Poll Watch: Associated Press-GfK 2012 Presidential Survey

AP-GfK 2012 Presidential PollLikely Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 47%
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 46%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama-Joe Biden 50% (47%) {47%} [50%] (51%) {47%} [48%]
• Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan 40% (46%) {44%} [42%] (43%) {46%} [45%]

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 52% / 45% {+7%}
• Mitt Romney 48% / 46% {+2%}

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 56% / 40% {+16%}
• Mitt Romney 42% / 49% {-7%}

Overall, please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president. 

Likely Voters

• Approve 52%
• Disapprove 47%

Registered Voters

• Approve 54%
• Disapprove 42%

Please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling:

THE ECONOMY

Likely Voters

• Approve 47%
• Disapprove 52%

Registered Voters

• Approve 48%
• Disapprove 49%

GAS PRICES

Likely Voters

• Approve 35%
• Disapprove 56%

Registered Voters

• Approve 33%
• Disapprove 56%

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

Likely Voters

• Approve 52%
• Disapprove 46%

Registered Voters

• Approve 55%
• Disapprove 40%

THE SITUATION IN LIBYA

Likely Voters

• Approve 47%
• Disapprove 45%

Registered Voters

• Approve 46%
• Disapprove 42%

Regardless of how you might vote, do you think President Barack Obama… 

Likely Voters

• Will be re-elected 55%
• Will be voted out of office 32%

Registered Voters

• Will be re-elected 58%
• Will be voted out of office 28%

Regardless of whom you may support, who do you trust to do a better job of … 

HANDLING THE ECONOMY 

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 48%
• Mitt Romney 47%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 50%
• Mitt Romney 43%

HANDLING THE FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT 

Likely Voters

• Mitt Romney 47%
• Barack Obama 46%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 46%
• Mitt Romney 43%

HANDLING SOCIAL ISSUES, SUCH AS ABORTION AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE 

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 52%
• Mitt Romney 40%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 54%
• Mitt Romney 35%

PROTECTING THE COUNTRY 

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 51%
• Mitt Romney 45%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 51%
• Mitt Romney 40%

HANDLING HEALTH CARE  

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 50%
• Mitt Romney 43%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 52%
• Mitt Romney 38%

And regardless of whom you may support, which of the following candidates do you think … 

BETTER UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEMS OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 52%
• Mitt Romney 41%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 54%
• Mitt Romney 35%

IS A STRONGER LEADER

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 50%
• Mitt Romney 46%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 52%
• Mitt Romney 39%

MORE OFTEN SAYS WHAT HE REALLY BELIEVES 

Likely Voters

• Barack Obama 50%
• Mitt Romney 42%

Registered Voters

• Barack Obama 54%
• Mitt Romney 36%

Survey of 1,282 registered voters, including 807 likely voters, was conducted September 13-17, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 4.3 percentage points among likely voters. Party ID (among likely voters): 31% Democrat; 30% Republican; 30% Independent.  Party ID (among registered voters): 32% Democrat; 25% Republican; 30% Independent.  Ideology (among likely voters): 42% Conservative; 35% Moderate; 19% Liberal. Ideology (among registered voters): 39% Conservative; 35% Moderate; 19% Liberal. Results from the poll conducted August 16-20, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted June 14-18, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted May 3-7, 2012 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted February 16-20, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted December 8-12, 2011 are in curly brackets.   Results from the poll conducted October 13-17, 2011 are in square brackets.