Poll Watch: Washington Post/ABC News 2012 Presidential Survey

Washington Post/ABC News 2012 Presidential Poll

Among Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 49%
• Mitt Romney 48%

Among Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 50% {46%} [47%] (49%) {51%} [47%] (51%) {46%} [47%] (46%) {46%} [45%] (49%) {46%} [49%]
• Mitt Romney 44% {47%} [47%] (46%) {44%} [49%] (45%) {48%} [47%] (47%) {48%} [49%] (47%) {49%} [45%]

Among Independents

• Mitt Romney 48%
• Barack Obama 46%

Among Moderates

• Barack Obama 56%
• Mitt Romney 33%

Among Men

• Barack Obama 48%
• Mitt Romney 45%

Among Women

• Barack Obama 51%
• Mitt Romney 44%

(Among Obama Voters) Will you definitely vote for Barack Obama, or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote for someone else? If there's a chance you could change your mind, is there a good chance you'll change your mind, or is it a pretty unlikely chance?

• Definitely vote for Obama 86% {84%} [81%]
• Chance change mind, but unlikely 7% {8%} [13%]
• Good chance will change mind 4% {6%} [4%]

(Among Romney Voters) Will you definitely vote for Mitt Romney, or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote for someone else? If there's a chance you could change your mind, is there a good chance you'll change your mind, or is it a pretty unlikely chance?

• Definitely vote for Romney 85% {82%} [77%]
• Chance change mind, but unlikely 9% {10%} [13%]
• Good chance will change mind 5% {5%} [8%]

(Among Obama Voters) Would you say you are very enthusiastic about supporting Barack Obama, somewhat enthusiastic, not so enthusiastic, or not enthusiastic at all?

• Very enthusiastic 56% {48%} [51%] (51%)
• Somewhat enthusiastic 38% {39%} [40%] (41%)
• Not so enthusiastic 3% {7%} [5%] (4%)
• Not enthusiastic at all 3% {4%} [3%] (4%)

(Among Romney Voters) Would you say you are very enthusiastic about supporting Mitt Romney, somewhat enthusiastic, not so enthusiastic, or not enthusiastic at all?

• Very enthusiastic 46% {42%} [38%] (26%)
• Somewhat enthusiastic 40% {41%} [47%] (48%)
• Not so enthusiastic 7% {12%} [11%] (15%)
• Not enthusiastic at all 6% {4%} [4%] (9%)

(Among Obama Voters) Is your vote more FOR Obama, or more AGAINST Romney?

• For Obama 75% [75%]
• Against Romney 22% [23%]

(Among Romney Voters) Is your vote more FOR Romney, or more AGAINST Obama?

• For Romney 45% [37%]
• Against Obama 50% [59%]

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president? 

• Approve 48% {47%}
• Disapprove 50% {50%}
  

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? 

• Approve 45% {43%}
• Disapprove 53% {56%}
  

Regardless of your support, how do you feel about how Barack Obama would perform as president for the next four years - very anxious, somewhat anxious, not so anxious or not anxious at all?

• Very anxious 29% {23%}
• Somewhat anxious 30% {30%}
• Not so anxious 12% {12%}
• Not anxious at all 27% {32%}

Regardless of your support, how do you feel about how Mitt Romney would perform as president for the next four years - very anxious, somewhat anxious, not so anxious or not anxious at all?

• Very anxious 22% {17%}
• Somewhat anxious 38% {44%}
• Not so anxious 10% {12%}
• Not anxious at all 26% {21%}

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job handling the economy?

• Barack Obama 47% {43%} [45%] (47%) {44%} (44%)
• Mitt Romney 45% {50%} [48%] (47%) {48%} (50%)
  

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job dealing with the federal budget deficit?

• Mitt Romney 47% {51%} [51%] {54%} (52%)
• Barack Obama 44% {38%} [43%] {37%} (39%)

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job handling health care policy?

• Barack Obama 47% {47%} [48%] {49%}
• Mitt Romney 44% {45%} [44%] {40%}

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job dealing with social issues such as abortion and gay marriage?

• Barack Obama 50% {52%} {47%}
• Mitt Romney 39% {38%} {39%}

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job handling terrorism?

• Barack Obama 51% {47%} (54%)
• Mitt Romney 40% {43%} (38%)

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job supporting small business?

• Barack Obama 46% {48%} {49%}
• Mitt Romney 45% {47%} {44%}

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job handling international affairs?

• Barack Obama 51% {46%} {56%} (55%)
• Mitt Romney 38% {41%} {37%} (38%)

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job handling taxes?

• Barack Obama 50% {43%} [46%] {48%} (49%)
  
• Mitt Romney 43% {48%} [46%] {43%} (45%)

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job handling Medicare, the government health insurance program for seniors?

• Barack Obama 48% {42%}
• Mitt Romney 43% {45%}

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job addressing women's issues?

• Barack Obama 55% {51%} {54%}
• Mitt Romney 34% {35%} {37%}

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job advancing the interests of the middle class?

• Barack Obama 53% (50%)
• Mitt Romney 38% (44%)

Regardless of who you may support, who do you think better understands the economic problems people in this country are having?

• Barack Obama 50% {47%} [51%] (48%) {49%} (52%)
• Mitt Romney 40% {40%} [40%] (40%) {38%} (37%)

Regardless of who you may support, who do you think is the stronger leader?

• Barack Obama 50% [46%] {48%}
• Mitt Romney 42% [44%] {42%}

Regardless of who you may support, who do you think seems like the more friendly and likable person?

• Barack Obama 61% {61%} [63%] {64%}
• Mitt Romney 27% {27%} [26%] {28%}

Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would work better with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress?

• Barack Obama 46%
• Mitt Romney 41%

If Barack Obama is re-elected, how confident are you, if at all, that the country will get back on track economically in the next year or two?

• Very confident 19% {14%}
• Somewhat confident 27% {28%}
• Not so confident 17% {18%}
• Not confident at all 36% {40%}

If Mitt Romney is elected, how confident are you, if at all, that the country will get back on track economically in the next year or two?

• Very confident 14% {11%}
• Somewhat confident 35% {35%}
• Not so confident 19% {21%}
• Not confident at all 31% {32%}

Do you think Mitt Romney has or has not done enough to provide details about the policies he would pursue as president?

• Has done enough 31%
• Has not done enough 63%

Do you think Barack Obama has or has not done enough to provide details about the policies he would pursue in a second term as president?

• Has done enough 46%
• Has not done enough 49%

Would you say you, yourself are better off financially than you were when Barack Obama became president, not as well off, or in about the same shape as then financially?

• Better off 20%
• Not as well off 32%
• About the same 47%

If Mitt Romney had been president since 2009 instead of Barack Obama, do you think you yourself would be better off financially than you are now, not as well off, or in about the same shape financially?

• Better off 24% (21%)
• Not as well off 28% (23%)
• About the same 38% (46%)

Now thinking about the country’s economy as a whole, would you say the economy has gotten better since Barack Obama became president, gotten worse, or remained about the same?

• Better 32%
• Worse 43%
• Same 24%

If Mitt Romney had been president since 2009 instead of Barack Obama, do you think the economy would be better than it is now, worse, or about the same?

• Better 38%
• Worse 29%
• Same 28%

Would you say the country has become safer from terrorism since Barack Obama became president, less safe, or has safety from terrorism remained the same?

• Safer 40%
• Less safe 12%
• Same 47%

If Mitt Romney had been president since 2009 instead of Barack Obama, do you think the country would be safer from terrorism than it is now, less safe, or about the same?

• Safer 16%
• Less safe 23%
• Same 53%

Do you think Barack Obama does or does not understand what it takes to build a successful small business in this country?

• Does understand 48%
• Does not understand 48%

Do you think Mitt Romney does or does not understand what it takes to build a successful small business in this country?

• Does understand 66%
• Does not understand 28%

In general, do you feel that government programs do more to improve people's lives, or do more to interfere with people's lives?

• Improve 40%
• Interfere 53%

Do you feel that government programs mainly help small businesses succeed or mainly make it harder for small businesses to succeed?

• Help to succeed 35%
• Make it harder to succeed 53%

Thinking again about the election, for each item I name, please tell me if it is a major reason for you to support that candidate, a major reason for you to oppose that candidate, or not a major factor in your vote?

Mitt Romney's work buying and restructuring companies before he went into politics

• Major reason to support 28% [23%] (21%)
• Major reason to oppose 25% [25%] (21%)
• Not a major factor 45% [49%] (54%)

Barack Obama's handling of the economy

• Major reason to support 34% [39%] {33%} (37%)
• Major reason to oppose 41% [43%] {48%} (48%)
• Not a major factor 23% [17%] {18%} (13%)

In his work as a corporate investor, do you think Mitt Romney did more to create jobs or more to cut jobs in the United States?

• Create jobs 38% [36%] (33%)
• Cut jobs 45% [42%] (37%)

Do you think the Obama campaign is saying things it believes to be true, or is intentionally misleading people?

• Believes to be true 49%
• Misleading people 42%

Do you think the Romney campaign is saying things it believes to be true, or is intentionally misleading people?

• Believes to be true 43%
• Misleading people 48%

What’s more important to you – that you trust what a political candidate says, or that you agree with what they say?

• Trust 65%
• Agree 23%

On a ship in a storm, who would you rather have as the captain, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?

• Barack Obama 46%
• Mitt Romney 43%

Who do you think would make a more loyal friend, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?

• Barack Obama 50%
• Mitt Romney 36%

Who would you prefer to have take care of you if you were sick, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?

• Barack Obama 49%
• Mitt Romney 36%

Who would you rather invite to dinner at your home, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?

• Barack Obama 52%
• Mitt Romney 33%

Survey of 826 registered voters, including 710 likely voters, was conducted September 7-9, 2012.  The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points among registered voters; +/- 4.5 percentage points among likely voters.  Party ID (among registered voters): 32% {32%} Democrat; 26% {25%} Republican; 37% {36%} Independent.  Party ID (among likely voters): 33% Democrat; 27% Republican; 36% Independent.Results from the poll conducted August 22-25, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted July 5-8, 2012 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted May 17-20, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted April 5-8, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted March 7-10, 2012 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted February 1-4, 2012 are in parentheses.   Results from the poll conducted January 12-15, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted December 15-18, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted October 31 - November 3, 2011 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted September 29 - October 2, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted August 29 - September 1, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted July 14-17, 2011 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted June 2-5, 2011 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted April 14-17, 2011 are in square brackets.