Poll Watch: Mercyhurst University Pennsylvania 2012 Presidential Survey

Mercyhurst University Pennsylvania 2012 Presidential Poll

• Barack Obama 48%
• Mitt Romney 40%
• Someone else 5%
• Unsure 6%

(Among Obama Voters) Would you say you are voting for Barack Obama because you strongly
support him, support him with reservations, or because you oppose Mitt Romney?

• Strongly Support 63%
• Support with Reservations 19%
• Oppose Mitt Romney 17%

(Among Romney Voters) Would you say you are voting for Mitt Romney because you strongly support him, support him with reservations, or because you oppose Barack Obama?

• Strongly Support Romney 43%
• Support with Reservations 18%
• Oppose Barack Obama 39%

Do you believe Mormons are Christians? 

• Yes 60%
• No 22%
• Unsure/Don't Know 16%

Do you think Mormons believe women are inferior to men?

• Yes 30%
• No 43%
• Unsure/Don't Know 25%

Do you believe the Mormon church allows men to have more than one wife?

• Yes 33%
• No 49%
• Unsure/Don't Know 17%

Do Mormons permit interracial marriage? 

• Yes 15%
• No 24%
• Unsure/Don't Know 59%

Survey of 522 likely voters was conducted September 12-20, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 4.29 percentage points.  Party ID: 52% Democrat; 42% Republican; 4% Independent. Ideology: 30% Conservative; 29% Moderate; 19% Liberal.

Poll Watch: PPP (D) Mississippi Survey on Interracial Marriage

PPP (D) Mississippi Survey on Interracial Marriage

Do you think interracial marriage should be legal or illegal?

• Legal 60% (54%)
• Illegal 23% (28%)
• Not sure 17% (18%)

Among Republicans

• Legal 52% (39%)
• Illegal 29% (41%)
• Not sure 20% (19%)

Among Democrats

• Legal 77% (68%)
• Illegal 13% (18%)
• Not sure 10% (14%)

Among Independents

• Legal 54% (56%)
• Illegal 23% (21%)
• Not sure 23% (22%)

Among Moderates

• Legal 70% (55%)
• Illegal 19% (23%)
• Not sure 12% (22%)

Among Very Conservative

• Legal 53% (40%)
• Illegal 25% (37%)
• Not sure 22% (23%)

Among Somewhat Conservative

• Legal 53% (50%)
• Illegal 28% (33%)
• Not sure 20% (17%)

Among Whites

• Legal 54% (43%)
• Illegal 27% (38%)
• Not sure 19% (19%)

Among Blacks

• Legal 77% (74%)
• Illegal 13% (10%)
• Not sure 10% (16%)

Among Men

• Legal 59% (49%)
• Illegal 24% (38%)
• Not sure 17% (14%)

Among Women

• Legal 62% (58%)
• Illegal 21% (21%)
• Not sure 17% (21%)

Survey of 796 likely Mississippi voters was conducted November 4-6, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 47% (40%) Republican; 39% (40%) Democrat; 14% (20%) Independent/Other. Political ideology: 32% (26%) Very conservative; 25% (24%) Somewhat conservative; 21% (28%) Moderate; 12% (11%) Very liberal; 10% (11%) Somewhat liberal.  Race: 66% (63%) White; 30% (33%) Black.  Results from the poll conducted March 24-27, 2011 are in parentheses.

PPP (D) Utah Political Survey

PPP (D) Utah Political Survey

Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mike Lee's job performance?

• Approve 35%
• Disapprove 31%

Among Republicans

• Approve 53%
• Disapprove 12%

Among Independents

• Approve 24%
• Disapprove 44%

Among Democrats

• Approve 6%
• Disapprove 60%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Bob Bennett?

• Favorable 48%
• Unfavorable 34%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Rob Bishop?

• Favorable 32%
• Unfavorable 30%

Do you think same-sex marriage should be legal or illegal?

• Legal 27%
• Illegal 66%

Among Mormons

• Legal 13%
• Illegal 81%

Among Non-Mormons

• Legal 63%
• Illegal 29%

Which of the following best describes your opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry, or there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship?

• Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry 23%
• Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry 37%
• There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship 39%

Among Republicans

• Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry 4%
• Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry 38%
• There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship 57%

Among Independents

• Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry 30%
• Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry 39%
• There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship 28%

Among Democrats

• Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry 58%
• Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry 29%
• There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship 12%

Among Mormons

• Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry 9%
• Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry 41%
• There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship 49%

Among Non-Mormons

• Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry 58%
• Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry 26%
• There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship 15%

Do you think interracial marriage should be legal or illegal?

• Legal 88%
• Illegal 5%
• Not sure 7%

Do you think polygamy should be legal or illegal?

• Legal 14%
• Illegal 75%
• Not sure 10%

Are you a Mormon or another religion?

• Mormon 70%
• Another religion 30%

What college do you most root for in sports: Brigham Young, Southern Utah, Utah, Utah State, Utah Valley, or Weber State?

• BYU 35%
• Utah 33%
• Utah State 11%
• Southern Utah 5%
• Weber State 4%
• Utah Valley 1%

Among Mormons

• BYU 48%
• Utah 21%
• Utah State 14%
• Southern Utah 4%
• Weber State 4%
• Utah Valley 2%

Among Non-Mormons

• Utah 61%
• Southern Utah 7%
• Utah State 6%
• Weber State 3%
• BYU 3%
• Utah Valley 1%

Survey of 732 Utah voters was conducted July 8-10, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.6 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 50% Republican; 22% Democrat; 28% Independent/Other. Political ideology: 29% Somewhat conservative; 25% Moderate; 23% Very conservative; 14% Somewhat liberal; 8% Very liberal.

Poll Watch: PPP (D) South Carolina Political Survey

PPP (D) South Carolina Political Survey

Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Nikki Haley’s job performance?

• Approve 42% (36%)
• Disapprove 41% (24%)

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Vincent Sheheen?

• Favorable 27%
• Unfavorable 27%

If you could do last fall’s election for Governor over again would you vote for Republican Nikki Haley or Democrat Vincent Sheheen?

• Nikki Haley 48%
• Vincent Sheheen 42%

Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Lindsey Graham’s job performance?

• Approve 40% (40%)
• Disapprove 38% (37%)

Do you think Lindsey Graham is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?

• Too liberal 29% (27%)
• Too conservative 20% (19%)
• About right 40% (40%)

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Mark Sanford?

• Favorable 27%
• Unfavorable 56%

Do you think interracial marriage should be legal or illegal?

• Legal 70%
• Illegal 16%
• Not sure 15%

Are you glad that the North won the Civil War or do you wish that the South had won?

• Glad the North won 46%
• Wish the South had 24%
• Not sure 29%

Survey of 741 South Carolina voters was conducted June 2-5, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.6 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 43% (42%) Republican; 35% (37%) Democrat; 22% (22%) Independent/Other. Political ideology: 27% Moderate; 25% Very conservative; 22% Somewhat conservative; 16% Somewhat liberal; 9% Very liberal. Results from the poll conducted January 28-30, 2011 are in parentheses.

Poll Watch: PPP (D) Mississippi Sociological Survey

PPP (D) Mississippi Sociological Survey

Do you think interracial marriage should be legal or illegal?

• Legal 54%
• Illegal 28%
• Not sure 18%

Among Republicans

• Legal 39%
• Illegal 41%
• Not sure 19%

Among Democrats

• Legal 68%
• Illegal 18%
• Not sure 14%

Among Independents

• Legal 56%
• Illegal 21%
• Not sure 22%

Among Moderates

• Legal 55%
• Illegal 23%
• Not sure 22%

Among Very Conservative

• Legal 40%
• Illegal 37%
• Not sure 23%

Among Whites

• Legal 43%
• Illegal 38%
• Not sure 19%

Among Blacks

• Legal 74%
• Illegal 10%
• Not sure 16%

Among Men

• Legal 49%
• Illegal 38%
• Not sure 14%

Among Women

• Legal 58%
• Illegal 21%
• Not sure 21%

Are you glad that the North won the Civil War or do you wish that the South had won?

• Glad the North won 34%
• Wish the South had won 27%
• Not sure 39%

Among Republicans

• Glad the North won 21%
• Wish the South had won 38%
• Not sure 41%

Among Democrats

• Glad the North won 39%
• Wish the South had won 22%
• Not sure 39%

Among Independents

• Glad the North won 49%
• Wish the South had won 15%
• Not sure 36%

Among Moderates

• Glad the North won 43%
• Wish the South had won 18%
• Not sure 38%

Among Very Conservative

• Glad the North won 25%
• Wish the South had won 36%
• Not sure 39%

Among Whites

• Glad the North won 27%
• Wish the South had won 35%
• Not sure 38%

Among Blacks

• Glad the North won 44%
• Wish the South had won 14%
• Not sure 42%

Do you have a higher opinion of the NAACP or the Ku Klux Klan?

• NAACP 49%
• KKK 9%
• Not sure 42%

Among Democrats

• NAACP 77%
• KKK 6%
• Not sure 17%

Among Republicans

• NAACP 21%
• KKK 14%
• Not sure 64%

Among Independents

• NAACP 47%
• KKK 4%
• Not sure 49%

Among Moderates

• NAACP 59%
• KKK 7%
• Not sure 34%

Among Very Conservative

• NAACP 30%
• KKK 14%
• Not sure 56%

Among Men

• NAACP 43%
• KKK 14%
• Not sure 43%

Among Women

• NAACP 53%
• KKK 5%
• Not sure 42%

Among Whites

• NAACP 26%
• KKK 14%
• Not sure 60%

Among Blacks

• NAACP 91%
• KKK 0%
• Not sure 9%

Survey of 817 Mississippi voters was conducted March 24-27, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.4 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 40% Republican; 40% Democrat; 20% Independent/Other. Political ideology: 28% Moderate; 26% Very conservative; 24% Somewhat conservative; 11% Somewhat liberal; 11% Very liberal. Race: 63% White; 33% Black.

Poll Watch: PPP (D) North Carolina Sociological Survey

PPP (D) North Carolina Sociological Survey

Do you think interracial marriage should be legal or illegal?

• Legal 68%
• Illegal 20%
• Not sure 12%

Among Democrats

• Legal 74%
• Illegal 15%
• Not sure 11%

Among Republicans

• Legal 55%
• Illegal 30%
• Not sure 14%

Among Independents

• Legal 80%
• Illegal 11%
• Not sure 9%

Among Moderates

• Legal 76%
• Illegal 17%
• Not sure 7%

Are you glad that the North won the Civil War or do you wish that the South had won?

• Glad the North won 48%
• Wish the South had won 21%
• Not sure 31%

Among Democrats

• Glad the North won 55%
• Wish the South had won 15%
• Not sure 30%

Among Republicans

• Glad the North won 35%
• Wish the South had won 33%
• Not sure 32%

Among Independents

• Glad the North won 57%
• Wish the South had won 14%
• Not sure 29%

Among Moderates

• Glad the North won 59%
• Wish the South had won 12%
• Not sure 29%

Among Very Conservative

• Glad the North won 28%
• Wish the South had won 43%
• Not sure 28%

Among Whites

• Glad the North won 46%
• Wish the South had won 25%
• Not sure 28%

Among Blacks

• Glad the North won 55%
• Wish the South had won 9%
• Not sure 36%

Do you have a higher opinion of the NAACP or the Ku Klux Klan?

• NAACP 58%
• KKK 8%
• Not sure 34%

Among Democrats

• NAACP 78%
• KKK 4%
• Not sure 18%

Among Republicans

• NAACP 36%
• KKK 13%
• Not sure 51%

Among Independents

• NAACP 53%
• KKK 7%
• Not sure 40%

Among Moderates

• NAACP 72%
• KKK 5%
• Not sure 23%

Among Very Conservative

• NAACP 30%
• KKK 13%
• Not sure 57%

Among Whites

• NAACP 51%
• KKK 9%
• Not sure 41%

Among Blacks

• NAACP 85%
• KKK 6%
• Not sure 9%

Survey of 507 North Carolina voters was conducted April 14-17, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 4.4 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 46% Democrat; 36% Republican; 18% Independent/Other. Political ideology: 32% Moderate; 22% Somewhat conservative; 22% Very conservative; 14% Somewhat liberal; 9% Very liberal. Race: 74% White; 22% Black.

Poll Watch: PPP (D) Georgia Sociological Survey

PPP (D) Georgia Sociological Survey

Do you think interracial marriage should be legal or illegal?

• Legal 62%
• Illegal 22%
• Not sure 15%

Among Republicans

• Legal 52%
• Illegal 29%
• Not sure 19%

Among Democrats

• Legal 67%
• Illegal 20%
• Not sure 13%

Among Independents

• Legal 74%
• Illegal 13%
• Not sure 13%

Among Moderates

• Legal 65%
• Illegal 20%
• Not sure 15%

Among Very Conservative

• Legal 43%
• Illegal 31%
• Not sure 26%

Among Whites

• Legal 58%
• Illegal 26%
• Not sure 16%

Among Blacks

• Legal 71%
• Illegal 15%
• Not sure 14%

Are you glad that the North won the Civil War or do you wish that the South had won?

• Glad the North won 53%
• Wish the South had won 23%
• Not sure 24%

Among Republicans

• Glad the North won 47%
• Wish the South had won 31%
• Not sure 22%

Among Democrats

• Glad the North won 58%
• Wish the South had won 17%
• Not sure 25%

Among Independents

• Glad the North won 54%
• Wish the South had won 19%
• Not sure 27%

Among Moderates

• Glad the North won 53%
• Wish the South had won 24%
• Not sure 23%

Among Very Conservative

• Glad the North won 37%
• Wish the South had won 30%
• Not sure 33%

Among Whites

• Glad the North won 46%
• Wish the South had won 29%
• Not sure 25%

Among Blacks

• Glad the North won 66%
• Wish the South had won 11%
• Not sure 22%

Do you have a higher opinion of the NAACP or the Ku Klux Klan?

• NAACP 59%
• KKK 7%
• Not sure 34%

Among Democrats

• NAACP 84%
• KKK 6%
• Not sure 10%

Among Republicans

• NAACP 36%
• KKK 10%
• Not sure 54%

Among Independents

• NAACP 53%
• KKK 4%
• Not sure 42%

Among Moderates

• NAACP 64%
• KKK 8%
• Not sure 27%

Among Very Conservative

• NAACP 27%
• KKK 11%
• Not sure 63%

Among Men

• NAACP 51%
• KKK 9%
• Not sure 40%

Among Women

• NAACP 66%
• KKK 6%
• Not sure 28%

Among Whites

• NAACP 45%
• KKK 9%
• Not sure 46%

Among Blacks

• NAACP 91%
• KKK 2%
• Not sure 7%

Survey of 790 Georgia voters was conducted March 31 - April 3, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 40% Republican; 39% Democrat; 21% Independent/Other. Political ideology: 28% Somewhat conservative; 26% Moderate; 20% Very conservative; 15% Somewhat liberal; 11% Very liberal. Race: 65% White; 29% Black.

Palin Plays Footsie with Birthers, 'Perplexed' Obama Hasn't Shown Certificate, Says 'Obviously There's Something the President Doesn't Want People to See'

• Sarah Palin Supports Trump's Birther Efforts - By John Berman, ABC News
• Sarah Palin 'Appreciates' Donald Trump's 'Birther' Questions - By Kevin Dolak & John Berman, ABC News
Health Official who Reviewed Obama's Birth Certificate Denounces Conspiracy Theories
• Sarah Palin on Donald Trump's birtherism: 'More power to him' - By Maggie Haberman, POLITICO
• Sarah Palin On Trump’s Birth Certificate Investigation: ‘More Power To Him!’ - Sarah Devlin, Mediaite
• Palin: Trump Right on Obama Birth Probe - By Hiram Reisner, Newsmax
• Sarah Palin on Obama’s Birth Certificate: Obviously There’s Something There… “He Seems to Be Going to Great Lengths to Make Sure It Isn’t Shown” (Video) - By Jim Hoft, Gateway Pundit
• Palin Goes Birther At Last - By Charles Johnson, Little Green Footballs
• PPP: Palin at 12% with Mississippi GOPers who think interracial marriage should be legal, but 27% with racist Republicans who say it should be ILLEGAL
• Did Sarah Palin just join Donald Trump as a ‘birther’? - By Brad Knickerbocker, Christian Science Monitor
• Palin gives Trump some verbal support on birther issue - By Gabriella Schwarz, CNN
• Sarah Palin Flip Flops and Supports Trump's Birther Investigation - By Chelsea Hoffman, Gather
• Sarah Palin Says 'More Power To' Donald Trump's Birther Crusade - By Robert Schlesinger, U.S. News and World Report
• Palin lauds Donald Trump's 'birther' investigation: 'More power to him' - By Jordan Fabian, The Hill

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Poll Watch: PPP (D) 2012 Mississippi Republican Primary Survey

PPP (D) 2012 Mississippi GOP Primary Survey

• Haley Barbour 37%
• Mike Huckabee 19%
• Newt Gingrich 10%
• Sarah Palin 10%
• Mitt Romney 6%
• Michele Bachmann 5%
• Tim Pawlenty 3% 
• Ron Paul 2%
• Someone else/Undecided 9%

If Haley Barbour didn’t run for President and the candidates next year were just Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, and Mitt Romney who would you vote for?

• Mike Huckabee 35%
• Sarah Palin 20%
• Newt Gingrich 18%
• Mitt Romney 8%
• Michele Bachmann 5%
• Ron Paul 4%
• Tim Pawlenty 3%
• Someone else/Undecided 8%

Among Republicans Who Think Interracial Marriage Should Be Legal

• Mike Huckabee 34%
• Newt Gingrich 17%
• Sarah Palin 12%
• Michele Bachmann 10%
• Mitt Romney 8%
• Ron Paul 5%
• Tim Pawlenty 4%
• Someone else/Undecided 10%

Among Republicans Who Think Interracial Marriage Should Be Illegal

• Mike Huckabee 33%
• Sarah Palin 27%
• Newt Gingrich 21%
• Mitt Romney 8%
• Michele Bachmann 2%
• Ron Paul 2%
• Tim Pawlenty 1%
• Someone else/Undecided 6%

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Mike Huckabee 74% / 13% {+61%}
• Sarah Palin 70% / 21% {+49%}
• Newt Gingrich 58% / 24% {+34%}
• Mitt Romney 48% / 36% {+12%}

Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Haley Barbour’s job performance?

• Approve 85%
• Disapprove 10%

Do you think interracial marriage should be legal or illegal?

• Legal 40%
• Illegal 46%
• Not sure 14%

Among Men

• Legal 36%
• Illegal 52%
• Not sure 12%

Among Women

• Legal 45%
• Illegal 39%
• Not sure 16%

Survey of 400 usual Mississippi Republican primary voters was conducted March 24-27, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 4.9 percentage points.  Political ideology: 40% Very conservative; 36% Somewhat conservative; 17% Moderate; 4% Somewhat liberal; 4% Very liberal.

Inside the numbers:

If Haley Barbour does not run for president, Sarah Palin receives just 12% of the vote from Republicans who think interracial marriage should be legal.  However, among racist Republicans who, in 2011, still think it should be illegal for whites and blacks to marry one another, support for Palin more than doubles to 27 percent.

Palin's net favorability with folks who think interracial marriage should be illegal (+55 at 74/19) is 17 points higher than it is with folks who think interracial marriage should be legal (+38 at 64/26.) Meanwhile Romney's favorability numbers see the opposite trend. He's at +23 (53/30) with voters who think interracial marriage should be legal but 19 points worse at +4 (44/40) with those who think it should be illegal.