Wisconsin: Obama 51%, Romney 49%

President Obama maintains a slight edge over Mitt Romney in Wisconsin.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Badger State finds Obama with 51% support, while Romney picks up 49% of the vote. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

In September, Obama held a 49% to 46% advantage over his Republican challenger.  In surveys since October of last year, the president has earned 44% to 52% support in the state, while Romney’s support has ranged from 41% to 49%. 

Obama defeated Senator John McCain in Wisconsin in 2008 56% to 42%. 

Wisconsin remains one of 10 Toss-Up states in the Rasmussen Reports Electoral College Projections.  Nationally, the candidates remain virtually tied in the Daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

Ninety-one percent (91%) of Wisconsin voters are certain of how they will vote.  Among those who are certain, 51% favor the president, while 49% support Romney. 

Both candidates earn overwhelming support from members of their own party.  Among voters not affiliated with either political party, Obama has a 55% to 43% lead. 

Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

This Wisconsin survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on October 9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters in the state now at least somewhat approve of the job Obama is doing as president, while 51% disapprove.  This includes Strong Approval from 32% and Strong Disapproval from 43%.  These findings are similar to the president's job approval ratings nationally.

Romney is viewed favorably by 50% and unfavorably by 50%.  This includes Very Favorables of 37% and Very Unfavorables of 37%. 

Wisconsin voters are evenly divided over which candidate they trust more to handle the issues of the economy and national security.

However, voters in the state are slightly more confident in economic improvement under a Romney presidency and a GOP-ed Congress.  Forty-seven percent (47%) say if Romney is elected president and Republicans win control of Congress, the nation’s economy will get better.  That compares to 41% who feel that way if Obama is reelected and Democrats regain control of Congress.  Forty-four percent (44%) say the economy will get worse under Obama, compared to 37% who say the same if Romney takes over.

Overall, just 14% of likely voters in the state rate the U.S. economy as good or excellent, while 37% describe it as poor. While 38% say economic conditions are getting better, slightly more (39%) think they are getting worse.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Wisconsin voters rate their personal finances as good or excellent, while eight percent (8%) think they are in poor shape. Thirty percent (30%) say their finances are getting better, but just as many (30%) think their finances are getting worse.

Along with Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia are Toss-Ups.  Obama is ahead in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Washington. Romney leads in Arizona, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska and North Dakota. 

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

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.