Poll Watch: Washington Post/ABC News 2012 Presidential Tracking Survey

Washington Post/ABC News 2012 Presidential Tracking Poll

• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 49% [49%] (49%) {49%} [49%] (50%) {49%} [48.51%] (48%) 
• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 48% [49%] (48%) {48%} [48%] (47%) {48%} [48.44%] (49%) 

Among Independents

• Mitt Romney 52% [53%] (55%) {56%} [58%] (57%) {54%} [52%]
• Barack Obama 45% [43%] (40%) {40%} [38%] (38%) {42%} [43%]

Among Moderates

• Barack Obama 57% [57%] (57%) {56%} [56%] (56%) {57%} [57%]
• Mitt Romney 41% [40%] (39%) {41%} [40%] (40%) {40%} [40%]

Among Men

• Mitt Romney 51% [52%] (53%) {55%} [58%] (57%) {57%} [53%]
• Barack Obama 46% [44%] (43%) {42%} [40%] (40%) {40%} [43%]

Among Women

• Barack Obama 50% [52%] (52%) {54%} [55%] (54%) {56%} [53%]
• Mitt Romney 48% [45%] (45%) {43%} [42%] (43%) {41%} [44%]

(Among Obama Voters) Would you say you are very enthusiastic about supporting Barack Obama, somewhat enthusiastic, not so enthusiastic, or not enthusiastic at all?

• Very enthusiastic 65% [66%] (64%) {61%} [59%] (60%) {60%} [62%] (64%)
• Somewhat enthusiastic 32% [30%] (31%) {33%} [35%] (35%) {35%} [34%] (32%)
• Not so enthusiastic 2% [2%] (3%) {3%} [3%] (3%) {3%} [3%] (3%)
• Not enthusiastic at all 1% [1%] (1%) {1%} [2%] (1%) {1%} [1%] (1%)

(Among Romney Voters) Would you say you are very enthusiastic about supporting Mitt Romney, somewhat enthusiastic, not so enthusiastic, or not enthusiastic at all?

• Very enthusiastic 61% [61%] (59%) {59%} [58%] (60%) {62%} [62%] (58%)
• Somewhat enthusiastic 34% [33%] (36%) {35%} [35%] (33%) {31%} [32%] (35%)
• Not so enthusiastic 3% [4%] (3%) {5%} [5%] (5%) {5%} [4%] (5%)
• Not enthusiastic at all 2% [1%] (2%) {2%} [2%] (2%) {1%} [2%] (1%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president? 

• Approve 50% [51%] (50%) {50%} [49%] (49%) {50%} [49%] (50%)
• Disapprove 49% [47%] (48%) {48%} [49%] (50%) {49%} [49%] (48%)
  

Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you trust to do a better job handling the economy?

• Mitt Romney 49% [49%] (50%) {51%} [51%] (52%) {50%} [50%] (48%)
• Barack Obama 46% [47%] (45%) {44%} [44%] (43%) {44%} [45%] (46%)

Regardless of who you may support, who do you think:

Better understands the economic problems people in this country are having

• Barack Obama 49% [50%] (49%) {48%} [49%] (48%) {50%} [51%] (51%)
• Mitt Romney 45% [44%] (44%) {45%} [47%] (46%) {45%} [44%] (44%)

Better represents your own personal values

• Barack Obama 49%
• Mitt Romney 47%

Imagine that in the presidential election one candidate wins the popular vote, but another wins the majority of votes in the electoral college. If that were to happen who do you think should become president - the winner of the popular vote or the winner of the electoral college?

• Popular vote 56%
• Electoral college 37%

Survey of 1,271 likely voters was conducted October 26-29, 2012.  The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points.  Party ID: 33% [35%] (35%) {35%} [34%] (34%) {34%} [34%] (34%) Democrat; 28% [28%] (28%) {29%} [30%] (30%) {30%} [29%] (29%) Republican; 35% [34%] (34%) {33%} [32%] (31%) {32%} [32%] (33%) Independent. Results from the poll conducted October 25-28, 2012 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted October 24-27, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted October 23-26, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted October 22-25, 2012 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted October 21-24, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted October 20-23, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted October 19-22, 2012 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted October 18-21, 2012 are in parentheses.