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

NBC/WSJ/Marist Virginia 2012 Presidential Poll

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 49%
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 44%

Men

• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 49%
• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 44%

Women

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 54%
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 40%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 49% [48%] (52%)
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 42% [44%] (35%)

Which candidate will do a better job handling the economy?

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 45%
• Mitt Romney 45%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 45% [46%]
• Mitt Romney 44% [45%]

Which candidate will do a better job handling foreign policy?

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 50%
• Mitt Romney 39%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 51% [52%]
• Mitt Romney 38% [37%]

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 53% / 43% {+10%}
• Paul Ryan 44% / 39% {+5%}
• Joe Biden 47% / 43% {+4%} 
• Mitt Romney 46% / 45% {+1%}

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 53% [52%] / 42% [44%] {+11%}
• Joe Biden 46% / 42% {+4%}
• Paul Ryan 42% / 39% {+3%}
  
• Mitt Romney 45% [41%] / 45% [44%] {0%}

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

Likely Voters

• Approve 49%
• Disapprove 45%

Registered Voters

• Approve 49% [49%]
• Disapprove 44% [45%]

Survey of 1,315 registered voters, including 996 likely voters, was conducted September 9-11, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 2.7 percentage points among registered voters; +/- 3.1 percentage points among likely voters.  Party ID (among registered voters): 30% [31%] Democrat; 24% [29%] Republican; 44% [39%] Independent.  Party ID (among likely voters): 31% Democrat; 26% Republican; 43% Independent.  Ideology (among registered voters): 40% [38%] Moderate; 30% [30%] Conservative; 16% [17%] Liberal; 9% [10%] Very conservative; 5% [5%] Very liberal. Ideology (among likely voters): 39% Moderate; 31% Conservative; 16% Liberal; 10% Very conservative; 5% Very liberal.  Results from the poll conducted May 17-20, 2012 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted February 29 - March 2, 2012 are in parentheses.