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 48% {49%}
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 46% {44%}

Men

• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 48% {49%}
• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 45% {44%}

Women

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 52% {54%}
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 44% {40%}

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 48% {49%} [48%] (52%)
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 45% {42%} [44%] (35%)

Which candidate will do a better job handling the economy?

Likely Voters

• Mitt Romney 47% {45%}
• Barack Obama 46% {45%}

Registered Voters

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

Which candidate will do a better job handling foreign policy?

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 51% {50%}
• Mitt Romney 41% {39%}

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 50% {51%} [52%]
• Mitt Romney 41% {38%} [37%]

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 52% {53%} / 44% {43%} {+8%}
• Paul Ryan 45% {44%} / 41% {39%} {+4%}
• Joe Biden 44% {47%} / 45% {43%} {-1%} 
• Mitt Romney 45% {46%} / 47% {45%} {-2%}

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

Registered Voters

• Approve 48% {49%} [49%]
• Disapprove 45% {44%} [45%]

Survey of 1,273 registered voters, including 969 likely voters, was conducted September 30 - October 1, 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): 31% {30%} [31%] Democrat; 29% {24%} [29%] Republican; 38% {44%} [39%] Independent.  Party ID (among likely voters): 32% {31%} Democrat; 30% {26%} Republican; 37% {43%} Independent.  Ideology (among registered voters): 38% {40%} [38%] Moderate; 29% {30%} [30%] Conservative; 15% {16%} [17%] Liberal; 13% {9%} [10%] Very conservative; 5% {5%} [5%] Very liberal. Ideology (among likely voters): 37% {39%} Moderate; 29% {31%} Conservative; 15% {16%} Liberal; 14% {10%} Very conservative; 5% {5%} Very liberal.  Results from the poll conducted September 9-11, 2012 are in curly brackets. 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.