Poll Watch: NBC News/Marist Virginia 2012 Presidential Survey

NBC News/Marist Virginia 2012 Presidential Poll

• Barack Obama 48% (52%)
• Mitt Romney 44% (35%)

How about if the candidates are:

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 46%
• Mitt Romney-Bob McDonnell 44%

Which candidate will do a better job handling the economy?

• Barack Obama 46%
• Mitt Romney 45%

Which candidate comes closer to your views on social issues such as abortion, contraception, and same-sex marriage?

• Barack Obama 48%
• Mitt Romney 43%

Which is more important in deciding your vote for president?

• The economy 72%
• Social issues 22%

Which candidate will do a better job handling foreign policy?

• Barack Obama 52%
• Mitt Romney 37%

Which candidate will do a better job handling the national debt?

• Mitt Romney 50%
• Barack Obama 40%

Which candidate best understands the problems of people like yourself?

• Barack Obama 53%
• Mitt Romney 36%

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Barack Obama 52% / 44% {+8%}
• Mitt Romney 41% / 44% {-3%}

Do you think the current economic conditions are mostly something President Obama inherited or are they mostly a result of his own policies?

• Economic conditions mostly inherited 57%
• Economic conditions mostly result of his own policies 36%

When thinking about the U.S. economy, which statement comes closer to your view:

• The worst is yet to come 37%
• The worst is behind us 55%

During the next 12 months, do you think that the nation's economy will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?

• Get better 34%
• Get worse 16%
• Stay about the same 45%

In the coming year, do you expect your personal family finances to get better, get worse, or stay about the same?

• Get better 34%
• Get worse 10%
• Stay about the same 55%

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president?

• Approve 49%
• Disapprove 45% 

Survey of 1,076 registered voters was conducted May 17-20, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.  Party registration: 31% Democrat; 29% Republican; 39% Independent.  Ideology: 38% Moderate; 30% Conservative; 17% Liberal; 10% Very conservative; 5% Very liberal. Results from the poll conducted February 29 - March 2, 2012 are in parentheses.