PPP's newest Presidential poll in Massachusetts finds no change in the race from June. Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney by 16 points, 55-39. This would seem to suggest that Elizabeth Warren's poor numbers in our Senate release yesterday are more specific to her race than an indication of a general downward trend in the fortunes of Massachusetts Democrats.
Massachusetts voters simply don't think much of their former Governor. Only 39% of voters have a favorable opinion of Romney to 55% with an unfavorable one. They don't look back on his tenure as chief executive very fondly- 42% approve of the work he did in that job but 46% disapprove. And they don't really consider him to be a Bay Stater anyway- 23% consider him one of their own while 66% do not.
Romney can't match the Scott Brown formula for being successful as a Republican in a blue state. Where Brown leads Elizabeth Warren by 26 points with independents, Romney trails Obama by a point with them at 46-45. And Romney's 10% of the Democratic vote is half of the 20% Brown is earning right now.
Romney's not even the more popular member of the Republican ticket in Massachusetts. Paul Ryan's net favorability of -12 (37/49) is four points better than Romney's -16.
Even if Romney was well liked, Obama is pretty strong on his own merits in Massachusetts. 55% of voters approve of the job he's doing to 41% who disapprove, some of the best numbers we've found for him anywhere in the country lately.
Other notes from Massachusetts:
-Deval Patrick has a 49/40 approval rating, basically the same as his 49/43 standing in June. When asked whether they think he or Romney has proven to be a better Governor, voters choose Patrick by a 51/42 margin.
-John Kerry has a 50/38 approval rating this month, down a tick from 53/38 in June. He and Brown have gone back forth in terms of being the Massachusetts Senator with the higher approval numbers, and Brown wins out on that front this month.
-Massachusetts voters are closely divided when it comes to the recent controversy about sending voter registration forms to welfare recipients. 43% support it, 40% are opposed, and 17% don't have an opinion one way or the other. Democrats (61/22) support it while independents (37/46) and especially Republicans (14/71) oppose it.
Full results here
"Where Brown leads Elizabeth Warren by 26 points with independents, Romney trails Obama by a point with them at 46-45."
The end is near for E Warren...
Posted by: AI | August 22, 2012 at 05:37 PM
Sixteen-point leads are now called "modest"????
Posted by: Chuck Tranberg | August 23, 2012 at 12:19 AM
I was wondering the same thing Chuck.
Posted by: Bruce | August 23, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Uhh guys, since when is a 16 point lead, "Modest" I would correct that!!
Posted by: Indyjoe19 | August 23, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Your poll does not include Jill Stein, who is on the ballot in Massachusetts. Because you did not ask voters the same question that will be on their ballots, your poll is not valid.
Posted by: Matthew | August 25, 2012 at 12:41 PM
HAIL OBAMA DECISIVE LANDSLIDE SO RESPONSIBLE AND FIRM
Posted by: CHARLIE | September 14, 2012 at 08:30 AM