North Carolina: Romney 51%, Obama 48%

At the beginning of the year, North Carolina was designated by Rasmussen Reports as one of the Core Four states that would decide Election 2012. As the year has worn on, the Tar Heel State has continued to narrowly favor Mitt Romney over President Obama.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely North Carolina voters shows Romney attracting 51% of the vote, while Obama earns support from 48%. One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and another one percent (1%) is undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Romney has held steady with 51% support throughout the fall. Obama's support has inched up from 45% in September to 47% a week ago and 48% now.

The race remains a Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Electoral College projections. In 2008, Obama was the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry North Carolina in over 30 years.

Romney voters are a bit more committed to their candidate than Obama supporters. Ninety-five percent (95%) of Romney voters are certain they will not change their mind. Only 88% of Obama voters are that certain.

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in North Carolina 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. 

By a 52% to 43% margin, North Carolina voters trust Romney more than Obama when it comes to the economy.

It's a toss-up on national security issues: 49% trust Romney more, while 47% have more confidence in the president.

Nationally, Romney leads by seven on the economy and is ahead by two in terms of national security.

Forty-one percent (41%) of North Carolina voters are worried the government will try to do too much to help the economy. Forty-eigth percent (48%) fear they won't do enough.

However, many of those who want the government to take action want it to cut spending. As a result, only 15% believe the federal government should increase spending to help the economy. Sixty-eight percent (68%) want the government to help the economy by cutting spending. This is broadly consistent with attitudes nationwide.

Thirteen percent of all voters in the state now rate the U.S. economy as good or excellent, while 43% consider it in poor shape. Thirty-six percent (36%) think the economy is getting better, but 40% say it's getting worse.

Only 25% of North Carolina voters believe the United States is spending too much on the military, but just 43% realize that our country spends more than any other nation in the world on defense.

Forty-eight percent (48%) now approve of the job the president is doing, but 52% disapprove. This includes Strong Approval from 38% and Strong Disapproval from 45%.

Romney is seen favorably by 52% of North Carolina voters and unfavorably by 48%. This includes 37% with a Very Favorable opinion of the GOP challenger and 33% with a Very Unfavorable one.

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

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

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