Poll Watch: NBC News/Wall Street Journal 2012 Presidential Survey

NBC/WSJ 2012 Presidential Poll

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 48% [49%] {47%} (47%) [49%] {50%} (49%) [47%] {49%} (46%) [46%] {48%} [49%] {49%} [47%]
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 44% [43%] {44%} (43%) [43%] {44%} (43%) [45%] {43%} (44%) [45%] {41%} [43%] {40%} [40%]

(Among Obama Voters) Would you definitely vote for Barack Obama, probably vote for Barack Obama but are still thinking about it, or are you just leaning toward voting for Obama?

• Definitely vote for Obama 76% [78%] {78%} (73%) [74%]
• Probably vote for Obama, but still thinking about it 13% [13%] {10%} (13%) [13%]
• Just leaning toward voting for Obama 10% [9%] {12%} (13%) [12%]

(Among Romney Voters) Would you definitely vote for Mitt Romney, probably vote for Mitt Romney but are still thinking about it, or are you just leaning toward voting for Romney?

• Definitely vote for Romney 72% [72%] {68%} (72%) [65%]
• Probably vote for Romney, but still thinking about it 15% [12%] {20%} (14%) [16%]
• Just leaning toward voting for Romney 13% [15%] {12%} (14%) [19%]

Definitely Vote for Candidate

• Barack Obama 37% [38%] {37%} (34%) [37%]
• Mitt Romney 32% [31%] {30%} (31%) [28%]

I'd like you to compare Barack Obama and Mitt Romney on a few qualities that people might look for in a president. For each one, please tell me whether you think that Barack Obama would be better or Mitt Romney would be better on that item.

Who do you think would be better when it comes to:

Being knowledgeable and experienced enough to handle the presidency

• Obama 46% [48%]
• Romney 35% [32%]

Being a good commander-in-chief

• Obama 45% [45%]
• Romney 38% [35%]

Being consistent and standing up for his beliefs

• Obama 43% [37%]
• Romney 37% [35%]

Having good ideas for how to improve the economy

• Romney 44% [43%]
• Obama 38% [36%]

Changing business as usual in Washington

• Romney 37% [33%]
• Obama 31% [32%]

Being easygoing and likable

• Obama 58%
• Romney 23%

Caring about average people

• Obama 52%
• Romney 30%

Dealing with issues of concern to women

• Obama 52%
• Romney 24%

Dealing with issues of concern to seniors

• Obama 46%
• Romney 34%

Being a calm and steady leader in a crisis

• Obama 46%
• Romney 34%

Sharing your positions on the issues

• Obama 44%
• Romney 36%

Being honest and straightforward

• Obama 41%
• Romney 30%

Being open and transparent

• Obama 43%
• Romney 31%

Being firm in his positions on the issues

• Obama 38%
• Romney 37%

Having executive and managerial skills

• Romney 45%
• Obama 32%

When it comes to his approaches to issues, would you say that ______________ is in the mainstream of most Americans' thinking, or is out of step with most Americans' thinking?

Barack Obama

• In the mainstream 54%
• Out of step 44%

Mitt Romney

• In the mainstream 44%
• Out of step 51%

Joe Biden

• In the mainstream 40%
• Out of step 49%

Paul Ryan

• In the mainstream 38%
• Out of step 41%

Compared to when Barack Obama became President—do you think that the country is better off, worse off or in about the same place?

• Better off 31%
• Worse off 42%
• Same place 27%

And how confident are you that Barack Obama has the right set of goals and policies to improve the economy?

• Extremely confident 16%
• Quite confident 18%
• Only somewhat confident 22%
• Not at all confident 44%

And how confident are you that Mitt Romney has the right set of goals and policies to improve the economy?

• Extremely confident 11%
• Quite confident 16%
• Only somewhat confident 31%
• Not at all confident 42%

Rate your feelings toward each one as very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative.

Barack Obama

• Very positive 31% [33%]
• Somewhat positive 17% [16%]
• Neutral 8% [8%]
• Somewhat negative 13% [11%]
• Very negative 30% [32%]

Mitt Romney

• Very positive 18% [13%]
• Somewhat positive 20% [22%]
• Neutral 17% [23%]
• Somewhat negative 15% [16%]
• Very negative 29% [24%]

Joe Biden

• Very positive 15% [15%]
• Somewhat positive 21% [20%]
• Neutral 20% [23%]
• Somewhat negative 14% [14%]
• Very negative 26% [23%]

Paul Ryan

• Very positive 19%
• Somewhat positive 14%
• Neutral 18%
• Somewhat negative 11%
• Very negative 21%

Bill Clinton

• Very positive 34%
• Somewhat positive 23%
• Neutral 18%
• Somewhat negative 13%
• Very negative 10%

Chris Christie

• Very positive 11%
• Somewhat positive 17%
• Neutral 21%
• Somewhat negative 10%
• Very negative 9%

In general, do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president?

• Approve 48% [49%]
• Disapprove 49% [48%]

Do you generally approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing in handling the economy?

• Approve 44% [44%]
• Disapprove 54% [53%]

Do you generally approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing in handling foreign policy?

• Approve 54% [53%]
• Disapprove 40% [41%]

Survey of 1,000 registered voters was conducted August 16-20, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points.  Party ID: 34% [35%] Democrat; 27% [23%] Republican; 36% [39%] Independent.  Ideology: 35% [34%] Moderate; 22% [20%] Somewhat conservative; 18% [19%] Very conservative; 14% [15%] Somewhat liberal; 9% [10%] Very liberal.  Results from the poll conducted July 18-22, 2012 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted June 20-24, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted May 16-20, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted April 13-17, 2012 are in square brackets.   Results from the poll conducted February 29 - March 3, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted January 22-24, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted December 7-11, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted November 2-5, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted October 6-10, 2011 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted August 27-31, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted July 14-17, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted June 9-13, 2011 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted March 31 - April 4, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted February 24-28, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted January 13-17, 2011 are in parentheses. Results from the poll conducted December 9-13, 2010 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted September, 2010 are in curly brackets.