Poll Watch: Muhlenberg/Morning Call Pennsylvania 2012 Presidential Survey

Muhlenberg/Morning Call Pennsylvania 2012 Presidential Poll

• Barack Obama 49% (45%) {48%} [45%] (43%)
• Mitt Romney 40% (40%) {37%} [41%] (36%)

Survey of 422 likely voters was conducted August 20-22, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 5 percentage points.  Results from the poll conducted March 23 - April 1, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted February 15-21, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted November 28 - December 7, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted February 9-28, 2011 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

Obama maintains his lead despite weak job approval -- 47 percent of voters disapprove of the job he's doing in the White House, compared to 43 percent who do.

Nearly half of likely voters surveyed, 48 percent, have an overall favorable impression of Obama, while just 37 percent do of Romney. And nearly half, 49 percent, have a negative view of the former Massachusetts governor.

Around one-third of likely voters have a favorable view and one-third an unfavorable opinion of Ryan. A quarter of those surveyed are neutral or unsure about the GOP vice president pick.

When asked who they trust more to handle Medicare, likely voters in Pennsylvania overwhelmingly said Obama over Romney, 47 percent to 34 percent.