If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

ARCHIVE

Virginia: Romney 50%, Obama 47%

Mitt Romney has now hit the 50% mark in Virginia.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters, taken two nights after the second presidential debate, shows Romney with 50% support to President Obama’s 47%. Two percent (2%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)  

Virginia, considered a critical state to both candidates’ political fortunes, remains a Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Electoral College Projections.

A week ago, Romney led 49% to 47% in Virginia. Prior to this survey, the candidates have been within two points or less of each other in every survey here since April.

Ninety-four percent (94%) of likely voters in the Old Dominion say they are certain to vote in this election. Among these voters, Romney leads 52% to 47%.

Among the 88% of voters in the state who say they’ve already decided whom they will vote for, it’s Romney 51%, Obama 49%.

Romney has small leads among both male and female voters in the state. Voters not affiliated with either of the major political parties prefer the Republican challenger by a modest 49% to 45% margin.

Virginia voters trust Romney more to handle the economy by five points, 50% to 45%. They are almost evenly divided when it comes to whom they trust more in the area of national security, giving the president a 48% to 47% edge. This is comparable to findings among all voters nationwide

But Virginia voters by 10 points – 51% to 41% - believe Obama better understands the issues of the middle class. That’s slightly more confidence in the president than voters express nationally

How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard.

(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 survey of 750 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on October 18, 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.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of Virginia voters are now excited about the choice between Obama and Romney, but 28% say they will simply be voting for the lesser of two evils. That’s more enthusiasm for the candidates than voters have nationally

Regardless of whom they support, 51% of the voters in the state think the president is most likely to win next month. Forty percent (40%) expect Romney to come out on top.

Romney has a slight edge when voters are asked whom they would rather get advice from if faced with the toughest decisions of their life. Forty-nine percent (49%) would turn to the GOP hopeful, 44% to Obama.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of the voters in the state now rate their personal finances as good or excellent. Nine percent (9%) describe their finances as poor. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say those finances are getting better, while 32% believe they are getting worse.

Romney is viewed favorably by 52% of Virginia voters and unfavorably by 48%. This includes 36% with a Very Favorable opinion of the former Massachusetts governor and 33% with a Very Unfavorable one.

Obama became the first Democrat to carry Virginia since 1964 when he won the state by a 53% to 46% margin in 2008. Now 47% of the state’s voters approve of the job he is doing, while 53% disapprove. This includes 31% who Strongly Approve and Strong Disapproval from 44%.

In addition to Virginia, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin are Toss-Ups. Romney is ahead in Arizona, Indiana, North Carolina and North Dakota.  Obama is ahead in Connecticut, Maine, MassachusettsMichigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Washington

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

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on October 18, 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.

Rasmussen Reports is a media company specializing in the collection, publication and distribution of public opinion information.

We conduct public opinion polls on a variety of topics to inform our audience on events in the news and other topics of interest. To ensure editorial control and independence, we pay for the polls ourselves and generate revenue through the sale of subscriptions, sponsorships, and advertising. Nightly polling on politics, business and lifestyle topics provides the content to update the Rasmussen Reports web site many times each day. If it's in the news, it's in our polls. Additionally, the data drives a daily update newsletter and various media outlets across the country.

Some information, including the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and commentaries are available for free to the general public. Subscriptions are available for $4.95 a month or 34.95 a year that provide subscribers with exclusive access to more than 20 stories per week on upcoming elections, consumer confidence, and issues that affect us all. For those who are really into the numbers, Platinum Members can review demographic crosstabs and a full history of our data.

To learn more about our methodology, click here.