Bloomberg News National Poll

Study #2062 SELZER & COMPANY 1,007 general population 18 and over September 21-24, 2012 Margin of error: 3.1 percentage points Weighted by race, education, and marital status Includes 789 likely voters: Margin of error on likely voter questions: 3.5 percentage points Methodology September 25 (Bloomberg) -- The Bloomberg National Poll, conducted Sep 21-24 for Bloomberg News by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, IA, is based on interviews with 1,007 U.S. adults ages 18 or older. Interviewers contacted households with randomly selected landline and cell phone telephone numbers. Percentages based on the full sample may have a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Percentages based on the subsample of 789 likely voters may have a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points Responses were weighted by race, education, and marital status to reflect the general population based on recent census data. Results based on smaller samples of respondentssuch as by gender or agehave a larger margin of error. Republishing the copyrighted Bloomberg National Poll without credit to Bloomberg News is prohibited. Poll Questions In general, do you think things in the nation are headed in the right direction, or have they gotten off on the wrong track?
Right direction Wrong track Not sure

33

60

Which of the following do you see as the most important issue facing the country right now? (Read list. Rotate.) 3 11 14 3 4 6 7 43 4 1 4 Immigration Health care The federal deficit Terrorism Taxes The situation in the Middle East Gas prices Unemployment and jobs Other (VOL) (specify:) None of these (VOL) Not sure

Now, Im going to mention some people and groups in the news recently. For each, please tell me if your feelings are very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable, or very unfavorable. If you dont know enough to answer, just say so. (Record dont know as not sure. Rotate list.)
Net Net Very Mostly Mostly Very Favorable Unfavorable Favorable Favorable Unfavorable Unfavorable Barack Obama, president of the United States The Republican Party The Democratic Party Mitt Romney, Republican candidate for president and former governor of Massachusetts Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve George W. Bush, former president of the United States Bill Clinton, former president of the United States The Mormon Church Paul Ryan, the Republican candidate for vice-president Joe Biden, the vice-president Ann Romney, wife of presidential candidate Mitt Romney Michelle Obama, wife of President Barack Obama Not Sure

52 41 46 43 29 46 64 33 41 42 49 63

44 49 45 50 28 49 29 27 41 45 29 29

29 14 19 19 6 17 34 8 20 16 21 35

23 27 27 24 23 29 30 25 21 26 28 28

13 25 20 19 15 19 15 13 17 21 16 12

31 24 25 31 13 30 14 14 24 24 13 17

4 10 9 7 43 5 7 40 18 13 22 8

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president? (Follow with:) Do you approve or disapprove of the job he is doing:
Approve Disapprove Not Sure

As president With the economy

49 41

46 53

5 6

In politics as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or independent? (If independent, ask:) Do you lean more toward the Republicans or more toward the Democrats, or are you totally independent?
Republican Among all Among likely voters Lean Republican Totally independent Lean Democrat Democrat Other (VOL) Refused/ Not sure

22 24

11 12

25 21

10 8

27 30

1 1

4 4

In thinking about the upcoming election in November, would you describe yourself as very enthusiastic, fairly enthusiastic, just somewhat enthusiastic, or not enthusiastic?
(Asked of likely Nov. 2012 voters only; n=789. MoE: 3.5 percentage points.) Very enthusiastic Not Fairly Just somewhat enthusiastic enthusiastic enthusiastic Not sure

50
Among Obama supporters Among Romney supporters 52 52

19
18 18

21
20 22

9
9 6

1
1 2

If the general election for president were held today and the candidates were [Barack Obama for the Democrats] and [Mitt Romney for the Republicans], for whom would you vote? (Rotate candidates.)
(Asked of likely Nov. 2012 voters only; n=789. MoE: 3.5 percentage points.)
Obama Romney Someone else (VOL) Would not vote (VOL) Not sure

49

43

Would you say your mind is made up, or could you still be persuaded to vote for another candidate?
(Asked of likely Nov. 2012 voters only who support Obama, Romney, or someone else; n=745. MoE: 3.6 percentage points.) Among Obama supporters (n=402) Among Romney supporters (n=332)

All

87 12 1

89 11 -

86 13 1

Mind is made up Could still be persuaded to vote for another candidate Not sure

The candidates are both saying the other is out of touch with average Americans. Who do you think is more out of touch[Barack Obama] or [Mitt Romney]? (Rotate names.)
(Asked of likely Nov. 2012 voters only; n=789. MoE: 3.5 percentage points.)

40 49 11

Barack Obama Mitt Romney Not sure

For each of the following, please tell me which candidate do you think would be best[Barack Obama] or [Mitt Romney]? (Rotate candidate names. Rotate list.)
(Asked of likely Nov. 2012 voters only; n=789. MoE: 3.5 percentage points.)
Barack Obama Mitt Romney Not Sure

In understanding your problems and struggles In creating jobs In handling immigration In appearing regularly on your TV or computer screen for the next four years On health care On womens issues On improving the economic situation for the middle class On making the U.S. energy independent On dealing with gasoline prices On reviving the housing market

51 45 46 48 49 54 49 45 39 44

38 47 42 39 43 34 44 43 46 44

11 8 12 13 8 12 7 12 15 12

Do you think Mitt Romneys background as a private equity executive does or does not make him better prepared to create jobs as president? (Asked of likely Nov. 2012 voters only; n=789. MoE: 3.5 percentage points.)
Does make him better prepared Does not make him better prepared

Not sure

49

43

Im going to mention some things the presidential candidates have said they would do if elected. For each, please tell me if you are confident or skeptical they will make this happen. (Rotate candidate names. Rotate list. After each, ask: Are you confident or skeptical he will make this happen?)
(Asked of likely Nov. 2012 voters only; n=789. MoE: 3.5 percentage points.)
Confident Skeptical Not Sure

Barack Obama has said if re-elected he will cut the budget deficit without raising taxes on middle-class Americans Mitt Romney has said he will cut income tax rates for individuals and corporations without raising the federal budget deficit, by reducing tax breaks that primarily benefit the wealthy

36

62

42

55

Which candidate do you think is running the more negative campaign[Barack Obama] or [Mitt Romney]? (Alternate candidate names.)
(Asked of likely Nov. 2012 voters only; n=789. MoE: 3.5 percentage points.)

38 44 18

Barack Obama Mitt Romney Not sure

Whom do you think has laid out a better vision for a successful economic future for the U.S.[Barack Obama] or [Mitt Romney]? (Rotate candidate names.)
Barack Obama Mitt Romney Neither (VOL) Not sure

48

39

Is it your sense that Mitt Romneys economic policies would or would not be a revival of those of former president George W. Bush? 45 37 18 Would be a revival of George W. Bushs policies Would not be a revival of George W. Bushs policies Not sure

Is it your sense that Barack Obamas economic policies are or are not be a revival of those of former president Bill Clinton? 40 43 17 Are a revival of Bill Clintons policies Are not a revival of Bill Clintons policies Not sure

The candidates are debating two main approaches to stimulating the economy. [Barack Obama says resources and tax breaks should target the middle class so that they can spend more and earn more and create demand that will produce new jobs.] [Mitt Romney says resources and tax breaks should target higher income earners and corporations, who he calls the job creators, so they will invest and hire more workers.] Regardless of whom you support, whose approach do you think would do the most good for the economy[Barack Obamas] or [Mitt Romneys]? (Rotate candidate positions and names.) 52 40 8 Barack Obamas approach Mitt Romneys approach Not sure

Gov. Mitt Romney has told donors that 47 percent of Americans think of themselves as "victims" who are dependent on government programs. Which best describes your reaction? (Read list. Rotate.) 41 51 8 Hes right and more people should be able to make it on their own Hes wrong and most Americans work hard and sometimes need some help from the government Not sure

Are you better off or worse off than you were at the beginning of 2009?
Better off Worse off About the same (VOL) Not sure

43

33

23

What is your current view of the economy in the U.S.?

Hopeful because there are signs of improvement Fearful because things are getting worse Cautious because nothing is really happening

Not sure

33

21

45

Turning to the health care law passed in 2010, what is your opinion of the law? (Read list.)
It may need small modifications, but we should see how it works

It should be repealed

It should be left alone

Not sure

34

40

19

In 2009, Congress passed a set of rules and regulations for the financial industry known as the Dodd-Frank law. [President Obama supported Dodd-Frank and signed it into law.] [Mitt Romney has promised to repeal it if elected.] Regardless of who you support in this election, which candidate has it right[Barack Obama] or [Mitt Romney]? (Rotate candidate names and sentences in brackets.) 38 35 27 Barack Obama Mitt Romney Not sure

What is your age?

Gen pop Lkly voters

12 8 8 14 17 19 22 -

9 8 8 13 19 19 24 -

Under 25 25 to 29 30 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 and over Refused/not sure

What is the last grade of school you completed?

Gen pop Lkly voters

44 28 18 10 -

38 31 19 12 -

High school graduate or less Some college College degree Postgraduate work or degree Refused/not sure

Are you currently married?

Gen pop Lkly voters

59 41 -

62 38 -

Yes No Refused/not sure

Do you have children under the age of 18 living at home?

Gen pop Lkly voters

30 70 -

29 71 -

Yes No Refused/not sure

Do you work full-time for pay?

Gen pop Lkly voters

49 50 1

49 50 1

Yes No Refused/not sure

Which of the following best describes your religious beliefsCatholic, Protestant, some other kind of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, other, or none?
Gen pop Lkly voters

25 30 25 1 2 14 3

24 33 24 1 2 13 3

Catholic Protestant Some other kind of Christian Jewish Muslim Other None Refused/not sure

(Ask all.) Do you attend church services at least weekly, less often than weekly, or never?
Gen pop Lkly voters

41 32 26 1

44 32 23 1

At least weekly Less often than weekly Never Not sure

(Ask all.) Would you describe yourself as a "born again" or evangelical Christian, or not?
Gen pop Lkly voters

37 57 6

37 56 7

Yes No Not sure

How would you describe the place where you live?

Gen pop Lkly voters

29 19 50 2

29 22 48 1

A city with over 50,000 people A suburb A small city or rural area Refused/not sure

With what racial or ethnic group do you identify mostWhite, Black, Hispanic, Asian, or some other group?
Gen pop Lkly voters

72 10 9 2 2 5

73 10 7 2 2 6

White Black Hispanic Asian Other Refused/not sure

Is your total annual household income before taxes above or below $50,000 per year?
Gen pop Lkly voters

Is it above or below $25,000 per year? Is it above or below $75,000 per year? Is it above or below $100,000 per year?

20 22 20 12 15 11

18 20 21 12 17 12

Below (<$25,000) Above ($25,000-$49,999) Below ($50,000-$74,999) Below ($75,000-$99,999) Above ($100,000 and over) Refused/not sure

Sex:
Gen pop Lkly voters

49 51

49 51

Male Female

Region: Code Census regions

Gen pop Lkly voters

17 24 37 22

17 25 35 23

Northeast Midwest South West