Poll: Obama over 50% in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania
(CNN) – President Barack Obama has a majority of voters backing him in three critical battleground states, according to a survey released Wednesday.
The Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times poll showed Obama leading his Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Florida 51%-45%, in Ohio 50%-44%, and in Pennsylvania 53%-42%. Florida and Ohio are considered toss-ups in November's general election, while Pennsylvania is rated "lean Obama" on CNN's Electoral Map.
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The poll indicated that only 4% of likely voters in each of the three states had yet to decide on a candidate to support. Among Romney backers, 10% in Florida and Ohio and 9% in Pennsylvania said they could change their mind before November. Eleven percent of Obama's supporters in Florida said they could change their minds, compared to 13% in Ohio and 15% in Pennsylvania.
"If today were November 6, President Barack Obama would sweep the key swing states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania and – if history is any guide – into a second term in the Oval Office," Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, wrote in a statement accompanying the poll's release.
Brown cited better-than-average unemployment rates in Ohio and Florida as possible factors in Obama's lead there, writing that "The president is running better in the key swing states than he is nationally."
Among self-identified independents, Obama edges Romney in Florida 47%-46%, and Ohio 47%-44%. The president's lead among independents in Pennsylvania is more robust, 58%-36%.
A gender gap persists in all three states, where women are more likely to back Obama and men go stronger for Romney.
In all three battlegrounds, an enthusiasm gap persists between the two candidates. Sixty five percent of Obama supporters in Florida say they strongly favor the president, compared to 49% of Romney's backers who say they strongly favor the Republican candidate.
In Ohio, 60% were "strongly supporting" Obama, compared to 42% who said the same for Romney. And in Pennsylvania, 59% were strong supporters of Obama and 41% were strongly supporting Romney.
On the economy, voters are split between Obama and Romney. Forty seven percent of Floridians said Romney would do a better job handing economic issues, compared to 45% who named Obama.
In Ohio, 46% of voters said Obama would better handle to economy, and 45% picked Romney. Pennsylvanians gave Obama higher marks on the economy, with 48% naming the president as better on the economy and 44% naming Romney.
"All this matters because half of all likely voters say the economy is the most important issue to their vote, far ahead of any other issue. The saving grace for Gov. Mitt Romney is that he roughly breaks even with the president on who is best on the economy," Brown said.
The Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times poll was conducted by telephone July 24-30. In Florida, 1,177 likely voters were polled and the sampling error was plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. In Ohio, 1,193 likely voters were called with a sampling error of 2.8 percentage points. And in Pennsylvania, 1,168 likely voters were polled with a sampling error of 2.9 percentage points.
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Hahaha. Check the demographics. In 2010 the demographics of voters in FL were 35% dem, 35% repub, 29% indy. This survey? 36% dem, 27% repub and 32 Indy. If Romney is within 6% in this survey with its bad sample, Obama should be very scared. Ohio, survey has repubs 10% off 2010, 5% in Penn.
Hard to buck the dictatorial stranglehold the corrupt unions have over these states, I believe they are also heavily populated with the dope addicts and welfare frauds Obama favors over those people who actually work and pay taxes. Will have to fight against giving them assistance when their union benefit package pushes them in to bankruptcy.
These polls change direction every week...do they really matter?
This is great news. After the horrendous trip overseas I think more people will question the qualifications of this wannabe presidential candidate.
romney never says how he's going to solve anything all he does is complain,he flip flops on anything he says,first he's pro choice,then he's not,then he for gun control than he's not,he wants healthcare in his state then he's not,he jumps whenever the party tells him to jump.the guy iis a wimp no back bone
If only..., today were Nov 6th.
I wasn't polled.
My father wasn't polled.
My best friend wasn't polled.
They don't call cell phones.
There... now do you see how foolish you sound when the "polls" favor the other guy? But hey, by all means... Obama has got this locked up, right? So just stay home... chill out... and fire up American Idol reruns.
I don't think the polls reflected the majority of American think about the president and his jobs performance.
UP President Obama.. Down flip-flopper Robmey
Delighted to note that voters in Va,Fl & Pa are awake and have noted havoc created by the Right wing extremists. Hope they support our decent, lovable, mild mannered and caring President Obama
Not surprising. Why can't Newsmax tell the truth? They keep LYING about who is leading in the polls.
The article states that the Polling puts Obama ahead on ECONOMIC issues. Where were the subjects of this Poll, in an insane asylum?! Or, maybe in the welfare line collecting their next check? It is frightening to see numbers that indicate half the population has no clue as to what is happening to our country...........
Go get 'em Mr. President!
I can not wait to reelect President Obama in November. Best president of my lifetime.
American voters obviously have been fooled in the past by a pretty face, but in Romney's case, not this time. We're getting better a recognizing a phoney when we see one.
I'm still voting for Johnson since he's the only real choice this year. It'll just be more of the same if either of these two win.
As a registered democrat, I take this as cautiously optomistic. It really won't be for another month that these polls really mean something, especially after the debates.
Still, if I were a republican, I'd be starting to wonder why Romney is so against releasing his returns when even his father did so.
Nobody has EVER contacted me (and I have been around for a long time), so I truly wonder where this poll information comes from????
I haven't been polled but anyone except Barrack gets my vote!
He he he. How's that voter suppression campaign working out for ya'l now teapublicans? Obama/Biden/Roberts 2012! He he.
Great news this morning:) I'm sure hoping we keep this president in office. 4 more YEARS!!
Why do each of the polls oversample Democrats from 6-9 percentage points? Talk about a skewed poll.
If I was any of M!tt's billionniare contributors, I'd want my money back!
Another liberal slanted poll meant to create a perception that 4 more years of Obama is good?
Please, Obama has been an inexperienced disaster for the country. Again, CNN proves that its reporting is flawed as usual.
Go Obama! We need a leader who can beat terrorists without killing 4600 young men and woman. A man who can continue to reduce the defict,all while putting America back to work.
I have yet to see a conservative accept an Poll thats Favorable to the President..... if Fake the news told them pigs could fly they'd believe it ..... yet deny any fact or poll they don't like the sound of.