The Virginian-Pilot
©
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has an overwhelming lead over Texas congressman Ron Paul in Virginia's Republican presidential primary but slightly trails President Barack Obama in a general election contest, according to a new poll conducted by Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
With GOP voters in Virginia's March 6 presidential primary limited to the two candidates, Romney was favored by 68 percent of those polled compared with 19 percent for Paul, according to a telephone survey of registered voters who identified themselves as Republicans. Thirteen percent were undecided or didn't know.
Two of every three GOP voters also said they aren't likely to change their preference.
While Republican presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum will not be on the Virginia primary ballot, Romney was still the top choice when those surveyed were asked to choose from all four GOP candidates. Romney was favored by 37 percent; former House Speaker Gingrich, 27 percent; Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, 18 percent; and Paul,12 percent.
Among all registered voters who were surveyed, Obama had a small lead over Romney. Obama was favored by 47 percent and Romney, 43 percent.
Voters sent different signals about the president and his economic policies. Forty-seven percent said Romney would do a better job with the economy than Obama, compared with 44 percent who favored the president.
Voters were split when asked about Obama's job performance and whether he should be re-elected. Support for the president tended to vary by race, gender and age. Women had a more favorable view of Obama than men, blacks more than whites and young voters more than their elders.
The new poll found little change in voters' views of Virginia's 2012 U.S. Senate race.
The poll asked about only a potential fall general election contest between Democrat Tim Kaine, a former governor, and Republican George Allen, a former senator and governor. The five candidates competing against them for the respective party nominations were not mentioned.
Voters were split - 45 percent for Kaine and 44 percent for Allen - when asked which of the two they would support if the general election were held at the time of the poll. Eleven percent said they were undecided, and 1 percent mentioned another candidate. Four earlier polls in 2011 showed a similar split.
Four Republicans and three Democrats are running for the seat now held by Sen. Jim Webb, a Democrat who is not seeking re-election. Competing in the June 2012 GOP primary with Allen are E.W. Jackson Sr., a Chesapeake-based minister; David McCormick, a Virginia Beach attorney; and Jamie Radtke, a former state tea party leader. The other Democrats seeking the party's nomination are Courtney Lynn of Fairfax and Julien Modica of Reston.
The telephone survey of 1,544 registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. Questions regarding the Republican primary, which involved 546 likely GOP voters, have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
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DOCUMENT | FULL POLL
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Know your past...know your future.
The quality of our political leaders is much like the quality of our public education…going downhill and gathering speed. There may be a purpose to our education system dumbing down the masses. It will be much easier to control them during election time. You have to have intelligence to make an intelligent choice. Now let’s get out our history books….
There's only one pol that matters
and it's in November.
Read this article
I agree with conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan, who effectively makes the case that President Obama’s critics (from the right and the left) are both objectively wrong, that President Obama’s first term has been remarkably successful, and that President Obama deserves reelection.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/01/15/andrew-sullivan-how-obama-s-long-game-will-outsmart-his-critics.html
A GAFF FACTORY
Romney is busy gaffing himself. At first they may appear as faux pas but then in reality, its the way he thinks, from his comments about the poor to his comments about firing people. He also has trouble articulating his points and framing them properly. I changed my opinion of him. And Newt can't get the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stink off him - no amount of political deodorant is going to work. That leaves Santorum who has a record of beating dem incumbents but whose executive experience leaves a lot to chance... I recall McCain led Obama initially until he said the economy was strong - with millions losing their jobs. People then realized.. this isn't the guy to lead us. It will still come down to the economy in November.
There was a reason Santorum lost his Senate seat
by 18 points in a toss-up state.
The national electorate does not know him well, but when they see him saying things like that as President he will take the lead against the evil of contraception they will understand why (while apparently very sincere) he is a joke.
POLLS?
Who cares?
What will count is the VOTES in 2012.
People will NOW be paying attention to what was done over the last 4 years.
This is the WORSE America has ever been in decades.
BOTH parties are to blame but OB is at the helm and a CHANGE is REQUIRED here.
Pilot, thank you for providing the poll questions and results
Being able to look at the data and formulating my own analysis of the information is what we all should be working toward. Instead of blindly following what the elites of the -D and -R want us to think, we can see the results for ourself and think for ourself. Refreshing.
The other thing about all these polls and data is regardless of what a poll might tell folks, people wont read the data, be able to understand the data, and make an unbiased decision based on the data.
With that said. O is still going to lose in November!
Based on what?
You predict "O is still going to lose in November!" based on what? Your psychic ability?
Polls consistently show President Obama leading each of the Republican candidates in Virginia and nationally:
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2011/12/obama-looking-good-in-virginia.html
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/economic-gains-questions-on-romney-boost-obamas-prospects-for-november/
One of the many delusions that burden the minds
and encumber the souls of the Tea Party people is their unshakable belief that they represent the majority view. As with NCGuy there is no evidence that will rid them of that delusion.
If they see a poll (as in this case) it is wrong or biased or did not ask the questions the right way. If they lose an election it was somehow stolen or votes were "bought" or ACORN got millions of votes from Mickey Mouse into the count.
This delusional world-view would be harmless enough and even funny IF these same people were not so eager to start talking sedition when they are rejected at the polls AND have politicians willing to pander to them along those lines. That's not funny at all.
Come on!!!
Folks are focusing on this blasted poll?!!
We can ignore it or accept it as a mere snapshot of last week.
Holy-moly! I can't remember what I ate for dinner the past week!
In this age of 24/7 news, talking heads on the TV (you're preferred station), radio (insert your channel here), printed media....
Individually, we are each one of 8,000,000 plus voters in Virginia. We each have one vote.
Cast your vote according to your perception(s), religion, economical standing, etc.
Just...get...out...and...vote!
If your way out numbers mine-fine!
But if the others out numbers you? Yeah, post an alpha-numeric reply to the Virginian Pilot.
That'll learn 'em, won't it! Don't bother knocking on doors, canvassing for signatures