline her opposition development program).
The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on October 21-22, 2017. The survey involved 1,200 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 3.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2012 and 2015 results are based on household surveys.
Did you know, or is it the first time you hear about Ksenia Sobchak? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||
| 2012 | 2015 | 2017 |
I know who she is | 57 | 72 | 60 |
I heard something | 35 | 23 | 38 |
This is the first time I hear about her | 9 | 5 | 2 |
*In 2012, 2015. the question was “I will read you the names of politicians ad public figures, and you need to tell me if you know any of them. Ksenia Sobchak”
How do you perceive Ksenia Sobchak? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of Sobchak) | |||
| 2012 | 2015 | 2017 |
Somewhat positively | 23 | 21 | 20 |
Somewhat negatively | 57 | 60 | 64 |
Don’t know | 20 | 19 | 16 |
*In 2012, 2015, the question was “How do you treat the following persons, in a positive or a negative way? Ksenia Sobchak”
What emotions does Ksenia Sobchak evoke in you? One or two answers are possible (closed-ended question, not more than two answers, % those who have heard of Sobchak) | |
| Total respondents |
Indifference | 35 |
Distrust | 27 |
Dislikes | 23 |
Liking | 10 |
Disappointment | 8 |
Condemnation | 7 |
Respect | 6 |
Hope | 2 |
Hatred | 2 |
Admiration | 1 |
Trust | 1 |
Love | 0 |
Fear | 0 |
Don’t know | 6 |
What do you like/dislike Ksenia Sobchak for? (open-ended question, not more than 5 answers, % of those who have heard of Sobchak) | |||
Like | Dislike | ||
Nothing; I just dislike her | 26 | Her conduct; use of strong language | 10 |
Open-minded, straightforward | 5 | Obtrusive, she sticks out everywhere | 8 |
Nice appearance | 5 | Everyone dislikes her | 7 |
Smart | 5 | All she does is self-promotion | 4 |
Professional activities | 4 | Nothing; I like everything | 4 |
Self-motivated; she knows what she wants | 3 | Her attitude towards ordinary people | 3 |
Competent, educated | 2 | Her professional activity on TV | 3 |
Courageous | 1 | Arrogant, self-conceited | 3 |
She became a mother, a family-oriented person | 1 | Self-assured, self-centered, self-confident | 3 |
Extraordinary, flamboyant | 1 | Her views, statements | 3 |
Self-confident | 1 | Impudent , low fellow | 3 |
Everything | 1 | Scandalous | 3 |
Assertive, bold | 1 | She used her father’s connections to achieve everything she has | 2 |
Indifferent, I don’t care | 1 | Unattractive | 2 |
Active | 1 | Tactless | 2 |
Young, with modern attitude | 1 | Immoral, bold-faced, undisciplined | 2 |
Sociable, communicative | 1 | Stupid, empty-headed, uneducated | 2 |
Joyful, with a sense of humor | 1 | Politically incompetent | 2 |
Public person | 1 | Vulgar | 2 |
Other | 5 | I don’t care about her | 2 |
Don’t know | 44 | She speaks too much and does nothing | 2 |
|
| Oppositionist activities | 1 |
|
| Anti-Russian statements | 1 |
|
| Spoilt | 1 |
|
| Not serious | 1 |
|
| She does not inspire confidence | 1 |
|
| Unstable, inconsistent | 1 |
|
| Glamorous | 1 |
|
| Unbounded ambitions | 1 |
|
| Betrayer of the nation | 1 |
|
| Other | 4 |
|
| Don’t know | 36 |
Have you heard/do you hear for the first time that Ksenia Sobchak is running for president of Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of Sobchak) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over | |
I am well aware of that | 28 | 28 | 17 | 30 | 29 | 35 | |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 47 | 41 | 49 | 45 | 46 | 50 | |
This is the first time I hear about that | 24 | 28 | 33 | 25 | 24 | 14 | |
Don’t know | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Would you like Ksenia Sobchak to run for Russian president? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of Sobchak) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over | |
Rather yes | 8 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 8 | |
Rather not | 57 | 53 | 50 | 62 | 53 | 66 | |
I don’t care about that | 33 | 39 | 38 | 29 | 37 | 25 | |
Don’t know | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
What political prospects does Ksenia Sobchak have in Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of Sobchak) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
She has a good political future | 6 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
She has achieved a lot but he can hardly achieve more than she has now | 16 | 15 | 18 | 28 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
She does not have any political prospects | 69 | 72 | 66 | 64 | 62 | 72 | 74 | 67 |
Don’t know | 9 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 14 |
Do you personally leave open the possibility to vote for Ksenia Sobchak during the presidential election? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of Sobchak) | ||||||||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area |
Yes, I leave this possibility open | 8 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
No, I don’t think it might happen | 89 | 84 | 87 | 92 | 90 | 92 | 83 | 90 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 92 |
Don’t know | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
In your opinion, what goals is Ksenia Sobchak pursuing at the election? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of Sobchak) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over | |
To win and become a president | 4 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
To outline her agenda – oppositionist opinion on how to solve country’s problems | 11 | 18 | 21 | 7 | 9 | 4 | |
To get additional promotion, publicity | 57 | 53 | 49 | 62 | 57 | 61 | |
To raise money from sponsors and supporters | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | |
Other | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | |
Don’t know | 13 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 14 | 17 | |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!