Virginia: Romney 50%, Obama 47%

Mitt Romney has now hit the 50% mark in Virginia.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters, taken two nights after the second presidential debate, shows Romney with 50% support to President Obama’s 47%. Two percent (2%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)  

Virginia, considered a critical state to both candidates’ political fortunes, remains a Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Electoral College Projections.

A week ago, Romney led 49% to 47% in Virginia. Prior to this survey, the candidates have been within two points or less of each other in every survey here since April.

Ninety-four percent (94%) of likely voters in the Old Dominion say they are certain to vote in this election. Among these voters, Romney leads 52% to 47%.

Among the 88% of voters in the state who say they’ve already decided whom they will vote for, it’s Romney 51%, Obama 49%.

Romney has small leads among both male and female voters in the state. Voters not affiliated with either of the major political parties prefer the Republican challenger by a modest 49% to 45% margin.

Virginia voters trust Romney more to handle the economy by five points, 50% to 45%. They are almost evenly divided when it comes to whom they trust more in the area of national security, giving the president a 48% to 47% edge. This is comparable to findings among all voters nationwide. 

But Virginia voters by 10 points – 51% to 41% - believe Obama better understands the issues of the middle class. That’s slightly more confidence in the president than voters express nationally. 

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The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on October 18, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of Virginia voters are now excited about the choice between Obama and Romney, but 28% say they will simply be voting for the lesser of two evils. That’s more enthusiasm for the candidates than voters have nationally. 

Regardless of whom they support, 51% of the voters in the state think the president is most likely to win next month. Forty percent (40%) expect Romney to come out on top.

Romney has a slight edge when voters are asked whom they would rather get advice from if faced with the toughest decisions of their life. Forty-nine percent (49%) would turn to the GOP hopeful, 44% to Obama.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of the voters in the state now rate their personal finances as good or excellent. Nine percent (9%) describe their finances as poor. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say those finances are getting better, while 32% believe they are getting worse.

Romney is viewed favorably by 52% of Virginia voters and unfavorably by 48%. This includes 36% with a Very Favorable opinion of the former Massachusetts governor and 33% with a Very Unfavorable one.

Obama became the first Democrat to carry Virginia since 1964 when he won the state by a 53% to 46% margin in 2008. Now 47% of the state’s voters approve of the job he is doing, while 53% disapprove. This includes 31% who Strongly Approve and Strong Disapproval from 44%.

In addition to Virginia, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin are Toss-Ups. Romney is ahead in Arizona, Indiana, North Carolina and North Dakota.  Obama is ahead in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Washington. 

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

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