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Election 2012: Presidential Election

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December 3, 2011

51% Think Cain Should End Campaign, 28% Disagree

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain is expected to make a major announcement in Atlanta today, and most voters think he should end his campaign.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Cain should end his bid for the GOP nomination. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree, and 21% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(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 national survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on December 2, 2011 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.

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November 29, 2011

Election 2012: Generic Republican 48%, Obama 42%

A generic Republican candidate now holds a six-point advantage over President Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup.  This survey was conducted Nov. 21, 22 and 27.

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November 20, 2011

Florida 2012: Romney 46%, Obama 42%

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney posts a slight lead over President Obama in the first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the presidential race in the key swing state of Florida.

Romney earns support from 46% of Likely Voters in the Sunshine State to Obama's 42%. Nine percent (9%) prefer some other candidate, while four percent (4%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is nearly tied with the president, with Obama posting a narrow 45% to 43% lead in this matchup. Eight percent (8%) like another candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.

This Florida survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on November 17, 2011 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.

November 18, 2011

North Carolina: Generic Republican 44%, Obama 42%

Barack Obama managed to win North Carolina’s Electoral College votes by less than a percentage point in 2008. That was the first time a Democratic presidential candidate had won the state since 1976, and the Tar Heel State looks to be competitive once again.

New Rasmussen Reports polling data shows that a Generic Republican currently attracts support from 44% of Likely Voters in North Carolina, while President Obama picks up 42% of the vote.

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November 16, 2011

Michigan: President Tied With Generic Republican

As President Obama seeks re-election, a couple of traditionally Democratic states may be more competitive than usual.

In 2008, the president won Michigan’s Electoral College votes by sixteen percentage points but most Michigan voters now disapprove of the way he’s handled his tenure in the White House. Just 47% of Likely Voters in the state approve of the way that the president is performing his job, while 52% disapprove, according to new Rasmussen Reports polling data.

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November 15, 2011

Election 2012: Obama 45%, Generic Republican 44%

After trailing in nearly four months of weekly surveys, President Obama is now essentially tied with a generic Republican candidate in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup for the week ending Sunday, November 13.  The president earns his highest level of support in nearly six months. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 45% support, while the generic Republican picks up 44% of the vote.

The survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted November 7-13, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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November 15, 2011

Election 2012: Generic Republican 46%, Obama 43%

A generic Republican candidate has moved slightly ahead of President Obama again in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup for the week ending Sunday, November 20, highlighting how close the race remains. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 46% support to Obama's 43%.  Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.

(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 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted November 14-20, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

November 14, 2011

Generic Republican Leads Obama in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a must win state for President Obama’s reelection bid, but early polling shows the state might be competitive.

Just 48% of Likely Voters in the state approve of the way that the president is performing his job, while 51% disapprove, according to new Rasmussen Reports polling data. Those figures include 19% who Strongly Approve and 39% who Strongly Disapprove, giving the president an Approval Index rating of -20.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Pennsylvania was derived from nightly presidential tracking poll surveys conducted October 22-November 13, 2011 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

November 11, 2011

Missouri 2012: Romney 45%, Obama 42%

So goes Missouri, so goes the nation. No state has supported the winner in more presidential elections than the Show Me State, and right now Mitt Romney is the only Republican presidential hopeful who leads President Obama among Missouri voters.

The first Rasmussen Reports Election 2012 survey of Likely Missouri Voters finds Romney with 45% support to the president’s 42%.

November 11, 2011

Obama Trails Generic Republican in Ohio

Most voters in the important swing state of Ohio disapprove of the way President Obama is handling his job, and an overwhelming majority believe the nation has gotten off on the wrong track.

(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 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was derived from nightly presidential tracking poll surveys conducted October 17-November 8, 2011 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

November 11, 2011

Just 25% Have Favorable Opinion of Rick Perry

Of the top contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is viewed most favorably by all voters, while Texas Governor Rick Perry is the least liked. Among Republican voters, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich still earn mostly positive reviews, while Perry and Ron Paul do not.  

Following his devastating debate freeze, just 25% of voters nationwide now have a favorable opinion of Perry.

(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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 9-10, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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November 10, 2011

In Florida, Obama Trails Generic Republican by Six

In the swing state of Florida, President Obama’s job approval rating is below the 50% mark and the economy is the top issue on the minds of voters.

New Rasmussen Reports polling data shows that 47% of Florida’s Likely Voters approve of the way the president is handling his job and 52% disapprove.

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November 9, 2011

Florida Primary: Cain 30%, Romney 24%, Gingrich 19%

As he continues to battle media coverage over past sexual harassment allegations, businessman Herman Cain leads other Republican hopefuls in the first Rasmussen Reports look at the GOP primary race in Florida.

The latest statewide telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary voters shows Cain with 30% support while former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney picks up 24% of the vote. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich draws support from 19% of Florida GOP voters with no other candidate picking up double-digits.

(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.

This Florida survey of 788 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on November 8, 2011 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.

November 9, 2011

51% Now Say Allegations Against Cain Likely to Be Serious and True

Most voters now say that the sexual harassment allegations made against Herman Cain may be both serious and true. At the same time, two-thirds believe Cain’s ethics are at least as good as most politicians. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of voters nationwide say it is at least somewhat likely the allegations against Cain are both serious and true.

(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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 7-8, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

November 8, 2011

California: Obama 45%, Generic Republican 41%

In reliably Democratic California, the president’s Job Approval rating has fallen below 50%, and he holds only a modest lead over a Generic Republican candidate.

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November 3, 2011

National Poll: Cain 26%, Romney 23%, Gingrich 14%

Georgia businessman Herman Cain, who continues to battle past allegations of sexual harassment, draws the most support nationally for the Republican nomination.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary voters shows Cain with 26% of the vote over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s 23%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich draws 14% support, with no other GOP contender reaching double-digits. Thirteen percent (13%) of GOP voters are undecided at this time. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

November 3, 2011

Voters Evenly Divided As to Whether Allegations Against Cain Are Serious and True

Two-thirds of America’s voters recognize that Herman Cain is the Republican candidate who has been accused of sexual harassment. Voters are evenly divided about the allegations and most Republicans believe the public airing of the charges suggest Cain is considered a serious threat to win the nomination.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% believe the allegations against Cain are at least somewhat likely to be serious and true.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree and 23% are not sure. Those figures include 17% who believe it’s Very Likely and 11% who say Not at All Likely.

(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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 1-2, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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November 2, 2011

South Carolina: Cain 33% Romney 23% Gingrich 15%

In South Carolina, businessman Herman Cain leads the GOP field with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney ten points behind. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is the only other candidate in double digits. The survey was conducted on Tuesday night following two days of media coverage concerning allegations of sexual harassment against Cain.

In polling conducted before the latest allegations, Cain led in Iowa with Romney second while Romney led in New Hampshire with Cain second.

(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.

This South Carolina survey of 770 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on November 1, 2011 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.

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November 1, 2011

Generic Republican 47%, Obama 42%

For nearly four months, a generic Republican candidate has led President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 matchup.  A GOP candidate now holds a five-point advantage over the incumbent for the week ending Sunday, October 30.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 47% support, while the president picks up 42% of the vote.

The survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted October 24-30, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

October 31, 2011

Wisconsin: Perry 46%, Obama 42%

Barack Obama carried Wisconsin easily in the 2008 presidential election, but he is slightly behind Texas Governor Rick Perry and runs just ahead of two other top Republican hopefuls in Rasmussen Reports’ first Election 2012 look at the Badger State.

Perry earns 46% support from Likely Wisconsin Voters to Obama’s 42% in a new statewide telephone survey. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and another six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on October 26, 2011 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.