Poll Watch: Rasmussen 2012 Presidential Survey

Rasmussen 2012 Presidential Survey

What if the Republicans nominate Donald Trump? If the 2012 Presidential Election were held today would you vote for Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Barack Obama?

• Barack Obama 49%
• Donald Trump 34%
• Some other candidate 12%
• Undecided 5%

National Survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted April 15-16, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Inside the numbers:

Only 65% of Republican voters would vote for Trump over Obama. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 48% prefer Obama, 25% Trump, and 20% would opt for some other candidate. 

Most voters (53%) offer an unfavorable opinion of the reality TV star and businessman, including 29% with a Very Unfavorable view of him. Only 39% offer a favorable assessment, with 10% Very Favorable. 

Because of his wealth, Trump has indicated that he could finance his own presidential campaign if necessary and not have to be beholden to special interest contributors. Just over half (54%) of voters say a candidate's ability to finance his own campaign is at least somewhat important to how they will vote for president, with 22% who say it is Very Important. Forty-two percent (42%) say an ability to self-finance a presidential campaign is unimportant to them, including 12% who say it's Not At All Important. 

Republicans value this ability more than Democrats and unaffiliated voters. 

But then 61% of GOP voters have a favorable view of Trump. Seventy-one percent (71%) of Democrats and 58% of unaffiliateds regard him unfavorably.