Battleground Voters: A Sticking Point for President Obama

BATTLEGROUND VOTERS A STICKING POINT FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA POLITICAL CLIMATE OBAMA'S PERFORMANCE AS PRESIDENT Would you say that America is headed in the right direction, or have things gotten off on the wrong track?" I would like to read you a list of names of people and groups and have you tell me, for each one, whether you've heard of that person or group and, if so, whether you have a favor- able or unfavorable opinion of them - Barack Obama. S0% 50% NATIONALLY 60 | 32 NATIONALLY 461 50 BATTLEGROUND STATES 65 | 31 BATTLEGROUND STATES 51| 46 O Wrong track DK/REF O Right track O Unfavorable O DK/REF O Favorable Which of the following types of issues are most likely to affect your vote for President and Congress this year: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? S0% Nat'l security issues DK/REF NATIONALLY 46 | 49 5% BATTLEGROUND STATES 49 | 48 Social issues O Approve Disapprove DK/REF 12% Economic issues 56% 19% Do you approve or disapprove the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? Fiscal issues 50% NATIONALLY 51| 48 BATTLEGROUND STATES 52| 45 Would you say our country currently is or is not in a recession? Disapprove O DK/REF O Approve Do you think President Obama's policies have made the economy better, made it worse, or had no effect on the economy? 50% NATIONALLY 74 | 22 BATTLEGROUND STATES 7| 20 DK/REF O DK/REF No effect IS in a recession O Is NOT in a recession 21% 39% battleground state voters believe America is on the wrong track and even more say the country is in a recession. Worse OUT OF 36% Better The vast majority of voters is pessimistic about our current economy, which remains the most important issue in this year's election. If the election for President were being held today and the candidates were Mitt Romney, the Republican, and Barack Obama, the Democrat, for which candidate would you vote?" S0% VIEWS ON HEALTH CARE NATIONALLY 45 | 47 BATTLEGROUND STATES 46 | 46 Which would you prefer: a system where most Americans get their health care coverage through the federal government, or a system where most Americans get their health care coverage through a private insurance company? INDEPENDENTS 45 | 40 Romney DK/REF O Obama DK/REF Do you think Barack Obama deserves reelection as President, or do you think it is time to glve someone else a chance? Federal government DK/REF Private insurance 60% 29% Deserves re-election Someone else* 50% 45% Which of the following do you think is the top priority for health care in American today? DK/REF *52 % in battleground states 23% Covering uninsured 52% in battleground states disapprove of President Obama's handling of the economy and the same percent thinks it is time to give someone else a chance. Controlling 46% cost" 25% Timproving quality *48% in battleground states Voters in battleground states are less likely to approve of President Obama and his handling of the economy, and are looking for an alternative. Would you say the health care reform law passed in 2010 does or does not address that top priority? DK/REF - OBAMACARE Overall, do you support or oppose the health care reform law that passed in 2010?" Does not" 55% 32% Does 50% NATIONALLY 48 | 43 BATTLEGROUND STATES 52| 39 INDEPENDENTS 50 | 37 *58% in battleground states Oppose O DK/REF O Support 2/3 of voters who say controlling costs is the top priority in reform believe the health care law does not address this concern. Since the health care reform law was passed in 2010, have your health care costs gone up, gone down, or stayed about the same? DK/REF Voters' top priority for health care reform is controlling cost, but most believe the law from 2010 does not address the issue. 38% 53% Etayed Gone up the same REACTION TO SUPREME COURT RULING 4% Gone down Do you approve or disapprove of the Supreme Court's decision that upheld the health care reform law?" Do you think the health care reform law will help the economy, hurt the economy, or have no effect on the economy? S0% NATIONALLY 46 | 47 BATTLEGROUND STATES 49| 42 DK/REF - O Disapprove DK/REF O Approve No effect Do you think President Obama has broken his pledge not to raise taxes on middle-class families? 20% Hurt 46% 26% S0% NATIONALLY 49 | 43 Help BATTLEGROUND STATES 51| 42 O Disapprove DK/REF O Approve 51% of battleground-state voters believe President Obama broke his pledge not to raise taxes on middle-class families. 52% of voters in battleground states oppose the health care reform law from 2010. More voters oppose than support ObamaCare, seeing it as having a negative effect on the economy. Voters split on whether they approve or disapprove of the Supreme Court's decision upholding the health care reform law, yet, battleground-state voters disapprove by a seven-point margin. BATTLEGROUND STATES CO, FL, IA, MI, NC, NH, NM, NV, OH, PA, VA, WI Survey Information: National Survey of Registered Voters, July 9- 12, 2012, N=100O, Margin of Error = +/-3.1%, including n=462 oversample of 12 battleground states, Margin of Error = +/- 4.56%. *Questions fielded for NPR in conjunction with Democracy Corps RESURGENT REPUBLIC www.resurgentrepublic.com