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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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It's sad really. The problem with the Mittster is that his comments offend the very people who are more likely to
VOTE FOR HIM!! The elderly , working poor whites in southern states, etc. I willl tell those who think it's a racist statement , IT's NOT! Mitt is not racist , he is a typical rich person who never had a hard day in his life. His idea of a hard time is " once I had to sell my stock options".
It really doesn't matter if you like Obama or not, the one thing THAT YOU CANNOT DENY, is that this Guy won't help you unless you're a millionaire.
It is a man with experiance on running companies,setting budgets(state and private), making paychecks, donated wealth to others and built his own against a community agitater who has never held a real job less run a budget or made paychecks for others, spent most of his only senate term in Illionis campaigning for president between voting "present" on most of his voting experiance and is a godless babykiller democratic pathalogical LIAR that depends on a base of unimformed MOOCHERS to march lock-step behind him! Romney/Ryan 2012!!!!
Really......Who does Oma help?
The median income is down from four years ago 55,000-51000...I am pretty sure that is Middle Class
Unemployment is up...25 mil people do not have jobs.....Who is he helping?
What..he makes you feel like you are doing something wrong if you are successful...so the people getting A's on their test...better dial it back a little..
Besides the Union Government worker...who is he helping?
Mike, if you are referring to the Mitt Romney success story, born with a silver spoon up his a$$ and got away with robbing hundreds of millions from working class poor, sent their jobs overseas while raiding their pension funds which he then sent to his Swiss bank account...that kind of success deserves the electric chair or hanging.
Voice in my head ...their is a Socialist Country out there for you some where... I am sure you can find it..
I know you felt the same way about John Kerry ...didnt you?
Ohhh thats right ..being Heinz rich is way different.
Where did he robhundreds of Millions from the working class?
Name one job he sent over seas(You cant)
If you can... I will be able to back up with a GMA STORY where your Stimulus money was used to send Car manufacturing jobs overseas with Joe Bidens seal of approval...no spin it will hit you right in the gut..Robin Roberts(The great Obama Desciple reported it and was even dissappointed ).
Also ...you will not find an elected and respected Democrat or Republican that will tell you that Venture Capitalist are not good for the Economy...not one ...but I am sure you really have no idea what they do....
Voice ..keep drinking the KOOL-AID...it is really good these days...
Again..there is no substance with any of your arguments just fool of crap and nothing to back it up
I am not worried.
Walker was ahead in the media polls. The Democrats were going to easily keep the House of Reps in 2010 according to media polls.
Seems like they are purposely setting themselves up to be able to write a whole set of articles on the "surprise" and "unexpected" turnout at the polls and what went wrong.
Would a second term for President Obama convert the United States of America into the United States of Greece?
Yes!.Why? With no re-election to deal with Obama would be totally free to "redistribute the wealth." More people on food stamps, no work requirement for welfare, more punitive and restrictive regulations from the HHS and EPA.
Obama failed to restrain federal spending when the Democrats controlled Congress and he has increased our federal debt by a trillion a year. Raised on a pillow, Obama never had to earn a living and has no sense of the value of a dollar. Obama does not understand what the words debt and deficit means.
Charm and personal likability are Obama's assets but are they enough to rescue the country? Do you care if your airline pilot is likable or do you care about his skill as a pilot?
"Huge income redistribution leads to insolvency." Deficits accumulate faster then economic growth, cash runs out and the Fed will no longer be able to borrow. Like us, the Greek electorate has consistently voted for more spending and more entitlements.
Now we are both broke. Unlike Greece we still have a chance, but only with a new pilot.
Ryan's proposed 2013 budget is 1 trillion in the red with war funding (Source-CBO)
Romney's long term budget proposals add 10 trillion to the existing budget (Source-Business Insider)
How pray tell is that the answer to our debt problem??
The stupidity of the American public never ceases to amaze. It's like no one has been around the last 4 years
American Airlines going belly up..
Fed Ex reporting worst year since 09'
Ford sales slumping in Europe
Unemployment over 8% since obama took office
Is his being black the only reason someone would vote for him?
Unbeliveable
Pick and choose much???
Dow back to pre-Bush disaster, That's the WHOLE dow.
Housing returning to pre-Bush nightmare, that's the WHOLE housing market
Jobs being slowly created, that's opposed to the 4.4 MILLION the last GOP president lost.
Domestic auto industry thriving, that's the WHOLE auto industry, not sales of Ford Focus' in Spain.
The dow back to 2007 levels means it's inflated dollars. Worth what it was in 2007.
Housing foreclosures still high and prices lower.
500,000 more lost jobs since 2009
GM not healthy and still owes taxpayer 50 billion
Unemployment over 8% with over 20 million out of work
Industrial output slowing.
Mid-east and foreign policy at low point.
Ya, you're right, nothing to worry about.
Oh, PS, we elected him to be better than the last guy.
Obama should stick to doing TV shows and fund raisers as he will never make a President. Gee with the country in such good shape I guess he has all the time in the world to try and blow smake up BUTS for VOTES. Please dear lord give us a President that works at it and does something for this COUNTRY of OURS.
If you watch the video, you will hear from the heretics own mouth what he believes in, it is not you, the only thing you can be sure about is that he will steal your grandma's false teeth right out of her mouth.
YEA..He believes and knows 47 percent of this country does not pay taxes...That mean Obama takes care of them. Obama loves the poor to be poorer..so he can buy their vote.. He knows that 47 percent will not vote for him because they are getting hand outs...I love what he said...It proves the point.... people making over 250,000 already pays 80-90 percent of the tax burden....What is to regret on his statement?
Ohhh the Dems really do not want the Public educated on how much the tax bill is paid by the others ..
With the country focused on this week’s high drama at the Supreme Court, President Obama’s EPA quietly released long-delayed regulations to apply global warming rules never authorized by Congress to new coal-fired power plants.
That Obama’s EPA would release a rule to destroy coal-fired electricity while the president gives stump speeches about an “all of the above” energy policy is an insult to the American people.
This rule will effectively block any new coal-fired power plants from being built in America, and a second round of related rules – expected after the election, of course – will shut down existing coal-fired power plants.
The result will be steeply higher electricity prices, lost jobs, and lower standards of living. Remarkably, this is all done in the name of global warming, but even EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson admits it will have no discernible impact on global temperatures. Obama’s EPA is crippling the U.S. economy not to accomplish anything, but just to enjoy a nice, warm, green feeling of self-satisfaction.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/03/29/electric-rates-will-soar-now-that-obamas-epa-has-crushed-coal-fired-power/#ixzz26uxIOVWa
Can the majority be all wrong? Not very likely people. Obama is the great give-it-away president. He has a promise to give everyone something for nothing. Wake up people and realize just how long do you think that economic strategy can last? Our future and our children's future rely on this election. Don't blow it on four more years of borrowed give aways. It is time to be fiscally responsible and that can only be accomplished with a change in leadership.
Romney/Ryan 2012 Lets get America back on track to prosperity.
Umm, the reason Obama is always leading in the polls is because those people who are voting for Romney have a job and are at work when the poll takers call or visit. And I don't see anything wrong with what Romney said, it's true.
The point the news makers are missing and perhaps a point Romney may have overlooked is many of these 47% want jobs so they can earn a living and pay taxes. Many of those folks will vote for Romney with the hope of getting gainfully employed.
ThoughtItOut, you must of used the same brain that Romney uses. His foreign policy...kick the can and hope the problems resolve themselves.
Gallup has the dead even.
People...LETS REALLY LOOK AT IT . This is Liberal Biased at its best. Rassmusen has it a dead heat as of yesterday. Rasmusens credentials? They have been the most accurate POLL SINCE 2004 on elections . They have been with in 1-2 percent every election. Both polls come out the same day and they run a headline on the most Liberal poll out there...go figure. Also ..if you dont believe it go a step further... Look at MSNBSC..Real Clear Politics ...they have it with in 2 -1/2 percent ....
Does anybody find it odd the President has time to go on the David Letterman show last night ...but does not have time to meet with Israel Prime Minister? Or the Press Corps for that matter?? Or to take care of his Presidential duties?
No matter if you are Reublican or Democrat- you have to sense and know that something is wrong!
The announcement of ENDLESS QE3 has now changed the world! The Fed now currently holds 61% of our debt. Where is the Fed getting this kind of money? By printing more money into the system. The dollar is being systematically devalued. It will continue to be worth less.
Some would say they are better off because the stock market is up and their 401ks are doing better. Really? How good is that money if it is worth less and you get taxed more to draw it out???
Household income is down $4000. Then to pay for the increase in Food,Gas and Energy you are out another $6000 plus. That's over $10,000 a year the average family is now out because of the dollar devaluation and the cost of inflation!
Obama's Classmate tells The truth!
The Perfect Marxist scheme using the Cloward and Piven Plan
www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/overwhelm.asp
Headline should read 42% say economy getting better, 50% say its the same or getting worse.
Why? It doesn't have anything to do with that argument. Why should it say something unrelated?
WELL...Because it relates to the truth...and not the Smoke and Mirrors of this Administration.
If anyone can reads the manuals for successful promotions the first step is to give something away for free. This is what attracts people. Does that sound familiar to the Obama Administration? Yes they have been promising something for everyone and handing out their cheap gifts of food-stamps and unemployment benefits among other give aways. So when does this big bag of freebies run out? Very soon people. Better grow up and face reality while we can.
Romney/Ryan 2012 Sensible men for turbulent times.
Why is th media not bringing up all the negative that obama has done or said. He called the cop that did his job and arrested someone breaking into a home a racisist, then when obama found out the whole story, he had a beer feast on the lawn of the white house to try and make ammends. His wife was found to be wording the words " all this over a flag" during one of obama speeches., He, obama and his wife hates the United States, look at one of obamas speeches when he was in college. This man has done nothing but bankrupt and give this country away to his muslim and illegal immigrant friends and he now wants another four years. If obama gets voted in, there will no longer be an United States of American and its constitution. We will be known as Northern Mexico with an amendment to mexicos constitution. DO NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA in Novembers election. Save this country and bring back all its glory as we once knew it.
Only NBC comes up with this polling data. They should have a poll and ask if " Do you think the Middle East is Burning because of a Video" and "Do you think it is right to place for Diplomats and United States Marines to be put in Harms Way and unable to defend themselves" and " Do you think this Groveling Muslim/Communist deserves four more years to destroy America" Come on NBC steer MID Course !!!
Chuckie Todd and the Gang have been enjoying Cart le Blanche' for news for four years as a reward for getting Obama elected. The prize is even larger if they get Obama reelected.
Since he took office just three years ago, Obama has added five trillion in new debt while the value of the U.S. dollar has plummeted. With no end in sight will the U.S. go the way of Greece and probably the Euro and go bankrupt? It certainly appears to be a real possibility in the near future if Obama is reelected.
Total BS if you are talking about the last 3 1/2 Obama years.
http://tools.currenciesdirect.net/currency-chart/
You can go to this site and punch in any amount of years and cross-currency graph you want.
Bongleblue you are talking out of the hole God never intended people to speak out of.
I am a Liberal - but Obama is out of control.... Either bad advisors, or hes Arrogant and Egotistical.
We should expect that if the Obama-ites come out in force and vote for the Moron again we will go forward, RIGHT OFF A FINANCIAL CLIFF..
Then Hopefully they will all follow Obama off the Cliff and have a purging of stupid Sheep and Under Educated..
Obama-Nation is a Economic Moron... Period, He misses many concepts of simple supply side economics and Inflation due to printing money..
Just believe the Liberal Media.......... Go On Down the Path FORWARD into more problems, more spending, more Gov't control of your life...
Obama Knows, yes he knows SOCIALISM... Marxism, and SPENDING OTHER PEOPLES MONEY....
He has Never worked a real day in his life... Hes been gifted....
NBC/MSNBC are the "Obama channels". I don't believe their polls. I can't believe in the same month that Obama's Energy Plan has pushed gas prices up to $4.00 AND the we have dozens of Embassies in the middle East under attack AND the US credit rating has been downgraded to AA- AND unemployment numbers are still above 8% and going the wrong way ... that the people are stupid enough to want to re-elect him and give him four more years to do what he couldn't do in the first term. ROMNEY/RYAN in 2012!
The last time this poll came out had it not oversampled Democrats by some 11%??? Voter models for 2008 are not good for this election. These polls mean little. The only one to get even close last election was Rasmussen. Historically they have been the most accurate when it comes to outcomes. No matter who you are for you should really look at likely voters not registered voters.
I just watched that little weasel, Carter's grandson. You know what though, this might just turn out to be a good thing for Romney. Seriously, at first I didn't think so, but just watched how he is standing firm on what he said. In all honesty, his comments were on target. Leave it to the biased leftist media to spin it out of control. Besides, look at what Obama has let happen to this country, how can he possibly even be so arrogant to run for another term?
In 2022, the interest on the national debt will be over $900 billion annually, far surpassing the defense budget. Further, our national debt would soar to 124% of the G.D.P., as compared to Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wisc.) proposed budget, which would keep debt at 42%. The president’s plan is outrageous and should make us all question his appreciation of fiscal responsibility. By definition, a 124%debt to G.D.P. ratio would mean America would be bankrupt, a nation insolvent by all traditional standards of accounting.
Are you really that concerned about the debt and if so are you willing to pay higher taxes?
Seems like the lib press just won't let go, but you do not hear about the "redistribution' comments from BHO....typical.....Can't put the Pres in bad light now can they...
Mindboggling, absolutely mindboggling, that Obama could have this much support after the last four years of misery in this country. He doesn't deserve another four years but this just goes to show that Romney is correct about the 47%. Whats really sad is that the 47%, who have no skin in the game, get to vote for someone who will continue to give them all the welfare they want. Time to put an end to all the handouts. Offer a hand up instead of a hand out, and let the lazy aholes living off of welfare, get back in the game.
Reverse engineer it, maybe the mind-boggling part is the GOP candidate.
BTW, that 47% includes our brave combat troops, thanks for your support.
It just goes to show you who his base of supporters are, on the government dole & most never worked a day in their life.
You have the typical repuke misguided thought process so misinformed the 47% arent people on welfare alone they are seniors and diabled people and people drawing SS, as much as u would like to believe the 47% are lazy people looking for handout it's just not true if it makes u feel better I will tell it's about 1 to 2%. Not sure what part of the country u live in but here in Md. Things are good
Exactly, the baby-boomers who are now retiring never worked a day in their lives brilliant.
That 47% also includes infants and toddlers, what a bunch of lazy no good kids going to school to learn and all.
Wrong I am a Democrat and take a good hard look at things. 47 million people on welfare, how many voted in the last election? 130 million?
Educate yourself
Momma Dukes,
Lets at least start with some REAL NUMBERS: http://www.statisticbrain.com/welfare-statistics/
Only 4.1% of Americans are on welfare ,thats 15 million, and there about the same number of blacks as whites on welfare. Hispanics are half those numbers.
Educate yourself first. We are a long way from having "everyone on the dole" !
Five points and counting. Almost every issue is guaranteed to elicit a brainless response from Romney, adding to the points difference. No need for Obama to campaign.
yup time to get back to that golf game.
Is it more infiriating that he can go golfing and get re-elected or the fact the GOP's best candidate can't stop submarining his own campaign??
Obama does not need to campaign, why because he is always at a party some place...last was Las Vegas a city he said no one should go to, so he could have fun and get money....what was going on at the time? all hell broke loose in Lybia and Egypt, why did he not order the Marines in the Embassies to defend them, might have saved the Amabassadors life....why isn't the press jumping all over Obama about his redistribution comments....simple lib press don't want to make the dude look bad...