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

Election 2012: Presidential Election

Most Recent Releases

White letter R on blue background
September 15, 2011

Bachmann Now Trails Obama by Double Digits

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s campaign for president has struggled since she won the straw poll vote in Ames, Iowa last month. Texas Governor Rick Perry entered the race at the same time and immediately became the primary alternative to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

White letter R on blue background
September 14, 2011

Pressure for Third-Party Candidate Comes From Those Who Want Less Federal Spending

Some people think there is room for a radical centrist presidential candidate who would hold views somewhere between the views of President Obama and whoever the Republicans nominate to oppose him.

White letter R on blue background
September 13, 2011

Election 2012: Generic Republican 47%, Obama 42%

A generic Republican candidate holds a five-point advantage over President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election match-up for the week ending Sunday, September 11.  This is the 10th week in a row the Republican has led the incumbent. 

White letter R on blue background
September 13, 2011

Romney 43%, Obama 40%

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney now holds a sliver of a lead over President Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup.

White letter R on blue background
September 7, 2011

Iowa Republicans: Romney Seen As Most Mainstream Candidate, Paul Most Extreme

Texas Congressman Ron Paul is the only Republican presidential candidate that a majority of likely Iowa Republican Caucus voters describe as having extreme views, while Mitt Romney is considered the candidate that is most mainstream.

White letter R on blue background
September 6, 2011

Election 2012: Generic Republican 49%, Obama 41%

A generic Republican candidate earns the highest level of support to date against President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election match-up for the week ending Sunday, September 4.

White letter R on blue background
September 5, 2011

Iowa Caucus: Iowa GOP: Perry 29%, Bachmann 18%, Romney 17%, Paul 14%

Confirming a surge seen in polling across the nation, Texas Governor Rick Perry has moved into first place among Republican voters in Iowa, host state to the first-in-the-nation caucus early next year.

White letter R on blue background
September 3, 2011

Obama 47%, Palin 35%

Sarah Palin, it seems, is the only one who know for sure whether she’ll run for president, but she continues to run worse against President Obama than the four top Republican hopefuls already in the race.

White letter R on blue background
September 2, 2011

60% Say Palin Run Would Hurt the GOP

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is scheduled to make a major appearance at a Tea Party gathering in Iowa tomorrow with many speculating about what she might announce. Voters aren’t really sure if she’ll run for president, but most think it would be bad for the Republicans if she entered the contest.

White letter R on blue background
September 1, 2011

Perry 44% Obama 41%; President Leads Other GOP Hopefuls

For the first time this year, Texas Governor Rick Perry leads President Obama in a national Election 2012 survey. Other Republican candidates trail the president by single digits.

White letter R on blue background
August 30, 2011

Election 2012: Generic Republican 48%, Obama 40%

President Obama earns his lowest level of support yet against a generic Republican in a hypothetical 2012 election match-up for the week ending Sunday, August 28.

White letter R on blue background
August 24, 2011

Obama 43% Perry 40%

President Obama continues to lead all named Republicans in early polling on the 2012 race for the White House, but the numbers suggest a competitive race may be possible.

White letter R on blue background
August 24, 2011

GOP Voters Put A Bit More Faith in Candidate’s Private Sector Experience

Republican voters want to have it both ways: They like a presidential candidate with business and government experience but rate life in the private sector as slightly more important.

White letter R on blue background
August 23, 2011

Election 2012: Generic Republican 48%, Obama 43%

A generic Republican candidate now holds a five-point advantage over President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election match-up for the week ending Sunday, August 21.

White letter R on blue background
August 23, 2011

Obama 39%, Paul 38%

The president and the maverick are running almost dead even in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup.

White letter R on blue background
August 22, 2011

Obama 50%, Palin 33%

Will she or won’t she? Sarah Palin has a busy schedule leading up to a major public event in Iowa on September 3, and Republican insider Karl Rove predicts she’s about to enter the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

White letter R on blue background
August 19, 2011

58% of GOP Primary Voters See Tea Party As A Plus for Republicans in 2012

While many Democrats, journalists, and establishment Republicans have been critical of the Tea Party, most Republicans think the grass roots smaller government movement will be a plus for their party in next year’s presidential race.

White letter R on blue background
August 16, 2011

Election 2012: Generic Republican 48%, Obama 42%

For the fifth week in a row, a generic Republican candidate edges President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election match-up.

White letter R on blue background
August 16, 2011

GOP Primary: Perry 29%, Romney 18%, Bachmann 13%

Texas Governor Rick Perry, the new face in the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, has jumped to a double-digit lead over Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann with the other announced candidates trailing even further behind.

White letter R on blue background
August 9, 2011

Election 2012: Generic Republican 46%, Obama 43%

For the fifth week in a row, a generic Republican candidate edges President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election match-up.