Poll: Obama Gains Ground In 2012 NC Hypothetical Races
Jon Terbush | December 22, 2010, 12:51PM Share 0
According to a new PPP poll of North Carolina voters, President Obama's standing has improved over the past month in theoretical 2012 matchups with four possible Republican candidates for the GOP presidential nomination. He now leads each prospective challenger except Mike Huckabee in head-to-head matches.
In the poll, Huckabee led Obama 46% to 45%. One month ago, a PPP poll showed Huckabee ahead 48% to 44%. Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were tied last month at 44%, though Obama now leads in that contest 46% to 43%. Against Newt Gingrich, Obama's lead grew from one point a month ago to six points in the latest poll, with the president now on top 48% to 42%.
Sarah Palin dropped furthest of the four Republicans since the last poll, with the spread in that race ballooning from just five points last month to 14 points this month.
Obama's improved standing is in part the result of dramatically increased support from independent voters.
Last month, exactly half of respondents who identified themselves as independents went with Romney, while 37% supported Obama. But in today's poll, the numbers nearly flipped, with 44% of independents now supporting the president, versus 37% for Romney.
Similarly, independents broke for Palin last month by a 46% to 42% margin. They now prefer Obama by a whopping 51% to 33%.
In 2008, Obama became the first Democrat to win North Carolina since Jimmy Carter took the state in 1976. However, he edged John McCain by a minuscule 0.4%, or less than 14,000 votes.
The PPP poll of 520 North Carolina voters was conducted December 17-19. It has a margin of error of 4.3%.
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