Approval? Romney At 50%/Obama at 52% Disapproval? Romney at 41/Obama at 46

[Kathianne]

Approval within the margin of error. Disapproval? Not.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/gallup-poll-romney-favorable-rating-jumps-183950373.html


Gallup poll: Romney’s ‘favorable’ rating jumps

<cite class="byline vcard"></cite>

By Holly Bailey (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/author/holly-bailey/) | The Ticket (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/) – <abbr id="yui_3_4_0_25_1337290739620_328" title="2012-05-17T18:39:50Z">2 hrs 57 mins ago</abbr>

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/bwiJb1PpxMy0PPRO7Z_fcw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/theticket/gallup-screenshot-romney-favorable.jpg(Graphic via Gallup.com)



Mitt Romney's public image appears to be rebounding.


A new Gallup poll (http://www.gallup.com/poll/154703/Romney-Registers-Personal-Best-Favorable-Rating.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=morelink&utm_term=Politics) finds 50 percent of Americans polled have a "favorable" view of the presumptive Republican nominee—an 11-point jump since February. According to Gallup, that's the highest favorable rating the poll has recorded since they began tracking opinions about Romney in 2006.


Romney's favorable rating is 2 points lower than that of President Barack Obama—which currently sits at 52 percent. But more Americans view Obama unfavorably: 46 percent, compared to Romney's 41 percent. . .

[Wind Song]

I wouldn't call that a rousing approval rate for either of them.

[logroller]

What's the purpose of these polls anyways? They always leave me more leaning towards the ubiquitous 'not sure' category.

[Kathianne]

At this point it's only about trends. The 'news' though does awaken some, for or against candidates. They can also cause committees to re-elect to do smart or stupid things. So far it seems only Obama's team have been stepping in it. Romney? Not doing much but making his safe speeches.

Obama's coming out for gay marriage isn't a shocker in any way. However, it may costs him an number of black and Hispanic votes, and would most militant gays vote for Romney in any scenario?

[logroller]

At this point it's only about trends. The 'news' though does awaken some, for or against candidates. They can also cause committees to re-elect to do smart or stupid things. So far it seems only Obama's team have been stepping in it. Romney? Not doing much but making his safe speeches.

Obama's coming out for gay marriage isn't a shocker in any way. However, it may costs him an number of black and Hispanic votes, and would most militant gays vote for Romney in any scenario?
I get what you're saying; its the 'vote for the least worst' idea. What do you think is a better motivator to vote: who you want in office or who you don't want?

[Kathianne]

I get what you're saying; its the 'vote for the least worst' idea. What do you think is a better motivator to vote: who you want in office or who you don't want?

Actually with certain segments of the population, I think Obama in 2008, really broke what was becoming the mold for years prior. Many of the folks voting for him were not voting against McCain, contrary to what many have written. They wanted the 'black man.' It was racial and it was historical. This was true certainly with the young and overwhelmingly with Blacks.

Now? It will be apathy and getting this horror out of office. That's my prediction, anyways.

Apathy on the part of Blacks, they just got poorer and with the Gay thing. . . Apathy on youth too, they are not finding jobs and many that thought they'd head for the universities can't afford them. They are not happy campers. Neither of these groups are going to turn out for Romney, but they are going to hurt Obama by inaction. That's one of the things showing up in all the "Likely Voter polling" including Democracy Corp, a Democrat polling firm.

Hell, even with last election cycle, many of the labor folks realized there were systemic problems for them. This time? Let's just say Walker is strongly positioned to win the recall and Romney ties with Obama in WI.

[Kathianne]

http://realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html


General Election: Romney vs. Obama

Polling Data


<tbody>
Poll
Date
Sample
Obama (D)
Romney (R)
Spread


RCP Average
4/28 - 5/16
--
46.1
43.7
Obama +2.4


FOX News (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2012/05/16/fox-news-poll-presidential-race/)
5/13 - 5/15
913 RV
46
39
Obama +7


Rasmussen Tracking (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll)
5/14 - 5/16
1500 LV
45
46
Romney +1


Gallup Tracking (http://www.gallup.com/poll/150743/Obama-Romney.aspx)
5/10 - 5/16
3050 RV
45
45
Tie


IBD/CSM/TIPP (http://www.tipponline.com/presidency/news/presidency/obama-maintains-3-point-advantage-post-gay-marriage-announcement)
5/9 - 5/16
778 RV
43
40
Obama +3


Wash Times/JZ Analytics (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/13/obamas-chief-edge-is-enthusiasm-factor/)
5/11 - 5/12
800 LV
43
44
Romney +1


Associated Press/GfK (http://surveys.ap.org/data/GfK/AP-GfK%20Poll%20May%202012%20Topline%20final_2012eln. pdf)
5/3 - 5/7
871 RV
50
42
Obama +8


Reuters/Ipsos (http://www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=11610)
5/3 - 5/7
959 RV
49
42
Obama +7


Politico/GWU/Battleground (http://images.politico.com/global/2012/05/bg_47_questionnaire.html)
4/29 - 5/3
1000 LV
47
48
Romney +1


Democracy Corps (D) (http://www.democracycorps.com/wp-content/files/2012-May-1-DCorps-FQ_updated_WEB.pdf)
4/28 - 5/1
1000 LV
47
47
Tie

</tbody>
See All General Election: Romney vs. Obama Polling Data (http://realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html#polls)
CBS News/NY Times** (This poll is a call-back poll of voters first interviewed in their April 13-17 poll.)

[Kathianne]

I get what you're saying; its the 'vote for the least worst' idea. What do you think is a better motivator to vote: who you want in office or who you don't want?

The topic was polls, no? Not my vote or yours.

[logroller]

The topic was polls, no? Not my vote or yours.

Perhaps you misunderstand me; I meant among voters in general, not you specifically.

I thinks its a salient question regarding political polls which compare approval to disapproval/ favor vs disfavor.

I don't think they do these polls purely for scientific reasons, do you? It's about potential votes, right?

[fj1200]

I thinks its a salient question regarding political polls which compare approval to disapproval/ favor vs disfavor.

I don't think they do these polls purely for scientific reasons, do you? It's about potential votes, right?

They do it for the news story in it. And to show how much we all hated Bush. :slap:

[Kathianne]

Perhaps you misunderstand me; I meant among voters in general, not you specifically.

I thinks its a salient question regarding political polls which compare approval to disapproval/ favor vs disfavor.

I don't think they do these polls purely for scientific reasons, do you? It's about potential votes, right?

I'd say that polling is done for profit. Some might choose to 'selectively poll' but in the long run, that won't work. Telling a candidate, party, or interest group what they want to hear, works only in the short term. The disappointment down the road? Not a good thing.

The 'scientific part' is in whom is polled and the questions asked. Finding 1500 random 'likely voters' is more time consuming than 1500 'registered voters', which is still more time consuming than 'adults.' If polling the 'adults' you need a much larger number, than of 'likely voters' to make projections that have some statistical reliability.

Of course polling for things outside of voting, such as what features 'adults' want in cars at a particular point in time, no problem, other than with the choices offered and whether open ended or closed ended.

Make sense? It's a very short answer.

[logroller]

They do it for the news story in it. And to show how much we all hated Bush. :slap:

A seemingly oxymoronic combination. :laugh:

[Thunderknuckles]

The real significance of this poll shows Obama is in for a real fight and all that crap about Romney being a mormon just isn't sticking. I am really looking forward to this fight.

[DragonStryk72]

What's the purpose of these polls anyways? They always leave me more leaning towards the ubiquitous 'not sure' category.

Yeah, I think that's about what the poll is saying.

[Kathianne]

I can't help but beat a dead horse. Here's today's RCP chart for Obama/Romney. Look at LV, and RV, results. Notice that within the polling period on the chart, LV polls have any Obama numbers well within the margin of error? Romney's too for the most part, though some of that is changing. Now look at RV results? Much more volatility. It's the nature of the respondents. If we saw any A, (adult) polling, with no attempt to account for prior voting motivation, there may well be more skewing.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/dev/mt-static/images/logo-sub.gif (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/)

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</tbody>

General Election: Romney vs. ObamaPolling Data
<tbody>
Poll
Date
Sample
Obama (D)
Romney (R)
Spread


RCP Average
4/28 - 5/18
--
45.9
44.1
Obama +1.8


Rasmussen Tracking (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll)
5/16 - 5/18

1500 LV

46
45

Obama +1


Gallup Tracking (http://www.gallup.com/poll/150743/Obama-Romney.aspx)
5/12 - 5/18
3050 RV
44
47
Romney +3


FOX News (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2012/05/16/fox-news-poll-presidential-race/)
5/13 - 5/15
913 RV
46
39

Obama +7


IBD/CSM/TIPP (http://www.tipponline.com/presidency/news/presidency/obama-maintains-3-point-advantage-post-gay-marriage-announcement)
5/9 - 5/16
778 RV
43
40
Obama +3


Mason-Dixon (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/2012/mason_dixon_national_0518.pdf)
5/10 - 5/14
1000 LV
44
47
Romney +3


Wash Times/JZ Analytics (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/13/obamas-chief-edge-is-enthusiasm-factor/)
5/11 - 5/12
800 LV
43
44
Romney +1


Associated Press/GfK (http://surveys.ap.org/data/GfK/AP-GfK%20Poll%20May%202012%20Topline%20final_2012eln. pdf)
5/3 - 5/7
871 RV
50
42
Obama +8


Reuters/Ipsos (http://www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=11610)
5/3 - 5/7
959 RV
49
42
Obama +7


Politico/GWU/Battleground (http://images.politico.com/global/2012/05/bg_47_questionnaire.html)
4/29 - 5/3
1000 LV
47
48
Romney +1


Democracy Corps (D) (http://www.democracycorps.com/wp-content/files/2012-May-1-DCorps-FQ_updated_WEB.pdf)
4/28 - 5/1
1000 LV
47
47
Tie

</tbody>
See All General Election: Romney vs. Obama Polling Data (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html#polls)
CBS News/NY Times** (This poll is a call-back poll of voters first interviewed in their April 13-17 poll.)

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/images/rcp_legend.gif (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/)