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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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Oh look is that my country club past the lakes that are just right.
Keep feeding all the stupid people what they want to hear and they will suck it up.
I would be a republican if I wanted to be hated too.
Mitt rommney has a lot of backing now. Let's see ,the oil companies, the Koch brothers. wallstreet, the banks ,GM, uhh forget that one, and don't forget the poor in their safty net.
I'm sorry I guess I have never seen the movie(Robin Hood in Reverse) Steal from the poor and give to the rich.
Mitt surely doesn't have to forget where he came from. Once you are spoiled you never forget.
And in other news: The arrests continue to pile up at OWS rallies, as well as the death toll.
OWS Tallahassee reports a man was found dead in his tent... AFTER 3 DAYS!!!
The stench coming from the protestors themselves evidently covered the odor of rotting human flesh. The man filled out a form indicating he was diabetic, and yet NOT ONE person went to investigate his absence from the frivolity that is OWS. According to OWS organizers he was very involved... AND STILL IT TOOK THEM 3 DAYS TO CHECK ON HIM.
Is this just more proof that the collective is more important than the individual?
More than 5,000 arrests and counting. What is it now 12-13 deaths, 4 known rapes, multiple assaults including assaults on police, thefts at unknown numbers, public drug use....
AND STILL THEY CAN'T SEE IT. IF YOU ARE SUPPORTING OR ATTENDING OWS RALLIES YOU ARE BEING USED. THEY (the folks organizing you... er paying you) CALL YOU "USEFUL IDIOTS". THEIR WORDS, NOT MINE. When will you people wake up and understand the only logical thing you can do is stand up for the Constitution and use your voice to force the government back to what the founders intended... a government with LIMITED powers!
JustSlapMe seems like you lie is exposed!!!!!!!! and you libs highly rate his BS
A little bit of fun with Mitt Romney.
One of the Top 5 stories on Yahoo Voices this week.
The Republican reality show is fun to watch, but, in the end, their candidate will lose. It'll be Mitt Romney, for sure, but he and the other GOP nominees (add in Roseanne Barr) have one thing in common, none of them will ever be president.
Look at the facts; In order for Mitt to get to 270 electoral votes, he'd have to win all 5 of the following states; PA, NC, FL, OH and VA. In 2008, President Obama won all 5, and this November, to secure 270, all he has to do is win just one of those 5 states. As of right now, Obama is poised to win my home state of Virginia for a second time, thus, he wins the election. In Ohio and Pennsylvania, Obama is polling ahead of Romney. Florida and NC will be tossups once again, but Obama is still favored in both states. The vice president should also be able to deliver Pennsylvania a second time (they're a lot more proud of Biden than Sanscrotum.)
Any way you do the math, Obama wins this election. In 2008, the president won 365 electoral votes, so this November, he doesn't need to do nearly as well to win a second term. It's a good time to be an American (unless you're a republican, but republicans hate America anyway.)
cant comprehend what kind of idiot thinks obama isnt a failure and deserves re-election.
Your last statement is not only a lie but the most moronic statement ever made.
It is the Republicans, the conservative ones that are actually fighting FOR the Constitution. It is the left that is fighting to destroy the founding document of this country.
If that idiot gets re-elected Obama will continue his attack on Constitutional government and this country. And YET you think he loves America? Jesus H. Crimeney what planet are you from? Do you even pay attention to the unconstitutional actions? Do you get ALL of your information from MSNBC and Media Matters? Open your eyes.
Matthew - Quit with the BS... There's no attempt on the left to attack the constitution. The only attempt is that which is in your mind. In fact it's people like Ron Paul who wants to repeal the 16th admendment, and the GOP that is proposing constitutional admendments (such as defining marriage as between a man and a women).
Now either you follow the constitution (and BTW there's a Supreme court to determine if laws are constitutitional), or if you don't like what it says you try and change it....and from what I've read it's the GOP that doesn't like the constitution and wants to either change or admend it. So, WHO really is following the constitution?
And from everything I've read it's the GOP bloggers that don't like America....and what to somehow change it.... biggest whiners there is...they lose an election and the world is falling apart.. and I for one hope it continues, you whinning.
Virginia Democrat,
You can make the information say whatever you want, in case you haven't noticed, winning reelection isn't the same as winning it the first time. In 2008, people didn't know what kind of president he is (or has been). You can't judge by what states he won in 2008.
dOwn with sOcialism
I wonder what people would think IF I got my friends together and placed a bounty on say... BILL AYERS and Bernadine Dorhn for their terrorist activities duing the 60's including bombings and murders?
Facts: Both were members of the Weather Underground. Bills father is the 1% he is so vehemently fighting against. Told soldiers to stop fighting the communist in Veitnam and come home to kill their parents. Whose #1 goal in life is to destroy the American way of life (ending the very way of life he exploits all the while railing against it). During a time of war the wanted to cause the collapse of the United States and create "re-education camps" AFTER murdering 25 million people according to the FBI informant on the Weather Underground Larry Grathwohl.
BTW this guy is an Obama buddy and you idiots on the left wonder WHY conservatives are concerned?
You would have Homeland Security or The Justice Department dumbo at your front door.....all is not fair and equal in our grand country.
Matthew - I could give a rats A$$ about Bill Ayers...One, he had nothing to do with this administration, nothing. If he's the criminal you claim, why isn't he in jail for life?
All this is right wing BS. You need to get over it... It's total crap...talk about something important, not dribble coming from the right.
No surprise there. Romney is usually ahead with moderates and right-leaning independents while Santorum and Gingrich usually come out ahead with the insane.
Go Mitt.....time we got on with defeating O bla mr..............
Well said.
Obama out in 2012!!
Romney/Rubio 2012!!!(It even sounds cool:)
nOpe 2012
the republicans have not a chance to win . probably the worst showing in a very long time.
and you republican women, remember to close your eyes! How can women even put up with
such nonsense If you as a women put a party ahead of yourself and women's health then maybe
we should go back to barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen leave your right's upto men who are not interested in what women have to say and when they do they sure make them pay for stepping out of their place.
With what the republican party has tried to pull over the american people during this election cycle is dispictable and should you vote for them. Then ask yourself if you have any dignity or self respect.
The news people say its going to be a tight race but that's bull they have to keep the rating's, thats what their concerned with not reporting the truth obama 54 romney 49 that's total fabricated obama is leading by atleast 20 percentage points and growing larger everytime, a new republican politician stand's up for restricting women's rights.Transgenital probing are you OUT OF YOUR MIND...
Of course a liberal bias site like MSNBC will try and avoid posting anything negative about Obama. So, I like to post the news they always seem to leave out. In the Top Stories:
WASHINGTON (AP) — A major donor to President Barack Obama has been accused of defrauding a businessman and impersonating a bank official, creating new headaches for Obama's re-election campaign as it deals with the questionable history of another top supporter.
The New York donor, Abake Assongba, and her husband contributed more than $50,000 to Obama's re-election effort this year, federal records show. But Assongba is also fending off a civil court case in Florida, where she's accused of thieving more than $650,000 to help build a multimillion-dollar home in the state — a charge her husband denies.
Obama is the only presidential contender this year who released his list of "bundlers," the financiers who raise campaign money by soliciting high-dollar contributions from friends and associates. But that disclosure has not come without snags; his campaign returned $200,000 last month to Carlos and Alberto Cardona, the brothers of a Mexican fugitive wanted on federal drug charges.
Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt declined comment to The Associated Press. He instead referred the AP to previous statements he made to The Washington Post, which first reported the allegations against Assongba in its Sunday editions. LaBolt told the paper 1.3 million Americans have donated to the campaign, and that it addresses issues with contributions promptly.
Assongba was listed on Obama's campaign website as one of its volunteer fundraisers — a much smaller group of about 440 people.
Assongba and her husband, Anthony J.W. DeRosa, run a charity called Abake's Foundation that distributes school supplies and food in Benin, Africa. A photo posted on Assongba's Facebook page shows the couple standing next to Obama at a May 2010 fundraiser.
In one Florida case, which is still ongoing, Swiss businessman Klaus-Werner Pusch accused Assongba in 2009 of engaging him in an email scam — then using the money to buy a multimillion-dollar home, the Post reported. The suit alleges Assongba impersonated a bank official to do it. Pusch referred the AP's questions to his attorney, who did not immediately return requests seeking comment Sunday.
Meanwhile, Assongba has left a trail of debts, with a former landlord demanding in court more than $10,000 in back rent and damages for a previous apartment. She was also evicted in 2004 after owing $5,000 in rent, records show.
In an interview with the AP on Sunday, DeRosa said the allegations against his wife were untrue, although he couldn't discuss specifics because of pending litigation. He said he and Assongba were "very perturbed" by the charges, and said the couple's charity does important work in Africa.
Assongba has given more than $70,000 to Democratic candidates in recent years, an AP review of Federal Election Commission data shows. Her larger contributions include $35,000 to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee between Obama and the Democratic Party, and $15,000 to Democrats running for Congress. DeRosa also gave $15,000 to Obama's victory fund in April 2011, records show.
Abake's Foundation is listed by the IRS as a registered nonprofit organization; its financial reports were unavailable. A representative who picked up the phone at the foundation's Benin office declined to answer questions, and instead referred the AP to Assongba.
Obama's campaign declined to comment on whether its vetting procedures were thorough enough, or whether Assongba's contribution would be refunded. All told, Obama has raised more than $120 million this election, not counting millions more from the Democratic Party — giving him a financial advantage thus far over any of his Republican challengers.
So this is the President's fault how?
This had happened to his campaign before and if it's found to be sketchy they're returned the money immediately.
So what is the point you're trying to make?