Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ohio won our vote on where to poll over the next week.
Here's the game plan:
Nothing is going in the field until Friday, so that these polls can measure any impact there is from the Vice Presidential debate.
Ohio will come out Saturday night.
Florida and North Carolina will come out Sunday night.
Colorado we're going to try something new and conduct the poll completely in the 30 minutes after the Presidential debate ends on Tuesday night- that will give us a swing state snap poll on the debate in addition to the national ones other media organizations will do.
Iowa and New Hampshire will go into the field on Wednesday night after the debate and we'll release those either Thursday night or during the day on Friday.
So...we will look at the Presidential race in every state, the Senate races in Ohio and Florida and the Gubernatorial races in North Carolina and New Hampshire. Beyond those things what questions would you like to see us ask in these polls? Thanks as always for the good suggestions.
What do voters base their decision on more, debate performance or a candidate's record?
Posted by: Will S | October 10, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Ask for support or opposition to Romney/Ryan Voucher Care plan.
Posted by: Bill R. | October 10, 2012 at 10:55 AM
For the Ohio poll: Do you think hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) is regulated sufficiently in your state to protect the environment and public health? Answer: 1) Yes, 2) No, 3) Don't Know, or 4) Fracking can't be regulated and should be banned altogether
Posted by: Mg81992 | October 10, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Ask Ohio if voters approved of the Auto Rescue, and then ask them how much of an importance it will have on their vote Nov 6th.
Posted by: Jacob Miller | October 10, 2012 at 11:06 AM
In all places it will be useful to ask a question on Romney's recent contradictions on abortions?
Posted by: George | October 10, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Please poll gay marriage in Florida and Ohio.
Posted by: Philip D. | October 10, 2012 at 11:55 AM
In Iowa, I'd like to see numbers on the state Supreme Court justice who is up for reelection. (It's a "yes/no" do you want to keep him question, not an actual race between two candidates). He has been heavily targeted by the religious right because he was involved in the unanimous decision that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa. Three prior justices were ousted in 2010, but all three refused to campaign on their behalves. This candidate is campaigning though, so it is interesting seeing where this race is going.
Posted by: Stephen Lorimor | October 10, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Is it possible to poll the two house races in New Hampshire? They're both going to go down the wire and it would be really helpful if you could kindly poll them. I can't imaging it would be that difficult with only two districts.
Posted by: Mehdi | October 10, 2012 at 12:12 PM
Big Bird vs. Joe the Plumber
Posted by: Jacob | October 10, 2012 at 12:14 PM
In Iowa: the Supreme Court race
In New Hampshire: something about the next legislature and governor either leaving gay marriage alone or taking it up again
Posted by: HunterC | October 10, 2012 at 12:34 PM
I would ask about Medicare but don't use vouchers in the question. Also, ask about the Libya consulate incident.
Also, why are you bothering to poll NC? The chances for Obama are slim there. I think your resources would be better spent on WI (mostly because of Ryan and the debate) or NV/VA. Just my three cents.
Posted by: Mark | October 10, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Are you asking people if they have already voted (in OH at least)? Or if they plan to vote early?
Posted by: Andrew | October 10, 2012 at 01:09 PM
Issue 2 in Ohio
Posted by: Dave | October 10, 2012 at 01:30 PM
"Regardless of whom you intend to vote for", who do you think will win?
It is my undertstanding that through all the changes of a campaign, this question is the most predictive for election day? true?
Posted by: Craig Farmer | October 10, 2012 at 01:34 PM
Please don't do the snap poll. This would damage your reputation and your good quality polling over the years. I might be a comment many of us think that way. Still your my favorite Pollster
Posted by: Juan Serpa | October 10, 2012 at 03:32 PM
Does debate performance affect your choice of who to vote for?
Posted by: lm384 | October 10, 2012 at 03:33 PM
A new Survey USA poll came out today for Ohio and for the Senate race it had Independent Scott Ruppert nabbing 4% of the vote, I was wondering if you could add him to the senate race and see what happens?
Posted by: Michael | October 10, 2012 at 04:16 PM
Maybe you could ask people if they've already voted, to gauge how much of an impact Early Voting is going to have on this election's results.
Also, ask about same-sex marriage in Iowa, New Hampshire and Colorado.
Posted by: Justin | October 10, 2012 at 05:13 PM
Please include Gary Johnson in the polling for all states.
Posted by: MO | October 10, 2012 at 06:37 PM
Poll gay marriage in Colorado, Florida, New Hampshire and Ohio.
Posted by: Robert_1987 | October 10, 2012 at 08:18 PM
Amendment 64 in Colorado.
Posted by: Vicky | October 11, 2012 at 12:20 AM
"Did you support Ron Paul in the Republican primary?"
I think this would be really interesting to compare against current preferences. Do you know what these voters are doing? How many are voting for Romney or Obama? How many for Gary Johnson? How many are sitting out?
Posted by: Mario Incandenza | October 11, 2012 at 02:47 AM
Do you love coal?
Posted by: Ryke | October 11, 2012 at 01:22 PM
Do you think the Public Broadcasting Network should receive a federal subsidy.
Do you think the President made a mistake by not asking Hillary Clinton to be his VP in 2012?
Do you believe Fact Check reports released by media organizations?
Do you think either Lehrer or Raddatz has displayed bias in moderating the debate?
Which of the 4 candidates would you rather have lunch with?
Do you think Joe Biden should be more careful before speaking his mind?
Will you respect the outcome of the election if the other candidate wins the race?
Posted by: RR | October 11, 2012 at 06:00 PM
In New Hampshire and Colorado please poll Gary Johnson. In Colorado marijuana initative. Gay marriage in all states. Lebron's favorablity in Ohio
Posted by: Lucas | October 12, 2012 at 07:11 PM
Conducting an entire poll within 30 minutes seems like a bad idea, unless I'm misreading your idea there. Sounds like no time for callbacks, and the result will be extremely imbalanced demographics. All the re-weighting in the world can't solve the problem if the initial sample is shit.
1. Have you already voted, and if so, for whom?
2. Which candidate would you have rather hang out with? (Lunch, or a beer, etc. etc.)
3. Will you respect the outcome of the election if the other candidate wins the race?
(Cribbed from the guy above me. I like this one; it's a bit agenda-pushing, but for a good, nonpartisan agenda. Social desirability bias will force people to say yes, but their having said yes out loud to the question, metaphorically speaking, may make it harder for them to justify to themselves backtracking later.)
Posted by: Ted | October 13, 2012 at 12:41 AM
Here's a sleeper that might come up in the last two debates: the President's ban on the use of torture in interrogation. It was his first act as President. I would ask in all states for which the questionnaire is not yet settled. Very simple, approve/disapprove.
Posted by: rce | October 14, 2012 at 04:58 PM
Please do 2016 primary questions in both Iowa and New Hampshire. Should be especially interesting to see Biden's in Ryan's numbers among their respective parties, now that they've had their debate.
Posted by: Chris S. | October 15, 2012 at 07:12 PM
Judicial retention election re: David Wiggins. If possible, ask about the 3 other justices up for retention as well.
Preference for state legislature divided or state legislature controlled by one party.
Interestingly, some 15% of Iowans have already voted. Not sure how that impacts your polling.
Posted by: Dave | October 16, 2012 at 03:06 AM