Raleigh, N.C. – A month after President Barack Obama fell behind three of his main 2012 Republican rivals and tied another, he has now jumped back ahead of all four. Obama leads Mitt Romney, 45-42 (Romney led 46-43 in July); Mike Huckabee, 47-44 (Huckabee, 47-45); Sarah Palin, 49-43 (tied at 46); Newt Gingrich, 49-42 (Gingrich, 46-45); New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, 47-31; and failed Tennessee gubernatorial candidate and viral video sensation Basil Marceaux, 46-21. Unlike last month, in every race except that versus Huckabee, Obama gets more of his party’s support than the Republicans do of theirs. He also now leads all candidates with independents, when all beat him last month.
When Ron Paul is included as an independent against Romney, he gets 13% to Obama’s 42% and Romney’s 36%. Paul earns the vote of 16% of the Republicans and 21% of the independents. Obama gets 79% of Democrats to Romney’s 68% of Republicans, thanks to Paul. Obama and Romney are tied at 33% among independents.
While Obama has become more popular, the Republicans generally have become less so. Huckabee’s personal favorability is down to 32-34 (37-28 last month), Gingrich 31-48 (32-42), Palin 37-54 (37-52), and Romney 35-37 (32-33). The lesser-known candidates, Christie, Paul, and Marceaux, have 14-20, 23-34, and 3-16 grades, respectively. Palin continues to be the least liked overall, but she also still posts the best numbers among GOP partisans, 71-19. She is dragged down by Democrats, who like her the least of any of the candidates, 10-83. She is only second-worst among independents, at 33-56 to Gingrich’s 24-51. Paul is best with unaffiliateds, 32-31.
“The numbers are more a reflection of name recognition than anything at this stage, and month to month, Obama’s standing against his potential Republican challengers fluctuates with his approval rating, which improved significantly this month over last,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
PPP surveyed 606 American voters from August 6th to 9th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.0%. 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…………….. 47%
Disapprove………… 48%
Not sure ……………. 5%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mike Huckabee?
Favorable……………. 32%
Unfavorable ………… 34%
Not sure ……………… 34%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Sarah Palin?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 37%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 54%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Newt Gingrich?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 31%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 20%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Chris Christie?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 14%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 20%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 66%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ron Paul?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 23%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 43%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Basil Marceaux?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 3%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 81%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mitt Romney?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 35%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 37%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q9 If the candidates for President in 2012 were
Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama, who
would you vote for?
Mike Huckabee ……………………………………….. 44%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 47%
Undecided………………………………………………. 9%
Q10 If the candidates for President in 2012 were
Sarah Palin and Barack Obama, who would
you vote for?
Sarah Palin …………………………………………….. 43%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 49%
Undecided………………………………………………. 8%
Q11 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%
Q12 If the candidates for President in 2012 were
Chris Christie and Barack Obama, who would
you vote for?
Chris Christie ………………………………………….. 31%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 47%
Undecided………………………………………………. 22%
Q13 If the candidates for President in 2012 were
Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, who would
you vote for?
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 42%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 45%
Undecided………………………………………………. 13%
Q14 If the candidates for President in 2012 were
Basil Marceaux and Barack Obama, who
would you vote for?
Basil Marceaux ……………………………………….. 21%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 46%
Undecided………………………………………………. 33%
Q15 If the candidates for President in 2012 were
Democrat Barack Obama, Independent Ron
Paul, and Republican Mitt Romney who would
you vote for?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 42%
Ron Paul ………………………………………………… 13%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 36%
Undecided………………………………………………. 9%
Q16 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 45%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 48%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 7%
Q17 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 42%
Conservative…………………………………………… 39%
Q18 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q19 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 ……………………………………………….. 39%
Republican……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 25%
Q20 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 10%
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q21 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………………………………………………….. 11%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 25%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 49%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 16%
Q22 How would you describe your current
employment status? If you are employed full
time, press 1. If you are employed part time,
press 2. If you are unemployed and looking for
work, press 3. If you are a student, press 4. If
you are a homemaker, press 5. If other, press
6
Full Time………………………………………………… 46%
Part Time ……………………………………………….. 10%
Unemployed……………………………………………. 8%
Student ………………………………………………….. 3%
Homemaker ……………………………………………. 8%
Other……………………………………………………… 25%
Q23 Have you ever smoked Marijuana? If yes,
press 1. If no, press 2. If you don’t care to
say, press 3.
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 27%
No …………………………………………………………. 63%
N/A………………………………………………………… 11%
