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

NBC/WSJ/Marist Iowa 2012 Presidential Poll

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 50%
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 42%

Among Men

• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 47%
• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 45%

Among Women

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 55%
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 37%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 51% {44%} [46%] (43%)
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 40% {44%} [39%] (40%)

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 53% / 42% {+11%} 
• Joe Biden 44% / 43% {+1%}
• Paul Ryan 40% / 43% {-3%} 
• Mitt Romney 42% / 50% {-8%}

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 53% {48%} / 41% {45%} {+12%}
• Joe Biden 42% / 42% {0%}
• Paul Ryan 38% / 43% {-5%}
• Mitt Romney 40% {43%} / 51% {43%} {-11%}

Which candidate will do a better job handling the economy?

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 47%
• Mitt Romney 43%

Registered Voters

• Mitt Romney 46% {46%}
• Barack Obama 42% {41%}

Which candidate will do a better job handling foreign policy?

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 52%
• Mitt Romney 38%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 53% {50%}
• Mitt Romney 35% {36%}

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

• Approve 49%
• Disapprove 44%

Registered Voters  

• Approve 49% {46%} [43%] (42%)
• Disapprove 43% {45%} [46%] (47%)

Survey of 1,253 registered voters, including 898 likely voters, was conducted September 16-18, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 2.8 percentage points among registered voters; +/- 3.3 percentage points among likely voters.  Party ID (among likely voters): 36% Democrat; 31% Republican; 33% Independent. Party ID (among registered voters): 35% {34%} Democrat; 29% {35%} Republican; 36% {31%} Independent. Ideology (among likely voters): 31% Moderate; 32% Conservative; 19% Liberal; 12% Very conservative; 6% Very liberal.  Ideology (among registered voters): 33% {34%} Moderate; 31% {34%} Conservative; 19% {17%} Liberal; 11% {11%} Very conservative; 6% {3%} Very liberal.  Results from the poll conducted May 22-24, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted November 27-29, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted October 3-5, 2011 are in parentheses.