For Voters, It’s Still the Economy
As Barack Obama and Mitt Romney prepare for their first debate on Oct. 3, the issues at the top of the voters’ agenda have changed little since 2008. Fully 87% of registered voters say that the economy will be very important to their vote, while 83% say jobs will be very important to their vote.
Fewer Satisfied with Candidates than in Any Campaign Since 1992
Voters offer tepid ratings of the 2012 field. Just over half (54%) say they are either very or fairly satisfied with the presidential choices this year, while 40% say they are not too or not at all satisfied.
Obama Ahead with Stronger Support, Better Image and Lead on Most Issues
With an eight-point lead over Mitt Romney among likely voters, Barack Obama holds a bigger September lead than the last three candidates who went on to win in November, including Obama four years ago. In elections since 1988, only Bill Clinton, in 1992 and 1996, entered the fall with a larger advantage.
Dividing People into ‘Liberals,’ ‘Moderates’ and ‘Conservatives’ – Too Simplistic?
Assessing the value of using the labels “moderate,” “liberal” and “conservative” to describe the electorate.
Middle East Turmoil Closely Followed; Romney’s Comments Viewed Negatively
About four-in-ten Americans (43%) have followed news about the attacks on U.S. embassies in the Middle East and the killing of an American ambassador very closely. Those following have much more positive opinions about Barack Obama’s handling of the situation than Mitt Romney’s comments on the crisis.
What is the Value of a ‘Generic” Candidate or Ballot in Polls?
Pollsters sometimes match a “generic” Republican or Democratic candidate against an incumbent, or use a generic ballot to forecast which party is ahead in congressional elections. How to read these polls.
Democrats Now More Positive on Campaign 2012
In the wake of the party conventions, Democrats express increasingly positive views of the presidential campaign.
Record Partisan Gap in Views of Economic News
Just 15% of Democrats say recent economic news is mostly bad, down from 31% a month ago and among the lowest percentages over the last four years. Six-in-ten Republicans (60%) say news about the economy is mostly bad, as do 36% of independents.
Democratic Convention Highlights: Clinton Outshines Obama
Like Mitt Romney, Barack Obama was not the highlight of his party’s convention. Among those who watched at least a little coverage of the Democratic convention, 29% say the highlight was Bill Clinton’s speech, while 16% name Obama’s speech as the highlight. About as many (15%) say that first lady Michelle Obama’s speech was the highlight of the convention.
Eastwood Shares Top Billing at RNC with Mitt Romney
The public paid far less attention to this year’s Republican convention in Tampa. Among those who watched at least a little of the event last week, 20% said Clint Eastwood’s speech was the highlight of the event and 17% said the same for Mitt Romney’s speech.
