Poll Watch: Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram/Critical Insights Maine 2012 Presidential Survey

Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram/Critical Insights Maine 2012 Presidential Poll

• Barack Obama 52% {49%} [50%] (41%)
• Mitt Romney 36% {35%} [42%] (40%)
• Other 3%
• Undecided 9%

First Congressional District

• Barack Obama 59%
• Mitt Romney 31%
• Other/Undecided 11%

Second Congressional District

• Barack Obama 46%
• Mitt Romney 41%
• Other/Undecided 13%

Which candidate do you trust to do a better job dealing with:

International affairs

• Barack Obama 55%
• Mitt Romney 36%

Health care

• Barack Obama 53% {49%} [44%]
• Mitt Romney 36% {36%} [36%]

Survey of 618 likely voters was conducted September 12-16, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points.  Results from the poll conducted June 20-25, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted May 2-7, 2012 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted October 18-23, 2011 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers: 

Even as voters remain worried about the weak economy and lack of jobs, Obama's favorability rating rose from 48 percent in June to 52 percent this month, according to the poll.

Unlike in the country as a whole, Obama is more popular here with higher-income voters and Romney's strongest support is among lower-income Mainers. Obama has a 13-point lead among voters earning $100,000 a year or more, but only a 7-point lead among voters with household incomes less than $50,000.