Poll Watch: Pew Research 2012 Presidential Survey

Pew Research 2012 Presidential Poll

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 51%
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 43%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 51% {51%} (50%) [50%] {49%} (49%) [54%] {52%} (50%) [49%] {48%}
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 42% {41%} (43%) [46%] {42%} (45%) [42%] {44%} (45%) [47%] {48%}

MEN

Likely Voters

• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 48%
• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 46%

Registered Voters

• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 47% {47%} (46%) [53%] {44%} (50%) [46%] {50%}
• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 46% {46%} (47%) [43%] {46%} (44%) [49%] {45%} 

WOMEN

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 56%
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 38%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 56% {56%} (53%) [55%] {51%} (53%) [58%] {59%}
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 37% {37%} (40%) [40%] {40%} (40%) [38%] {38%}

INDEPENDENTS

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 45%
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 44%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 44% {43%} (46%) [44%] {43%} (42%) [47%] {51%} (40%) [41%]
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 42% {45%} (45%) [49%] {43%} (48%) [44%] {42%} (50%) [53%]

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Barack Obama 55% {50%} (50%) [55%] (49%) [50%] / 42% {45%} (48%) [43%] (48%) [48%] {+13%}
• Joe Biden 45% / 44% {+1%}
• Paul Ryan 40% / 44% {-4%}
• Mitt Romney 45% {37%} (41%) [29%] (33%) [38%] / 50% {52%} (47%) [55%] (47%) [45%] {-5%}

And as I read a list of phrases, tell me if you think each phrase better describes:

Would use good judgment in a crisis 

• Barack Obama 51% [50%]
• Mitt Romney 37% [37%]

Can get things done 

• Barack Obama 45% [41%]
• Mitt Romney 41% [39%]

Willing to take a stand, even if it’s unpopular 

• Barack Obama 52% [54%]
• Mitt Romney 37% [35%]

Shares my values 

• Barack Obama 50% [46%]
• Mitt Romney 40% [40%]

Connects well with ordinary Americans 

• Barack Obama 66% [59%]
• Mitt Romney 23% [28%]

Honest and truthful 

• Barack Obama 48% [46%]
• Mitt Romney 34% [32%]

A strong leader 

• Barack Obama 51%
• Mitt Romney 38%

Takes consistent positions on issues 

• Barack Obama 50% [46%]
• Mitt Romney 34% [34%]

Regardless of who you support, which one of the presidential candidates do you think would do the best job of:

Improving the job situation 

• Barack Obama 46% (42%)
  
• Mitt Romney 45% (46%)

Dealing with Medicare

• Barack Obama 51%
  
• Mitt Romney 38%

Reducing the federal budget deficit

• Mitt Romney 46% (50%)
• Barack Obama 43% (36%)
  

Representing your views about abortion

• Barack Obama 48%
  
• Mitt Romney 35%

Making wise decisions about foreign policy

• Barack Obama 53% (48%)
  
• Mitt Romney 38% (40%)

Dealing with taxes

• Barack Obama 48% (48%)
  
• Mitt Romney 42% (40%)

Dealing with health care

• Barack Obama 52% (49%) [45%]
• Mitt Romney 39% (41%) [44%]

Dealing with problems in the Middle East

• Barack Obama 50%
  
• Mitt Romney 39%

In general, do you think Barack Obama’s positions on the issues are: 

• Too liberal 39% [41%]
• Not liberal enough  9% [12%]
• About right 47% [42%]

In general, do you think Mitt Romney’s positions on the issues are: 

• Too conservative 35% [29%]
• Not conservative enough 19% [23%]
• About right 38% [35%] 
  

How much confidence do you have in Barack Obama to do the right thing when it comes to fixing the economy? 

• A great deal 22%
• A fair amount 32%
• Not too much 16%
• No confidence at all 27%

How much confidence do you have in Mitt Romney to do the right thing when it comes to fixing the economy?  

• A great deal 14%
• A fair amount 31%
• Not too much 26%
• No confidence at all 26%

Regardless of who you might support, who do you think is most likely to win the presidential election?

• Barack Obama 53% [52%] [59%]
• Mitt Romney 24% [34%] [32%]

Which worries you more: 

• That Mitt Romney may not be trustworthy 39%
• That Barack Obama may not be able to make progress on the economy 38%

Do you think Barack Obama is too tough, not tough enough or about right in his approach to foreign policy and national security issues? 

• Too tough 1%
• Not tough enough 47%
• About right 40%

Do you think Mitt Romney would be too tough, not tough enough or about right in his approach to foreign policy and national security issues? 

• Too tough 16%
• Not tough enough 22%
• About right 34%

Survey of 2,424 registered voters, including 2,268 likely voters, was conducted September 12-16, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 2.3 percentage points among registered voters; +/- 2.4 percentage points among likely voters.  Party ID (among registered voters): 37% {38%} Democrat; 28% {25%} Republican; 31% {33%} Independent.  Results from the poll conducted July 16-26, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted June 28 - July 9, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted June 7-17, 2012 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted May 9 - June 3, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted April 4-15, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted March 7-11, 2012 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted February 8-12, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted January 11-16, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted November 9-14, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted September 22 - October 4, 2011 are in curly brackets.