Poll: Romney, Santorum narrow gap on Obama
CBS
In a potential general election match-up, Mr. Obama leads former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 47 percent to 44 percent among registered voters. His three-point advantage is within the poll's three point margin of error. In a survey released on February 14, Mr. Obama held a six-point edge over Romney, though the two men were tied in January.
Mr. Obama's lead over former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is 48 percent to 44 percent. The president's advantage over Santorum has shrunk four percentage points since the February 14 poll, when Mr. Obama led 49 percent to 41 percent.
The narrowing gap seems at least partly attributable to a drop in support for Mr. Obama. The new survey showed that Mr. Obama's approval rating has fallen to 41 percent - his lowest approval rating in CBS News polling and a nine-point drop from last month.
Among independents, Mr. Obama's narrow lead over Romney and Santorum is similar to where it stands among primary voters overall. The poll does show a gender gap: While Mr. Obama holds double digit leads over both leading GOP candidates among female registered voters, Romney and Santorum hold six-point and five-point leads, respectively, over Mr. Obama among men.
The president continues to hold double-digit leads in a potential general election matchup over the two other men in the GOP field. His lead over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is 52 percent to 38 percent, and his lead over Texas Rep. Ron Paul is 49 percent to 39 percent.
Despite the finding that Romney and Santorum match up essentially equally against Mr. Obama, Romney is overwhelmingly seen as the candidate with the best chance to win in November. Fifty-seven percent of Republican primary voters see Romney as the strongest potential nominee; just 17 percent say Santorum is the strongest general election candidate.
Santorum is perceived as more in line with primary voters' own beliefs, however. While about half of Republican primary voters say Romney's views on most issues are about right, two thirds say Santorum's views on most issues are in line with their own. More than one third say Romney is insufficiently conservative, compared to just 11 percent who say that about Santorum.
Santorum leads Romney 34 percent to 30 percent among Republican primary voters nationwide, followed by Gingrich with 13 percent support and Paul with 8 percent support. Romney - who CBS News estimates has secured more than twice as many delegates as Santorum - is seen by 73 percent of GOP primary voters as likely to win the nomination.
While Santorum has a neutral favorability rating among all registered voters - 32 percent view him favorably, 32 percent view him unfavorably, and 35 percent don't know or haven't heard enough - Romney's favorability rating is in negative territory. While 30 percent view him favorably, 37 percent view him unfavorably. Thirty-one percent are unsure.
Another potential trouble sign for Romney: Many Americans say that he does not understand their needs and problems. Just 31 percent of registered voters say Romney understands the situation they face, compared to 40 percent for Santorum - and 55 percent for Mr. Obama. Fifty-nine percent say Romney does not understand the situation they face.
Asked what is more important in a candidate, 34 percent of Republican primary voters said "strong moral character." Twenty-four percent said their top concern was that a candidate have the right experience, 19 percent said it was that he can beat Mr. Obama and 18 percent said it is that he is a true conservative.
Republican primary voters overwhelmingly see the economy and jobs as the most important problem facing the country, and on that Romney has an edge: One in three is "very" confident in his ability to manage the economy, compared to 22 percent for Santorum. Forty-two percent say the candidates are not paying enough attention to the issue.
Santorum nearly keeps pace with Romney when it comes to their confidence in the ability of the candidates to be commander-in-chief. About three in four Republican primary voters are either very or somewhat confident in both candidates, though Romney holds a small edge. Gingrich is most likely to inspire strong confidence - 38 percent say they are "very" confident in him on this question - though he is also slightly more likely than the two leading contenders to be viewed as unable to be an effective commander-in-chief. Paul is the only candidate who is widely seen as unqualified for the role, with 60 percent saying they are not too confident or not at all confident in his ability to serve as commander in chief.
Though some have suggested Santorum's remarks concerning the "dangers" of contraception could hurt him among women, he holds an edge over Romney among female Republican primary voters. Santorum wins the support of 41 percent of female GOP primary voters, compared to 27 percent for Romney. Romney leads among men, with 32 percent support compared to 27 percent for Santorum.
MORE FROM THE POLL:
Poll: Most GOP voters expect Romney nomination
Most support U.S. military action to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons
Most say employers should be allowed not to cover contraception
Obama's approval rating sinks to new low
Most think president can impact gas prices
This poll was conducted by telephone from March 7-11, 2012 among 1009 adults nationwide. 878 interviews were conducted with registered voters, including 301 with voters who said they plan to vote in a Republican primary. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The margin of error for the sample of registered voters could be plus or minus three points and six points for the sample of Republican primary voters. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
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1)There is a GLUT of oil & gasoline in the U.S. and oil companies are choosing to EXPORT BOTH products out US. Why? They own the GOP, just as the rest of the multinationals do. Then they can get the GOP back into power. BIG OIL gets what they want, like the XL Pipeline and no action of Global Warming, as we get closer to next real cliff. GOP will succeed in destroying US, just as 3 decades of lies allowed derivatives stuffed with junk to damage the economy for the 3rd time--1987 (S&L), 1998 (LTCM), 2008 (Subprime). NPR covered how there is no gasoline or oil shortage on Morning Edition 3-5 &3-7-12 in 2 of several reports that week.
2)NPR also covered how Chevron, Phillips--Conoco, and two other oil companies, who own 90% of GOP, conveniently closed 4 refineries in the last few months, apparently trying to create shortages for the election year, so they can get GOP back into power. After all they have TRILLIONS in oil products they want to sell you & they did produce all those phoney-balony reports. KOCH Industries, who funds and scripts the TEA Party, and Exxon Mobil poured hundreds of millions into corrupt Think Tanks to confuse everyone on Global Warming. They don't care the planet is on a trajectory to become uninhabitable and entire planet will be trashed, w TRILLIONS in damages by 2020.
3) Next economic meltdown is already underway, from 3 decades of lies about Global Warming. There will be TRILLIONS in damages by 2020 because of severe weather events, which cost $52 BIL in 2011 in US, $200 BIL worldwide, and as US cities begin flooding due to sea level rise--New Orleans, Manhattan, San Fran, Tampa, Miami, Sacramento, Boston, etc.
**NPR, TALK, Science Friday 1-22, 3-4, 8-12, 10-21-2011 (Reinventing Fire: grow GDP by 158% w 8 million Green Jobs)
**NPR, PRI 3-8&3-9-2011, 11-15 &12-7-2011 "Stormy Forecast"
**PBS: NOVA--"Secrets Beneath The Ice"
**Tar Sands;by Andrew Nikiforuk; filthy inefficient oil, destroying an area the size of FL in Alberta, Canada while also consuming their natural gas and clean water supplies; puts planet over a cliff by 2015.
**Numerous books: HOT by Mark Hertsgard, Storms of My Grandchildren by J Hansen, Field Notes From A Catastrophe by E. Kolbert, Our Choice, Climate War by Eric Pooley on the GOP DECEIT, also The Heat is On and Boiling Point by Ross Gelbspan
4) Common Cause and League of Women Voters are trying to protect the 2012 elections as GOP work to suppress 5 mil, mostly minority, votes with the help of ALEC pushing the lies about fraud. The only ones who corrupt elections is GOP, like 2000, 2004, 2012. It's well-documented GOP corrupted 2000 election, stopping full-state recount because Gore would win. Rove made 11 million legitimate votes vanish in 2004. (RECOUNT released 2008 by HBO, Newsweek 5-26-08 "Take 2: Bush vs. Gore", also Was the 2004 Presidential Election Stolen by Steven Freeman, answer yes what happened w exit polls was statistically impossible)
5) 1500 Architects, engineers, planned demo experts put together 2 hour documentary, "911: Blueprint for Truth". It covers 10 damning areas of physics for why the World Trade Center buildings came down on 9-11-2001 from high grade explosives: residue in the dust w marks on the girders, fires in basements that lasted 3 months, free fall rate, etc
6) GOP did everything in their power to thwart RECOVERY. Working with BIG OIL to drive up gas prices is just the next step. VOTERS choose to not be informed. They will buy the lies, be easy to dupe, putting this corruption back into power 2012. GOP damaged THE STIMULUS designed by 3 doz economists from LEFT & Rt based on extensive study of GREAT DEPRESSION and every severe RECESSION since then. They limited it to $550 Bil to patch a $1.4 TRIL contraction in GDP caused by 3 decades of lies about deregulation. Then they filbustered help to small businesses in US Senate, because sm business creates > 60% of jobs. They held Budget hostage in 2011 & JOBS BILLS, with a cut and gut mentality. We could be growing GDP by 158% with 8-16 MIL GREEN JOBS, but BIG OIL doesn't want that. (REINVENTING FIRE by rmi.org). THE LIST OF GOP CORRUPTION=EXTENSIVE.
7)Wall Street owns GOP & are driving up oil prices. BE INFORMED TO PROTECT U.S.
I don't think he can win any more than a Republican could have won in 2008. He was given 4 years to engineer a turnaround of the economy, and he didn't deliver. People don't owe him more time when he hasn't shown that it'll help.
All those Repuglies in the backwoods who aren't voting for Romney how in the primaries ... when push comes to shove, enough of them'll come out to give him the win ...
The Republican game plan is to destroy the economy blame the Democrats and President Obama. This is their strategy to obtain the White House and the Senate in the 2012 elections. If you think the Republicans are death on average Americans, working-class and middle-class people now. Just think of how much more damage they could do to this country if they had the house,the Senate and the presidency to consolidate power to do whatever they want. They would then have free reign to turn America into the Third World country that they want for their corporate overlords.
They've already shown their hand by not approving extended unemployment benefits for people and anything else that would help the average American. Then they took America to the brink of default with the debt ceiling crisis. A crisis in which they created. Republicans on the supreme court ruling corporations are people and therefore can give unlimited funding to politicians. Republicans fighting for tax cuts for corporations, big oil and the wealthy while advocating cutting social security, medicare and medicaid. For those reasons and more I can't imagine any thinking working-class poor or middle-class person voting to support Republicans after all the damage they've done to this country. Americans must reject republicans at town hall meetings and the polls for their anti American unpatriotic strategy and tactics. The only difference between Timothy McVie and the republicans is he used explosives and they used their congressional positions.
The phony debt ceiling debate and agreement is another part of the republican game plan to take back the senate and white house. They create artificial crisis to stall (run out the clock on President Obama's term) and cripple him and the economy to prevent JOBS from being discussed or created. They are counting on voters blaming the president for the bad economy even though they the republicans are sabotaging every step of the way. Even a blind man can see republicans couldn't care less for average Americans. Just imagine what they would do if they controlled the house, senate and presidency. Americans cannot let that happen. Because it is crystal clear by the behavior of republicans they do not want America to progress and will hold it hostage to prevent it.
Republicans are screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Americans need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to do anything to bring America out of its economic woes. They continue to attack women's health care, planned parenthood and contraceptives.
After all, they think they can also get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats. Time will tell if voters will fall for this again. Prevent abuse of struggling Americans and America. Just say no to voting for republicans.
1)There is a GLUT of oil & gasoline in the U.S. and oil companies are choosing to EXPORT BOTH products out US. Why? They own the GOP, just as the rest of the multinationals do. Then they can get the GOP back into power. BIG OIL gets what they want, like the XL Pipeline and no action of Global Warming, as we get closer to next real cliff. GOP will succeed in destroying US, just as 3 decades of lies allowed derivatives stuffed with junk to damage the economy for the 3rd time--1987 (S&L), 1998 (LTCM), 2008 (Subprime). NPR covered how there is no gasoline or oil shortage on Morning Edition 3-5 &3-7-12 in 2 of several reports that week.
2)NPR also covered how Chevron, Phillips--Conoco, and two other oil companies, who own 90% of GOP, conveniently closed 4 refineries in the last few months, apparently trying to create shortages for the election year, so they can get GOP back into power. After all they have TRILLIONS in oil products they want to sell you & they did produce all those phoney-balony reports. KOCH Industries, who funds and scripts the TEA Party, and Exxon Mobil poured hundreds of millions into corrupt Think Tanks to confuse everyone on Global Warming. They don't care the planet is on a trajectory to become uninhabitable and entire planet will be trashed, w TRILLIONS in damages by 2020.
3) Next economic meltdown is already underway, from 3 decades of lies about Global Warming. There will be TRILLIONS in damages by 2020 because of severe weather events, which cost $52 BIL in 2011 in US, $200 BIL worldwide, and as US cities begin flooding due to sea level rise--New Orleans, Manhattan, San Fran, Tampa, Miami, Sacramento, Boston, etc.
**NPR, TALK, Science Friday 1-22, 3-4, 8-12, 10-21-2011 (Reinventing Fire: grow GDP by 158% w 8 million Green Jobs)
**NPR, PRI 3-8&3-9-2011, 11-15 &12-7-2011 "Stormy Forecast"
**PBS: NOVA--"Secrets Beneath The Ice"
**Tar Sands;by Andrew Nikiforuk; filthy inefficient oil, destroying an area the size of FL in Alberta, Canada while also consuming their natural gas and clean water supplies; puts planet over a cliff by 2015.
**Numerous books: HOT by Mark Hertsgard, Storms of My Grandchildren by J Hansen, Field Notes From A Catastrophe by E. Kolbert, Our Choice, Climate War by Eric Pooley on the GOP DECEIT, also The Heat is On and Boiling Point by Ross Gelbspan
4) Common Cause and League of Women Voters are trying to protect the 2012 elections as GOP work to suppress 5 mil, mostly minority, votes with the help of ALEC pushing the lies about fraud. The only ones who corrupt elections is GOP, like 2000, 2004, 2012. It's well-documented GOP corrupted 2000 election, stopping full-state recount because Gore would win. Rove made 11 million legitimate votes vanish in 2004. (RECOUNT released 2008 by HBO, Newsweek 5-26-08 "Take 2: Bush vs. Gore", also Was the 2004 Presidential Election Stolen by Steven Freeman, answer yes what happened w exit polls was statistically impossible)
5) 1500 Architects, engineers, planned demo experts put together 2 hour documentary, "911: Blueprint for Truth". It covers 10 damning areas of physics for why the World Trade Center buildings came down on 9-11-2001 from high grade explosives: residue in the dust w marks on the girders, fires in basements that lasted 3 months, free fall rate, etc
6) GOP did everything in their power to thwart RECOVERY. Working with BIG OIL to drive up gas prices is just the next step. VOTERS choose to not be informed. They will buy the lies, be easy to dupe, putting this corruption back into power 2012. GOP damaged THE STIMULUS designed by 3 doz economists from LEFT & Rt based on extensive study of GREAT DEPRESSION and every severe RECESSION since then. They limited it to $550 Bil to patch a $1.4 TRIL contraction in GDP caused by 3 decades of lies about deregulation. Then they filbustered help to small businesses in US Senate, because sm business creates > 60% of jobs. They held Budget hostage in 2011 & JOBS BILLS, with a cut and gut mentality. We could be growing GDP by 158% with 8-16 MIL GREEN JOBS, but BIG OIL doesn't want that. (REINVENTING FIRE by rmi.org). THE LIST OF GOP CORRUPTION=EXTENSIVE.
7)Wall Street owns GOP & are driving up oil prices. BE INFORMED TO PROTECT U.S.
...and the political left...especially the environmentalists...is famous for doing exactly that.
Think gas is expensive now? Get our your walkin' shoes boys.