Poll Watch: Rasmussen (R) Core Four States 2012 Presidential Survey

Rasmussen (R) Core Four States 2012 Presidential Poll

• Barack Obama 47% {46%} (46%) [44%]
  
• Mitt Romney 42% {42%} (42%) [44%]

• Barack Obama 49% {44%} (49%) [46%]
  
• Rick Santorum 43% {48%} (44%) [47%]
  

Among Independents

• Barack Obama 44% {40%} (42%)
• Mitt Romney 36% {44%} (40%)

• Barack Obama 50% {34%} (46%)
• Rick Santorum 38% {56%} (41%)
  

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as president?

• Strongly approve 24% {29%} (24%)
• Somewhat approve 23% {19%} (24%)
• Somewhat disapprove 8% {10%} (13%)
• Strongly disapprove 44% {42%} (38%)

Survey of 500 likely voters in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia was conducted March 17-22, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points.  Results from the poll conducted March 10-15, 2012 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted March 3-8, 2012 are in parentheses. Results from the poll conducted February 17-22, 2012 are in square brackets.

Inside the numbers:

Both GOP candidates led the president by roughly 20 points among men in the Core Four states last week, but now Romney is ahead by 12 and Santorum by seven in this group. Women continue to favor the president by nearly 20 points in both matchups.