WASHINGTON — A new national poll shows President Barack Obama benefiting from a significant disparity in candidate preference between married and single voters, and particularly among single women.
Overall, a Quinnipiac University poll of registered voters nationwide gives Obama a slim advantage — 46 percent to 43 percent over Mitt Romney, just beyond the 1.9 percent margin of error.
Romney has the support of 51 percent of married voters compared with 38 percent for Obama. Unmarried voters side with Obama 54 percent to 34 percent.
In both categories Obama performs stronger among women than men, but the support of single women is particularly pronounced, by a 2-to-1 margin.
Quinnipiac’s Peter Brown says the marriage gap could be attributed to the “different priorities and economic situations” of the two groups — married people tended to be older and more financially secure, and the sample was more Republican and white.
Also, “married voters are more likely to focus on the economy and health care, while single voters are more focused on issues such as gay rights and reproductive issues,” Brown said.
In 2008 Obama won 56 percent of the vote of women with no children, compared to 43 percent for John McCain, according to exit polls. Married mothers went for Obama 51 percent to 47 percent, and all other women went for the Democrat 58 percent to 40 percent.
The Obama campaign is making a major play for the women’s vote in key states like Virginia, where a new campaign advertisement says “every woman who believes decisions about our bodies and our health care should be our own is troubled Mitt Romney supports overturning Roe vs. Wade.” It also quotes Romney as saying he would cut off funding to Planned Parenthood.
Overall, voters give Obama a negative rating for his handling of the economy — 55 percent disapprove, while just 40 percent approve. But Romney has just a 1-point advantage on the question of which candidate would do a better job on the economy.
Independent voters back Romney 43 percent to 41 percent, while Republicans and Democrats each overwhelmingly support their respective candidate.
The survey of 2,722 registered voters was conducted July 1 to 8.
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©2012 Tribune Co.
been married 31 years to my first and only bride..
Enthusiastic Obama supporter.. I haven’t wanted to roll up my sleeves and get cracking this bad in over two decades.
Married nearly 40 years, my husband and I are also solid supporters of President Obama, and planning to work to get him re-elected.
Married almost 38 years and willing to do whatever is necessary to get Obama out of office! My entire family will save you from yourself, even if you are too blind to see you need it!
No, no. No need to thank us. It’s the liberal thing to do!
Coming up on 33. We’re working for Obama for our grandson.
You’re grandson will spend his life as a serf to Obama, you fool.
The 1st world countries on our planet would disagree with you. You have no fact to call anyone a fool. Anger is not a justifiable reason. It appears you lack skills within discourse in addition of lacking actual facts. You and others should review the policies of Reagan, Bush and Bush. Do you really know what you are talking about? I doubt it, none the less, I will not call you a fool.
One more thing, Cherry – It is “your” Grandson. You’re means, “you are.”
ALL our grandchildren will have to pay for the last 4 years of obamanomics!
What si obamanomics, you ask? When you find yourself in a hole, dig deeper and faster!
Please produce facts. I will listen if I see any.
Speaking of serfs …
You’ve managed to indoctrinate your entire family? Should we ask them about that?
Minimally, the reliability and validity of a poll are dependent upon the sample size, who is included, the questions that are asked, and the phrasing of the questions. “Who is included” in the Quinnipiac University poll skews the results.
If the Quinnipiac poll “…sample was more Republican and white”, as stated in the article, the results are invalid. Presumably, this was not a poll of white Republicans’ presidential preference. Therefore, because there is bias in the polling sample, a presumption exists that President Obama is actually in a stronger position vis-a-vis Mitt Romney than the Quinnipiac poll indicates.
Quinnipiac polls are generally respected, but this one should not be accepted at face value.
Especially since I can show a different poll that was released the same day that shows completely different results.
From whom?
The only poll that matters is the one in November!
True, but you could be in for a surprise.
Married even longer than those below. Disappointed that so many married voters are for Romney (was the man of the house speaking for the household?). We won’t be active campaigning even though we’re for the President since that’s not our style. However, I will attempt in these forums to counteract the rhetoric and propaganda spewing from the Rabid Right.