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Subscribe to RSSAccording to the latest NBC/WSJ poll, President Obama had a five-point lead when survey participants were asked who they would vote for, and 42 percent of those surveyed believe the economy will get better under Obama. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
Fueled by increased optimism about the economy and nation’s direction, President Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney by 5 points among likely voters and now sees his job-approval rating reaching the 50 percent threshold for the first time since March, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.
The survey – which was conducted after the two party conventions and the political firestorm over last week’s U.S. Embassy attacks, but before Romney’s controversial comments about the 47 percent of the country “who are dependent on government” – shows the percentages believing that the country is headed in the right direction and thinking that the economy will improve at their highest levels since 2009.
In the presidential horse race, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden get the support of 50 percent of likely voters, while Romney and running mate Paul Ryan get 45 percent.
National Review and Bloomberg View's Ramesh Ponnuru, Roll Call's Shira Toeplitz and The Hotline's Reid Wilson take a look at the latest numbers out of the NBC, Wall Street Journal and Marist poll and talk about how battleground states may play out for the presidential candidates.
NBC/WSJ poll: Obama's approval on foreign policy drops
Among a wider sample of registered voters, the president’s lead is 6 points, 50 percent to 44 percent – up from Obama’s 4-point edge last month, 48 percent to 44 percent.
“It’s clear to me that Barack Obama has moved a … step ahead,” says Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted this survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff.
Evan Vucci / AP
President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 in Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
Yet Hart cautions, “It’s a step and only a step.”
Read the full poll here (.pdf)
For his part, McInturff adds that the presidential race may very well have seen an inflection point. “The president is in a stronger position than he was before the convention.”
But noting similarities between the current numbers and those from the 2004 George W. Bush vs. John Kerry race, he urges that this contest could be just as competitive.
“If you look at ’04 as a model, ’04 was really close. And that’s how we should continue to think about the campaign.”
Economic optimism on the rise
According to the survey, 39 percent of registered voters say the country is on the right track, versus 55 percent who say it’s on the wrong track.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd reports on a statement that may significantly damage Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.
That right-track number is a 7-point increase from August, and it’s the highest percentage on this question since Sept. 2009.
Forty-two percent of voters also believe the economy will improve in the next 12 months, which is a 6-point jump from August, and a 15-point rise from July.
NBC/WSJ poll: Optimism in Obama presidency increases
What’s more, 47 percent of registered voters approve of the president’s handling of the economy – up 3 points from last month. Obama’s overall job-approval rating stands at 50 percent for the first time since March.
And 38 percent say the country is better off than it was when he became president, which is a 7-point increase from August. But a plurality of voters – 41 percent – maintain that the country is worse off; 21 percent say it’s in the same place.
Obama vs. Romney on the issues
While none of these numbers is ideal for a president facing re-election, Obama is now tied with Romney (43 percent to 43 percent) on which candidate would be better on the economy. In July, Romney held a 6-point advantage on this question.
Hart, the Democratic pollster, says this finding is potentially ominous for Romney. “Simply put, if Romney doesn’t win on dealing with the economy, he doesn’t win.”
On other issues, Obama leads Romney on dealing with taxes (45 percent to 39 percent) and on dealing with Medicare (47 percent to 37 percent).
And the president is ahead of his Republican challenger on three character traits – being a good commander in chief (45 percent to 38 percent), dealing with issues of concern to women (54 percent to 26 percent), and looking out for the middle class (53 percent to 34 percent).
NBC's Chuck Todd says, "Mitt Romney is not a good campaigner" and still must answer questions regarding his comments that were caught on tape. A Morning Joe panel then debates whether Team Romney needs a campaign shakeup.
Comparing 2012 to 2004
Although Obama enjoys these advantages over Romney, the numbers in the NBC/WSJ poll bear a striking resemblance to those from 2004, when Bush narrowly beat Kerry.
And that has McInturff, the GOP pollster, cautioning that this year’s race could be equally close, despite Obama’s current lead.
Read the full poll here (.pdf)
Indeed, in the Sept. 2004 NBC/WSJ poll, 39 percent believed the country was on the right track (versus 39 percent now); 43 percent thought the economy would improve in the next year (versus 42 percent now); and Bush led Kerry by three points among likely voters (versus Obama’s 5-point edge now).
The NBC/WSJ poll was conducted Sept. 12-16 of 900 registered voters (including 270 by cell phone), and it has margin of error of plus-minus 3.3 percentage points. In that sample, the survey also identified 736 likely voters, and the margin of error there is plus-minus 3.6 percentage points.
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how scared the democrats must be to have to go to the dirty side of politics once again and pay a spy to go to a romney fundraiser and then suprise suprise leak it. dirty politcs at its best - wake up people
When has a Democrat ever not been dirty?
32% strong-ish Democrats vs. 25% strong-ish Republicans and Obama can only get a 5 point lead. Great work NBC. (sarcasm)
Strong Democrat ............................................... 22
Not very strong Democrat ................................. 10
Independent/lean Democrat .............................. 10
Strictly Independent .......................................... 16
Independent/lean Republican ............................ 12
Not very strong Republican ............................... 7
Strong Republican ............................................. 18
Other (VOL) ....................................................... 2
Not sure ........................................................... 3
In the real world:
"Obama's convention bounce vanishes in Gallup poll"
"Gallup's seven-day rolling average indicates that 47% of registered voters supporting Obama and 46% supporting Romney, returning the race back to narrow, pre-convention margins."
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/18/obamas-convention-bump-vanishes/?hpt=hp_t2
What do you expect from 51% who don't pay taxes. Obama want's more of you to stop looking for work so you TOO can vote multiple times, with the dead and illegals. LOL.
MAC, something got ya down buddy??????????? I want you to know, I feel your pain.
My pain is only temporary until Obonzo is gone in November. Don't cry for me, cry for the country of socialism.
Rasmussen Report poll. "Among those who RARELY OR NEVER attend church or other religious services, Mr
Obama leads by 22 percentage points. Among those who attend services weekly, Romney leads by 24."
In the early 1960's nearly 90% of Catholics attended Mass every Sunday. Today, in some places it is as low as 20%. I'm sure it's similar or worse for other denominations.
There is your problem.
I want to see Mr. Romney lay out some of his plans with some meat on the bone during the debates. If he doesn't, then independents will dismiss him. He also needs to show how he's going to work with the do-nothing Congress, which is where he picked his running mate from. Being part of the solution or part of the problem is what we need to see. If he's not able to communicate that with strength and conviction, he's done. If "compromise" continues to be a dirty word, he won't get any independent voters to follow him... meaning this could be a landslide election.
Just watch the debates, you'll have your answers
Oh Lordy, the Reich Wing has their panties in a bunch. There is no joy in Mudville toight folks.
There is little joy anywhere in America with Obama at the helm... but MSNBC has succeeded in giving Leechville plenty of false hope for one more night.
32% strong-ish Democrats vs. 25% strong-ish Republicans and Obama can only get a 5 point lead. Great work NBC. (sarcasm)
Strong Democrat ............................................... 22
Not very strong Democrat ................................. 10
Independent/lean Democrat .............................. 10
Strictly Independent .......................................... 16
Independent/lean Republican ............................ 12
Not very strong Republican ............................... 7
Strong Republican ............................................. 18
Other (VOL) ....................................................... 2
Not sure ........................................................... 3
In the real world:
"Obama's convention bounce vanishes in Gallup poll"
"Gallup's seven-day rolling average indicates that 47% of registered voters supporting Obama and 46% supporting Romney, returning the race back to narrow, pre-convention margins."
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/18/obamas-convention-bump-vanishes/?hpt=hp_t2
Yea!!!! National Barack Channel will have him leading even after he loses.
OBAMA'S SECRET TALK TAPE BUNGLE SHOULD MOVE THE DIAL UP MORE FOR THE PRESIDENT IN THE NEXT SET OF POLLS.
ROMNEY CF. OBAMA PRIVATE FUNDRAISING STATEMENTS TO DONORS: WHAT POLITICAL HACK/YELLOW JOURNALIST ANDREA MITCHELL WOULDN’T TELL YOU.
About four years ago, Obama made revealing statements to donors at a private fund-raiser in San Francisco that till today is still dogging him. He was talking about working class voters in Pennsylvania who “cling to guns and religion” he is finding difficult to persuade to vote for him. COMPARE THAT to Romney’s recently revealed video, and the difference is stark.
1.) Obama was clearly frustrated that these people were working against their own interests by not voting Democrat. But he never said he has abandoned them or trying to persuade them. In fact, he did and later won Pennsylvania. Romney on the other hand said flatly that he wouldn’t bother about those who he called Obama supporters and went further to slam all of them as dependent upon government support.
2.) Obama always aimed to be the President of all the people; Romney always said all he needs is 50+1%, by whatever way he can get it. In the video, he re-stated his strategy and policy for this group in cold, callous words.
3.) Obama never said anything that was factually untrue, though his words may be politically incorrect. Romney, on the other hand, based his whole generalization and modus operandi on false facts and assumptions. For that, many including fact-checkers, have roundly criticised him. Conservative New York Times columnist David said that Romney was false in logic, false in his assumptions and false in his conclusions. Further, he writes that Romney presents a “country club fantasy” that shows his lack of understanding of America and its unwritten “social compact”—lacks understanding of the ambition and motivation of most Americans, lacks understanding of the social and political culture.
4.) Obama’s basic approach is inclusive; Romney is exclusionary. Romney doesn’t care about certain people. We see this as a prominent feature of his recent campaigns in which he has clearly succumbed to the lures of dirty, racially-based maginalization of certain groups to serve his political goal. Brooks points out that indeed Romney has become a divider, not a uniter!
Ha I thought that said Sex Tape...
NBC/WSJ poll: Obama leads Romney nationally by 5 points! WHAT B.S!
you think romneys millions would have bought him a personality..
Jen slow down don't want to burn out your pretty little head just yet over 50 days to go...
Why does Scott Rasmussen have Romney ahead? Oh, I'm sorry. He's actually trying to get it right, not promote a candidate.
Sure buddy, you just keep saying that over and over again and eventually you just might start beleiving it. Remember, whenever the news is bad, just shoot the messenger. LOL
It really all just makes me want to say NBC how does his a$$ taste, it's just so obvious.
Obama AWOL on the most critical moments in America's history. Has anyone seen him?
Areas of the middle east, northern Africa and Asia are burning our flag and blowing up cars because of their hatred for our country; a US Ambassador has been murdered; our Fed is printing money in an attempt to temporarily prop-up the economy, thereby devaluing our dollar; the unemployment rate has only dropped because people have given up looking for jobs and our President is on the campaign trail. I only wish he would actually DO his job.
He's on David Letterman tonight, then a fund raiser with JayZ & Beyonce. He will likely be on The View, The Today Show, and every other soft ball show possible. Heck he even has plugs in many of the fall Network's TV series linup, like Grey's Anatomy, etc.
But he doesn't have time to fool with aggravating messy thingies like the Middle East, meetings with the President of Israel, attending his own security meetings. But rubbing shoulders with celebs & campaign stops are the apex of his itinerary.
The Arab spring has turned in to Obama's nightmare.
any man who gives a wife who sits at home on her butt a million dollar horse is a big pussy
Funny coming from a supposed woman. He did that as therapy for her medical condition. You must be a lesbian.
Jen, Green is not a good color for you
"CNN is now ready to make the call. Despite all our cooperation with Media Matters, the White House, and our collusion with all the major networks, newspapers, and Hollywood using every skewed poll and slanted reporting we could, (long sigh, tears pouring down) CNN now has a projection. Mitt Romney is officially declared to be the President-Elect of the United States." Blitz Wolfer
Romney/Ryan 2012 & 2016 Do not buy in to this crap, keep the faith. Obama's toast & HE knows it.
You picked a screen name that fits your argument very well, how will you handle that CNN projection on election day, complacency mean anything to you?
+hey voice quick question its congress fault right answer 1 ? plz what happened when you held house senate and pres nothing why didnt he do it then 2 years right so plz explain how it is congress fault now when you ran show for 2 years 0 results waiting for you to answer
An NBC poll within 5 points? this actually means Obama is way behind in the real world.
except gallop and ras have obozo down or tied
I just saw the results of a poll done on people who will not vote and in that poll Romney is up by 47% of a point.
I also just read the results of a poll of rich white azzholes with a tendency to put their foot in their mouth and flip flop on issues who are hiding millions of non-tax dollars in the Caymen Islands...they had Romney up by 4 points.
the final poll of the day, shows that it can't get any farther up Romney's bunghole.
Oh and btw, does this mean you'll stay home and not vote because its in the bag, eh Dems? I guess those independents that swing the election every time won't have a say in the matter? What with Romney 10 points ahead with independents? No, that won't matter because NBC says he's ahead. What a laugher of a new agency, all bad news comments on Romney and big giant headlines good news for Obama. Wonder who exactly is in the white house now ... unemployment way above 8%, 43 million on foodstamps, african american unemployment off the charts, debt at 16 trillion and he hasn't a real plan to reduce it, overseas consulates on fire... yep... time to celebrate 4 more years coming... what a laugh.
The 5 points will become 8 by election day. Romney is a bigot and screw up
Jeanne, do you know what a bigot is, and that statement makes you one?
Dream on! Today Romney leads 47-45 in Rasmussen and trails 47-46 in gallup! Dead heat and the post convention bounce is over! These are the two main and most accurate pollsters. Senate is very close and House is the GOP's! Sorry libs and MSM!
True.
"Obama's convention bounce vanishes in Gallup poll"
"Gallup's seven-day rolling average indicates that 47% of registered voters supporting Obama and 46% supporting Romney, returning the race back to narrow, pre-convention margins."
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/18/obamas-convention-bump-vanishes/?hpt=hp_t2
Folks, Todd Akin is da “Poster Child” for da Good Ole Boys Club and……………….
Who just Blocked da Campaign Finance Reform Bill?
Who just Blocked Obamas Job Bill?
Who just Rewrote and put a Loophole in da House Version of da Stock Act. You know da Billl that would make it Illegal for Politicians do be involved in Insider Trading Antics. How many people have gone to Prison for this and yet they think they are “Exempt” from da Law.
And………here’s more since President Obama Took Office:
Tax on Companies that ship jobs overseas- A bill that would have eliminated a tax break that companies get when they ship jobs overseas. Republicans blocked this, allowing companies to keep the tax break they receive when they ship jobs to other countries.
The Small Business Jobs Act -would give LOCAL, community banks access to billions of dollars to loan to small businesses. Republicans blocked this, then attempted to block it a second time and failed.
Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”- Would have repealed the law that forces gay and lesbian services members to lie about their sexuality and gives the military the right to discharge soldiers based on their sexuality. Republicans blocked this many times and Democrats were finally able to pass it with the support of just 2 Republicans.
You Guessed it…………Cantor, Boehner, McConnell and da rest of them Republican TeaBilly Conservative Politicians.
Can you imagine da Shenanigans if Mitt “F da Poor” Romney and Paul “Middle Class Warfare” Ryan get Elected.
You BetCha…..Fer Sure.
yea lets believe the poll that was off by 8% in wisconsin...
"We are grateful to the Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years... It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries."
- David Rockefeller, Bilderberg Meeting, June 1991 Baden, Germany
This should explain main stream media to you?
The pollsters are over-sampling democrats to get their results. The Left-Wing Media is going to lose what little credibility it has left unless it quits being a propaganda arm of the democrat party.
Sure BRENDA, it's gotta be that "Liberal Media" that's doing this. You wouldn't be saying this if they said Willard was leading, now would you???
Not if the "sample" was even and not tilted by Democrats by 6%.