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In the upcoming Wisconsin primary, billed as perhaps the final opportunity to change the trajectory of the Republican presidential contest, frontrunner Mitt Romney leads Rick Santorum by seven percentage points, according to a new NBC News/Marist poll. But should he capture the nomination, Romney would start out as the underdog against President Barack Obama, whom Romney trails by double digits.
Frederic J. Brown / AFP - Getty Images
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks during an event at NuVasive, a maker of devices intended to improve spinal care, in San Diego on March 26, 2012 in California.
In Wisconsin’s April 3 Republican contest, the former Massachusetts governor gets support from 40 percent of likely primary voters, including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a particular candidate. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum gets 33 percent, Texas Rep. Ron Paul gets 11 percent, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich gets 8 percent. Seven percent of respondents are undecided.
The poll – conducted March 26-27 – is consistent with the findings of a recent Marquette Law School survey, which found Romney leading Santorum by eight points. The Wisconsin race follows a familiar pattern: Romney holds the advantage over Santorum among liberal and moderate Republicans (43 percent to 24 percent), conservatives (42 percent to 33 percent), non-Tea Party supporters (42 percent to 31 percent), and those who earn $75,000 or more annually (47 percent to 32 percent).
Meanwhile, Santorum leads among very conservative primary voters (42 percent to 33 percent), strong Tea Party supporters (40 percent to 32 percent), and evangelical Christians (40 percent to 29 percent).
So far in all the GOP contests where there has been exit polling, Romney has won in every contest where evangelical voters have accounted for less than 50 percent of the electorate. And he has lost in every contest where that number has been higher than 50 percent.
The evangelical percentage among likely Wisconsin GOP primary voters, according to the NBC/Marist poll: 41 percent.
Obama leads in the general election
Looking ahead to the general election, the survey shows Obama holding a sizable advantage over his Republican opposition in this battleground state, which he carried in 2008 but where Republicans made big gains in the 2010 midterms.
Obama leads Romney in Wisconsin among registered voters, 52 percent to 35 percent, with 13 percent undecided. And he edges Santorum, 51 percent to 38 percent, with 11 percent undecided. The poll suggests, however, that both Romney and Santorum would have room to grow in the general election, given that a substantial portion of the undecided vote leans Republican.
Benefiting Obama is growing optimism about the state of the economy (52 percent believe the worst is behind them), as well as a more negative perception of the Republican Party (48 percent say the Democratic Party does a better job in appealing to those who aren’t hard-core supporters, while just 32 percent say that about the GOP).
What’s more, there’s a significant gender gap: Obama leads Romney among women by 25 points (55 percent to 30 percent) and men by 12 points (50 percent to 38 percent). The president’s job-approval rating in Wisconsin stands at 50 percent.
Divided over the recall
As for the recall contest of Republican Gov. Scott Walker, 46 percent of Wisconsin voters say they will support him in that race, while 48 percent indicate they’ll vote for the eventual Democratic candidate who will face off against the incumbent governor.
The approval rating for Walker – who sparked a firestorm of criticism in his effort to curb collective-bargaining rights for the state’s public-sector workers – sits at 48 percent approval, 48 percent disapproval. According to the poll, a majority of likely Republican voters say they’re following the recall more closely than the GOP presidential primary race, 51 percent to 37 percent.
The NBC/Marist poll of Wisconsin was conducted March 26-27 of 2,792 registered voters (with a margin of error of plus-minus 1.9 percentage points) and of 740 likely Republican primary voters (plus-minus 3.6 percentage points).
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Give me a break you guys! TWO YEARS!!!!!!!! Obama has NEVER stopped campaining since 2006. Almost everything he has done has been to further his campaign or create money for his campaign: 1); Spent the last 3 1/2 years trying to legalize the illegals because 70 % will vote for the democrats & if they are allowed to stay they will eventually be leagalized by the democrats 2) Pouring tax payer dollars into "green" companies who, as far as I know, ALL donated money to his reelection campaign 3) Using tax payer dollars to run around the country campaigning or mixing it with other travel 4) Passing Obama Care was to be his badge of honor and you could go on and on.
And your point? Seems to me that the Republicans have forgotten where their roots are. We are all the descendants of "illegal aliens." As far as Obamacare is concerned, .without it, thousands of women, children, and people with preexisting conditions wouldn't have health insurance right now. All Presidents have run around the country campaigning and I like the idea of green companies. BTW, I donated money to his reelection campaign, too.
MountainLioness, YOU HAVE IT ALL WRONG. There was NO law against anyone immigrating until more recently. Thus, IT WAS NOT ILLEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have NO ancestors who were "illegal." Do you? As for your other comment about Obamacare I also have a news flash for you. Obamacare is NOT the ONLY way to get coverage for preexisting considitions! Again you have it wrong.
Joyce EV: please go fill out an application and declare that you are currently in remission on brest cancer for 6 months and see how many acceptance letters you get.
Obama has NEVER stopped campaining since 2006
Bush NEVER stopped campaining since 1998 and Clinton NEVER stopped campaining since 1992. That's what presidents -- Democrats or Republicans do so stop the insane whining about it. That topic is just as stupid as the great teleprompter issue you teatards run your yaps about.
I need a paxil: Do I need to lead you by the hand? Laws CAN be passed to cover shortcomings in our laws to cover those kind of problems without making our health care into that of a 3rd rate country or bankrupting our country.
Joyce, if you noticed my reference to illegal aliens is in quotes. Yes we are all descendants of people that came here from other countries unless you are Native American, then you can say what you said. Please tell me what other ways there are to get health insurance with a preexisting condition if there was no Obamacare.
lets see Joyce— I have been in the insurance field for 22 years and am still waiting for these laws to be passed. Obamacare did.
Joyce Ev- why do you people watch Faux News and then bring their lies to our web page.If Obama has spent 31/2 years trying to get more illegal immigrants in the country then why hasn't he put a bill through the Senate to do that?Why has Obama sent more illegal immigrants back home than George W. Bush?Stop listening to Faux News so I don't have to correct you.
Your not going to change a Liberals mine, if you could call it that.
They would rather hold their breath until they turn blue.
According to these Dolts.........no one had any health-care before their chosen one arrived.
It's funny........my health-care rocketed up in price after this Jack leg showed up.
Ed, it's funny hearing Nancy Pelos lie about the US health care system, and state how "we had to pass their health care reform so that everyone could get health care, not just the few ". As is well known, in reality 85% had insurance already, but lying about basic facts to scare up support for their horrible ideas, is a familiar tactic from the left.
Ed, your's is a stupid post.
At least, we Liberals are willing to provide facts about our statements. Where are yours?
"we had to pass their health care reform so that everyone could get health care, not just the few ".
Except that's not what she said. What she said was: ": "But we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it AWAY FROM THE FOG OF CONTROVERSY." Meaning is certainly different when you hear the full and correct quote, isn't it?
"As is well known, in reality 85% had insurance already"
And you're okay with 15% of our population being completely uninsured, with at least part of the 85% locked into their present jobs just to maintain their health insurance due to their own, their partners' or their children's pre-existing conditions? I'm not okay with that.
NEW YORK TIMES:
Health Insurance Cost Rising Sharply This Year, Study Shows
By Reed Abelson
Published: September 27,2011
The cost of health insurance for many Americans this year climbed more sharply than in previous years, outstripping any growth in workers’ wages and adding more uncertainty about the pace of rising medical costs.
You know what you can do with these facts don't you ? Same thing Liberals did with the FBI report showing Slick Willie's semen on Monica's dress. Ignore it like it never happened.
Also in the study cited by the article you are talking about is the fact that health insurance premiums increased 113% from 2001-2011, with only a 3% increase in 2010 (the year ACA passed). Found here: http://ehbs.kff.org/pdf/8226.pdf
How about those facts?
The GOP primary ended with the Illinois victory for Romney. He will win, and no one else has a shot. He had to be destroyed earlier on in the race to be beaten.
Romney has 565 delegates. There are three winner take all races coming up, that he will win, each and every one.
Wisconsin--42 delegates (Romney will win this Midwest state like he won Michigan, Ohio and Illinois)
Maryland--37
DC--19
Romney will then have 653
Then there's Missouri: 52, caucus, Romney will get about 15 at least
New York: he will win at least 60 out of 95
Pennsylvania: 30/72
Connecticut: 20/28
Rhode Island: 14/19
Delaware, winner take all: 17/17
North Carolina: 20/55
Indiana: 20/46
West Virginia: 10/31
Nebraska: 15/35
Oregon 20/28
Kentucky 20/45
Arkansas 12/36
Texas 55/155
California, winner take all 172/172
New Jersey, winner take all 50/50.
At this point Romney will have around 1273 delegates and will have won the nomination. He will seal it (1144) after California, if not before.
After this there are still a few states remaining:
South Dakota, he will win at least 10/28
Montana 13/26
New Mexico 12/23
Utah, winner take all 40/40.
Romney will end up with at least 1348 delegates by the end, you need only 1144 to win. The math is irrefutable, and in fact he will probably do better than the above. Even if Santorum pulled off an improbable win in Wisconsin next week, he would still lose.
It's over.
Romney's path to the nomination is sealed because the winner take all states are all blue states where they want a moderate, so he makes huge gains there, and the red states are mostly proportional so he's still picking up some delegates at least in all the places that Santorum is stronger. He gets 100% of several states, and then 30-70% of all the rest.
And then in November, Romney will lose the general election. 270 electoral votes is simply out of reach for any GOP nominee. Obama won 365 electoral votes in 2008, so he doesn't need to do nearly as well to win this November. Romney would have to win ALL 5 of the following states to reach 270 electoral votes; VA, PA, NC, FL & OH. Obama won all 5 in 2008, and is polling ahead of Romney in most right now. It looks like Obama is poised to win my home state, the great commonwealth of Virginia a second time. He's ahead in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida.
Any way you do the math, Obama wins a second term. The one thing all these GOP candidates have in common is none of them will ever be President of the United States of America.
Willard is building yet another mansion. This time in California. Its features include, an elevator for his cars and a lobbyist to get the zoning he wants.
For Pete's sake Willard, its an election year. Couldn't you have waited till after the election to build your consolation prize?
Thank GOD you changed that ugly picture. Have you figured out who BARRY SOETORO is yet?
What have we learned children.........Don't make mama mad.
Romney's plan for the economy is to reduce business taxes and remove regs. Basically Bush's policys.
They didn't work under Bush, why would they work now?
We have the highest corperate tax IN THE WORLD. Why would anyone want to start a buisiness here?
"We have the highest corperate tax IN THE WORLD."
No, we don't. The United Arab Emirates do, and there are several others that have higher marginal tax rates than we do. See here: http://www.gfmag.com/tools/global-database/economic-data/10443-corporate-tax-by-country.html#axzz1qhqwNkGB
And fyi, the marginal tax rates are not what corporations end up paying, or else why would so many large corporations have paid 0 taxes last year?
So far as pre-existing conditions the only ways that I know of are you can apply as an indegent or you can try to set up a payment plan.If you have breast cancer and set-up a payment plan your payments would be astronomical.If try to go the indegent route the government(Medicaid) would probably cease all of your assets.I do know they require that you list all of your income and all of you property(cars,trucks,boats,motorcycles,trailers,land or mobil homes).
Insurance companies should not have to cover your pre-existing condition if you had enough money to buy insurance before you got sick and chose not to.
Or they should be able to charge you $20,000/year or more to cover your illness if they decide to insure you.
Leftwingers actually think you should be able to wait until you get a $500,000 condition and then go buy insurance for $400/month? Are they stupid?
Chesty, do you know what a preexisting condition is? If I am correct, a preexisting condition, most of the time, is one you are born with like a heart murmur. But, I will look it up and present proof as I have before.
It means what you had before you got your new policy with the insurance company.
A kid with a heart problem would already be covered by their parents' policy, and would not count as a pre-existing condition. For the few without health insurance (15%), they often qualify for a handout from Medicaid, and I believe all children, even ones with parents who make 80,000/year are idiotically covered through the government's new SCHIP extension, passed under the Demoncats and signed by George W Bush.
What we should do with any person who gets an expensive illness without insurance and wants a govt handout, as opposed to a handout from a charity, to pay for the illness, is CHECK THEIR TAX RETURNS for the past several years. If at minimal levels of spending, they had enough to buy their own insurance but instead chose to make payments on a new car, or luxuries, they should get absolutely 0.
And have all their paychecks for the rest of their life garnished 10% to pay their own medical bills. If it's life-saving, then obviously they won't mind paying for it, right?
That is not true. That child would not be covered without Obamacare. If Obamacare is repealed, children with preexisting will not be covered by their parents' insurance.
"Insurance companies should not have to cover your pre-existing condition if you had enough money to buy insurance before you got sick and chose not to."
Under previous guidelines, pregnancy was a pre-existing condition. And that meant you could NEVER change jobs if you'd had a heart murmur, high blood pressure, a melanoma, etc. Because the insurance company could a) deny you, or b) raise the rates of the group policy your employer provided.
If OBAMA CARE is so good, why isn't it constitutional?
Since there hasn't been a ruling on it yet from the SCOTUS, it isn't unconstitutional currently.
Ed-I negotiated union contracts in the 1990's and health insurance premiums were rising at 20% a year back then.
Therman Merman- Mitt Romney already owns the house,he had to get a permit because he wants to tear part of the house down and make the house bigger.Romney also wants to add an elevator to the property ,for his cars.
Regarding Romney's currently polling behind Obama, we are still in the Republican primary season. The ads have not started running linking Obama to high gasoline prices, to a $5 trillion deficit increase since he took office, to the CBO report that Obama care's cost estimate has doubled, to the fact that added 240,000 federal employees to the payroll over the last 3 1/2 years while we were running the record deficits and the facts that he has mishandled both Iran and North Korea.
There also is the fact that he delayed the Keystone pipeline for one year, the question can be hammered home which constituency will he anger after the election, the environmentalists (against) or the unions (for)?
Also, he is proposing lowering our number of nuclear warheads to 300, this puts us on a level playing field with Pakistan. Are there any guarantees that the Taliban will not take over or jihadists cannot hijack these nukes. We need to not be only on nuclear parity with a much smaller (third world) country, we need to have superior forces to properly be able to negotiate from a position of power.
He's only down 1% today in Rasmussen's poll. He led Obama yesterday by 2%, although Realclearpolitics has taken that one down.
"The ads have not started running linking Obama to high gasoline prices,"
Uh, yeah, they have. See here: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74643.html
"to the CBO report that Obama care's cost estimate has doubled,"
Except this didn't happen. See here: http://www.cbo.gov/publication/43080 and here for a common sense explanation: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/no-the-cbo-hasnt-doubled-its-cost-estimate-for-health-care-reform/2011/08/25/gIQAZj7FPS_blog.html
"to the fact that added 240,000 federal employees to the payroll over the last 3 1/2 years"
No. See here: http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/25/news/economy/obama_government/index.htm and governments lost an average of 22K jobs per month in 2011. See here: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
Sink or swim, economic freedom, should apply to all, including 50 billion dollar companies who were swimming in cash a few years back, but then fall on hard times.
Fancy corporations too, like everyday people, must end up in the gutter when they fail.
Let me correct a former statement I made concerning preexisting conditions. I will freely admit that my statement is worded wrong. However, here is something I did find that disturbed me;
From; http://healthinsurance.about.com/od/healthinsurancebasics/a/preexisting_conditions_overview.htm
Concerned about their financial bottom line. Just goes to show it's all about the money.
ChestyPuller that was spoken like a true 1% er.That is an easy statement to make when you have no skin in the game.If the Auto industry had been allowed to fail that would have caused almost 3 million people to lose their jobs,in the auto industry.There is no way of knowing how many people outside of the auto industry would have been unemployed,collateral losses.The people that sell gasoline,work in restaurants,work in grocery stores and various other affilliated occupations.If you are small business owner in the town where these factoies are you would be affected
Chesty proves a point I have made time and time again. Republican supporters never supply proof of their statements or admit when they are wrong. I posted part of an article about the Auto Industry bail outs. It's the first post on this page. Obviously, Chesty passed it by.
Yep. I'm glad BUSH signed the Auto Bail out. Good job BUSH.
O B A M A C A R E is going down.
leroy,
Obama signed the auto bailout. Bush signed the bank bailout.
Romney and Gingrich have been "secretly meeting for weeks." How long has Romney had Gingrich co-oped to play the Santorum spoiler/vote-spiliter?
Really?/ Trust me, Newtie boy's ego won't let him drop out until he's out of money, which will be soon.....he didn't fire 1/3 of his staff because he's got plenty of backing.
We should really be discussing President Romney's agenda for the first of his eight years in office. Lots of Obama garbage to throw out. Lot's of Obama mistakes to correct. This may take the whole first year of Romneys blessed term.
Let's see how whitewashed the history books record Obama's wasted time in office. What a joke.
4 years would be more than enough. CHUCK NORRIS 2016
The fact that Sanitarynapkin is even being considered is ridiculous! There's only one reason the christians want him and that's because Romney is a MORMON! They'd vote for Barney Frank before they'd vote for a MORMON....well guess, they're all going to have to eat dirt and vote for Romney or vote for the black guy.....I suspect come November, they will all think Romney is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Meanwhile, Sanitarynapkin can go back to Pennsylvania, or Virginia, or wherever he lives and plant placentas, he's become an expert at that.
how many abortions have you paid for? What is it with liberals lust for dead babies? You all act like killing your first born is the greatist thing since the electric light. And if someone doesn't want to kill babies they get treated like freaks.
I see you are a male..........as such you don't get it so keep your opinion to yourself.
OF COURSE HE IS IN THE LEAD ; he's got enough money from shutting down american companies , '' it's but menial to trample on his fellow republicans. REPUBLICANS , '' GET READY TO WORSHIP AT THE FEET OF BISHOP POLYGAMY !!!!!!!!!!!!
if the press would give republican candidates the pass they gave obama during the '08 election, Howdy Doody could win an election. Wait... he did...
point is, obama hasn't done the job. the libs should put up another candidate - he can't possibly be the best democrat man/woman to sit in the white house.
regarding comment from 'republicans or just plain greedy' - if you want to play that game, take a look at virtually every member of congress and try to figure out where their $$ came from. it's not public service anymore, it's a business and a club and, if you can get in you are virtually assured significant wealth. ever wonder why our 'leaders' are not subject to the same health care we are (or will be) or, why insider trading for them is legal but would put you or me into an orange jumpsuit?
you need to quit watching Maddow... she, Chris, Bill, Sean and the rest of them are selling a product and while you may be able to verify what they say, it's more interesting to note what they haven't said about whatever topic they are whining about.
As long as the voters of Wisconsin show up Tuesday and vote, the beginning of end will soon be here. But if they read and are influenced by MediaMatters dribble, then the Obama PAC hit men will succeed in lulling the GOP to sit it out. This is why so many bland and anti-Romney articles for the next three days will be written. Tricky Ricky will energize the evangelical base. Knowing this is last chance to screw over the GOP and re-elect Obama, he'll pull out all the stops, including robocalls to DEMs encouraging them to crossover & vote for him to help Obama. Don't fall for it! Romney IS ahead in the polls, as he was in Mississippi. Do not sit home Tuesday night knowing you could have voted, only to find Tricky Ricky won because of low turnout. Go to the polls and vote wisely Wisconsin. Vote Romney.
What we have here is dumb, dunmber and dumbest. although you probably dont't know who yuo are, because you are dumb dumber Oh maybe you get the picture.
Who gives a frothy crap. Dumb ,dumber and dumbest vote for them.
Trickey Rickey . Are we original or what. Smooth sailing for you now ,you caught the attention of Dumb,and dumber.
When any story talks about Romney or Santorum being ahead in the polls you have to consider how many Republicans are even admitting they are Republicans................The President is double digits ahead of either one of them in the national polls............... AND I don't like this new " go to facebook" crap on here.
The polls will look a lot different after Romney gets the nomination and runs against Obama's pathetic record during the general election, much different than the primaries. Enjoy these numbers as much as you can, they will not last, sorry!
How many numbers can you put on an etch a scetch? As many as they want to hear.
It's going to be interesting to see if all of the redneck jesus freaks who have been supporting Sanctorum in the primaries will vote for Romney in the general election.
Sorry I will say anything you want to hear. I want to be president and CEO of America the Beautifiul. Pretty soon I will know all the words.
In america the trees are just the right height.