Raleigh, N.C. – There is no doubt Michelle Obama is an asset to her husband on the campaign trail. 54% of American voters see her favorably and only 34% unfavorably, numbers that outshine the president’s own by more than 20 points. And the First Lady’s image is also at a higher plane than those of her potential replacements on the Republican side. Only 31% see Ann Romney positively, to 22% negatively. Karen Santorum falls at a similar 31-27. But Callista Gingrich has seen her numbers plummet like her husband’s, to 18-44.
There is growing talk about Mitt Romney’s “dog problem.” Before the issue was specified in the poll, only 20% of voters said they had a favorable opinion of Romney’s treatment of dogs; 29% said unfavorable. That compares to the president’s 44-14 spread on the issue. Even Republicans only think their nomination frontrunner is kind to man’s best friend by a 26-14 margin, while Democrats give the president’s puppy friendliness a 66-7 nod. 37% say Obama would be a better president for dogs, while 21% choose Romney. 16% of Republicans cross over for Obama on this issue, versus only 11% of Democrats for Romney. Independents go 38-14 for the president.
The generic description of what Romney did to Seamus, his Irish Setter, is seen as humane by only 14% of Americans and as inhumane by 68%. There is tripartisan agreement on that front—74% of Democrats, 66% of independents, and 63% of the GOP.
When informed that Romney had strapped his dog’s kennel to the roof of his car for a long car trip, 35% of Americans said it makes them less likely to vote for the potential GOP nominee, with only 7% saying it makes them more likely to do so. Independents fall at 59-3, and even Republicans side against Romney, 24-10.
The issue is most potent to women. 74% say what Romney did is inhumane, versus 62% of men, and 42% of women say his actions make them less likely to vote for him, versus 28% of men.
PPP surveyed 900 American voters from March 15th to 17th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.3%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Michelle Obama?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 54%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ann Romney?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 31%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Callista Gingrich?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 18%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 38%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Karen Santorum?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 31%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 27%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 42%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Barack Obama’s treatment of dogs?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 44%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 42%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mitt Romney’s treatment of dogs?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 20%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 51%
Q7 Who do you think would be a better President
for dogs: Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 37%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 21%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 42%
Q8 In general, do you think it is humane to put
your family dog in a kennel on the roof of your
car for a long car trip, or do you think that is
inhumane?
Humane …………………………………………………. 14%
Inhumane……………………………………………….. 68%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q9 Mitt Romney once strapped his dog’s kennel to
the roof of his car for a long car trip. Does this
make you more or less likely to vote for him, or
does it not make a difference?
More likely………………………………………………. 7%
Less likely ………………………………………………. 35%
Doesn’t make a difference ………………………… 55%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q10 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 12%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 21%
Moderate………………………………………………… 25%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 26%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 16%
Q11 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%
Q12 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 41%
Republican……………………………………………… 37%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 22%
Q13 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 10%
White …………………………………………………….. 75%
African-American …………………………………….. 10%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q14 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 15%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 37%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 24%
