Raleigh, N.C. – A month after trailing all but Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich, President Barack Obama is now ahead of all four major Republican presidential candidates polled, plus a new dark horse.
Obama has increased his lead over Palin from 47-45 to 50-43 since April; she is the only candidate against whom Obama has majority support. Even unknown candidate Gary Johnson, former New Mexico governor, has Obama at 46, to Johnson’s 28. Obama leads Mike Huckabee 46-45 after trailing him 47-45 last month. The president beats Gingrich 49-42; they were tied at 45 in April. Romney lags behind Obama 46-44 after beating him 45-44 a month ago.
81% of voters have no opinion of Gary Johnson; those who do are negative, 4-15. Romney is the only candidate to significantly improve his favorability numbers in the last month. His favorables stayed the same (33%) but his unfavorables dropped from 42 to 36. Huckabee stayed roughly the same, 32-31 then and 33-30 now. Palin went from 38-52 to 37-56, and Gingrich from 34-47 to 29-48.
PPP will release numbers on the race for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination tomorrow.
“The election is still over two years away, but this is another indication that President Obama’s and Democrats’ prospects have been boosted in recent weeks as the economy improves and the health care battle recedes in voters’ minds,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
Complete results are attached.
PPP surveyed 707 registered American voters from May 7th to 9th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.7%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Barack
Obama’s job performance?
Approve…………….. 50%
Disapprove………… 46%
Not Sure……………. 4%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mike Huckabee?
Favorable……………. 33%
Unfavorable ………… 30%
Not Sure……………… 37%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Sarah Palin?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 37%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 56%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 7%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Newt Gingrich?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 29%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 48%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 23%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Gary Johnson?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 4%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 81%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mitt Romney?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 33%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 36%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 31%
Q7 If the candidates for President next time were
Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama, who
would you vote for?
Mike Huckabee ……………………………………….. 45%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 46%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 8%
Q8 If the candidates for President next time were
Sarah Palin and Barack Obama, who would
you vote for?
Sarah Palin …………………………………………….. 43%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 50%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 6%
Q9 If the candidates for President in 2012 were
Newt Gingrich and Barack Obama, who would
you vote for?
Newt Gingrich …………………………………………. 42%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 49%
Undecided………………………………………………. 9%
Q10 If the candidates for President in 2012 were
Gary Johnson and Barack Obama, who would
you vote for?
Gary Johnson …………………………………………. 28%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 46%
Undecided………………………………………………. 26%
Q11 If the candidates for President next time were
Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, who would
you vote for?
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 44%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 46%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 11%
Q12 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 44%
Conservative…………………………………………… 38%
Q13 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q14 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 41%
Republican……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 24%
Q15 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 10%
White …………………………………………………….. 72%
African American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q16 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 9%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 21%
