Poll Watch: USA Today/Gallup 2012 Presidential Survey

USA Today/Gallup 2012 Presidential Poll

Regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you think Barack Obama or Mitt Romney would better handle each of the following issues:

Federal Budget Deficit

• Mitt Romney 54% (55%)
• Barack Obama 39% (36%)

Economy

• Mitt Romney 52% (51%)
• Barack Obama 43% (41%)

Taxes

• Barack Obama 52% (45%)
• Mitt Romney 43% (49%)

Health Care

• Barack Obama 52% (47%)
• Mitt Romney 43% (47%)

Foreign Affairs

• Barack Obama 54% (52%)
• Mitt Romney 40% (40%)

Energy

• Barack Obama 53%
• Mitt Romney 40%

Medicare

• Barack Obama 53%
• Mitt Romney 41%

Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think each one applies more to Barack Obama or more to Mitt Romney:

Is likable

• Barack Obama 54% (60%)
• Mitt Romney 31% (30%)

Cares about the needs of people like you

• Barack Obama 52%
• Mitt Romney 36%

Is honest and trustworthy

• Barack Obama 48% (47%)
• Mitt Romney 36% (39%)

Would stand up to special interests, including those aligned with his own party

• Barack Obama 48%
• Mitt Romney 37%

Is a strong and decisive leader

• Barack Obama 47%
• Mitt Romney 42%

Would work well with both parties to get things done in Washington

• Barack Obama 45%
• Mitt Romney 40%

Can manage the government effectively

• Barack Obama 45%
• Mitt Romney 44%

National survey of 1,033 adults was conducted August 20-22, 2012. The margin of error is ±4 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted July 19-22, 2012 are in parentheses.