Election 2012

46% See Obama-Romney Race as Choice of Lesser of Two Evils

Most voters see serious differences of opinion between President Obama and Mitt Romney, but Democrats are a lot more excited about their candidate than Republicans are about theirs.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the president and the likely Republican presidential nominee disagree on most important issues, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Another 25% say they disagree on just about everything. Only six percent (6%) believe the two candidates agree on most important issues, with two percent (2%) more who say they agree on just about everything. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 26-27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

44% See Romney’s Business Past As Reason to Vote For Him, 33% Disagree

Democrats have begun criticizing Mitt Romney’s business record, but a plurality of voters view the Republican’s business past as a positive.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that Romney’s track record in business is primarily a reason to vote for him. Thirty-three percent (33%) see his business career as chiefly a reason to vote against him. Twenty-two percent (22%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 18-19, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Nebraska: Romney 53%, Obama 39%

Mitt Romney still posts a double-digit lead over President Obama in Nebraska.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Cornhusker State shows Romney earning 53% support, while the president picks up 39% of the vote. Six percent (6%) like another candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This Nebraska survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted May 16, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Nebraska Senate: Fischer (R) 56%, Kerrey (D) 38%

State Senator Deb Fischer holds an 18-point lead over Democrat Bob Kerrey in the first Rasmussen Reports survey of the Nebraska U.S. Senate race since her upset win in this week’s state Republican primary.

A new telephone survey of Likely Voters in Nebraska shows Fischer with 56% support to 38% for Kerrey who is trying to reclaim the Senate seat he retired from in 2001. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This Nebraska survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted May 16, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

51% Trust Romney’s Economic Judgment More Than Obama’s

Voters now trust likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney more than President Obama on all five issues regularly surveyed by Rasmussen Reports, especially when it comes to money.

A new national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters trust Romney more than Obama when it comes the economy, while 39% trust the president more. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Wisconsin Recall Election: Walker 50%, Barrett 45%

Embattled Republican Governor Scott Walker holds a five-point lead over his newly nominated Democratic challenger Tom Barrett in Wisconsin’s special recall election.

A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey shows that 50% of the state’s Likely Voters prefer Walker while 45% choose Barrett. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate and another two percent (2%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on May 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.

Three-Way Race: Romney 44%, Obama 39%, Ron Paul 13%

Texas Congressman Ron Paul appears more interested in influencing the direction of the Republican Party than in running as an independent presidential candidate. But perhaps Democrats should be careful what they wish for: Even if Mitt Romney’s remaining GOP challenger should run as a third party candidate, new Rasmussen Reports surveying finds Romney the winner of a three-way race.

The latest national telephone survey shows that 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think Paul should run as a third party candidate. Sixty-one percent (61%) disagree, but 13% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 6-7, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

40% Say Obama’s Views Extreme, 35% Say Same of Romney

It’s close to a 50-50 nation when voters are asked if the views of President Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney are mainstream or extreme. Fifty percent (50%) of Likely U.S. Voters describe the president’s views as mainstream, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-one percent (51%) say the same of Romney’s views.

Forty percent (40%) think it’s more accurate to describe Obama’s views as extreme, while 35% describe Romney’s views that way. Ten percent (10%) and 14% respectively are undecided about the views of the president and his GOP opponent. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This national survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on May 2-3, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Core Four States: Obama 46%, Romney 43%

With the Republican primary race all but settled, President Obama still holds a slight lead over likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney in combined polling of the key swing states of Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.

New Rasmussen Reports telephone surveying of Likely Voters in the so-called Core Four states finds that Obama picks up 46% support to Romney’s 43%. Seven percent (7%) prefer some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,271 Likely Voters in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia was conducted on April 16-30, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Core Four States: Obama 46%, Romney 43%

With the Republican primary race all but settled, President Obama still holds a slight lead over likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney in combined polling of the key swing states of Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.

New Rasmussen Reports telephone surveying of Likely Voters in the so-called Core Four states finds that Obama picks up 46% support to Romney’s 43%. Seven percent (7%) prefer some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,271 Likely Voters in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia was conducted on April 16-30, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Florida Senate: Nelson (D) 47%, Mack (R) 36%

Incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson now posts double-digit leads over all three of his Republican challengers in Florida’s 2012 U.S. Senate race.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Florida Voters shows Nelson with 47% support to 36% for Congressman Connie Mack, his leading GOP opponent. Ten percent (10%) like some other candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Condi for Veep? 66% View Former Secretary of State Favorably

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said publicly she’s not interested in being Mitt Romney’s running mate, but a lot of her fellow Republicans like her just the same.

With speculation running wild over who Romney will choose to run with him for the vice presidency, Rasmussen Reports is testing the waters for a number of prominent Republicans around the country. The latest national telephone survey finds that 66% of Likely U.S. Voters share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Rice, with 32% who view her Very Favorably. Just 24% have a somewhat or Very Unfavorable view of her. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 24-25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Missouri: Romney 48%, Obama 45%

Mitt Romney still leads President Obama in a head-to-head matchup in Missouri but by a much narrower margin. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds the prospective Republican nominee with just a three-point edge over the president – 48% to 45%.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This Missouri survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on April 17, 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.

Christie, Santorum Are Early Veep Favorites

With Mitt Romney now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, speculation has quickly shifted to possible running mates. So Rasmussen Reports has begun testing the waters on some of the more prominent names being mentioned as vice presidential candidates.

New Jersey’s outspoken Governor Chris Christie is the best liked of the first group of five, edging out former Senator Rick Santorum who just ended his presidential bid. Our latest national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that Christie is viewed favorably by 43% and unfavorably by 35%. That includes 21% with a Very Favorable opinion of him and 16% with a Very Unfavorable one. But one-in-five voters (22%) don’t know enough about Christie to voice any opinion. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

49% Trust Romney Over Obama on Economy; 39% Trust President More

Voters now have more confidence in presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney than in President Obama when it comes to the economy, but on other major issues facing the nation, the two men continue to run nearly even.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey asks Likely U.S. Voters whom they trust more on five key issues, and when it comes to the economy, 49% say Romney versus 39% who trust the president more. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This national survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on April 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Pennsylvania GOP: Santorum 42%, Romney 38%

Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum holds a four-point lead in his home state in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the upcoming Pennsylvania Republican Primary.

A new statewide telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely GOP Primary Voters support Santorum, while former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney picks up 38% of the vote. Texas Congressman Ron Paul earns seven percent (7%), and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is at six percent (6%). Two percent (2%) like some other candidate in the race, and five percent (5%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This Pennsylvania survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on April 4, 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.

Wisconsin GOP: Romney 44%, Santorum 34%, Gingrich 7%, Paul 7%

The numbers have moved little over the past week with Mitt Romney still holding a double-digit lead over Rick Santorum in the closing days of the Wisconsin Republican Primary race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Wisconsin shows Romney with 44% support to Santorum’s 34%. A week ago in Wisconsin, it was Romney 46% and Santorum 33%.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Congressman Ron Paul both pick up seven percent (7%) of the vote from Badger State Republicans, virtually unchanged from the previous survey. Two percent (2%) like some other candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This Wisconsin survey of 717 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 29, 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.

Maryland GOP: Romney 45%, Santorum 28%, Gingrich 12%, Paul 7%

Republican front-runner Mitt Romney is well ahead of his chief rival Rick Santorum in Maryland with that state’s primary less than a week away.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Maryland shows Romney with 45% support to Santorum’s 28%. Twelve percent (12%) favor former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, while Texas Congressman Ron Paul earns seven percent (7%) of the vote. Two percent (2%) like another candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This Maryland survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 28, 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.

46% of GOP Voters Still Like Primary Process

As tempers flare and the language gets harsher in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, a plurality (46%) of GOP voters continues to believe the primary process is a good way to select a nominee. But that’s down from 53% in early September before the battle began in earnest. 

Among all voters, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% think the current primary process is a good way to pick a party’s nominee. Thirty-three percent (33%) say it’s a bad way to choose a nominee, and 25% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(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 .  

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 23-24, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

Obama Ahead of Romney, Santorum in Core Four States (FL, NC, OH, VA)

President Obama holds modest leads over both Republican front-runners in hypothetical Election 2012 matchups in combined polling of the key swing states Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. Obama now picks up 47% of the vote to Romney’s 42% in those states. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and five percent (5%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia was conducted on March 17-22, 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.