Posted on 02/02/2012 1:17:14 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Rasmussen has a couple of interesting polls out today on the Republican primary race, but none yet in Nevada, which I presume will come tomorrow. Instead, Rasmussen focuses on the Arizona primary that will take place in less than four weeks and act as a springboard for Super Tuesday. Mitt Romney holds a 2-1 lead and almost a majority, 48/24 over Newt Gingrich:
A new telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Arizona shows Romney with 48% support, while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich comes in a distant second with 24%. Thirteen percent (13%) prefer former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, and six percent (6%) support Texas Congressman Ron Paul. Two percent (2%) like some other candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Fifty-three percent (53%) of Arizona GOP primary voters are already certain of their vote, but 42% say they still could change their minds. Six percent (6%) have no initial preference yet. Voters already sure of their vote include 62% of those supporting both Romney and Paul, 48% of Gingrich’s voters and 46% of Santorum’s.
As is the case virtually everywhere else, the economy is the top voting issue for Arizona GOP primary voters. Forty-nine percent (49%) say economic issues are the most important in terms of how they vote, while 24% say fiscal issues like taxes and government spending are the most important. In Arizona, 47% of GOP primary voters rate their personal finances as good or excellent, while 16% rate them as poor. While 20% say their finances are getting better, 51% say they are getting worse.
Romney is seen as the Republican candidate who would do the best job managing the economy by 54% of primary voters in Arizona, while just 22% view Gingrich that way.
There probably isn’t much mystery to dispel from the internals, but let’s take a look anyway. The gender gap is back in a big way for Gingrich in Arizona; Romney beats him among women by 33 points, 51/18. Romney unlocks the “very conservative” demographic in the state, winning by 17, 44/27, and taking majorities in the other two ideological categories. Gingrich has a slight edge among Tea Party backers, 39/33, but loses to Romney by double digits in every religious, age, and income demographic.
The reasons for Gingrich’s problem are familiar. His favorability is relatively low at 55/41, with only 16% having a very favorable impression of the former Speaker. Among women, it’s 49/47. Romney has a 78/21 favorability rating. Only Ron Paul does worse than Gingrich at 34/61, while Santorum does nicely at 63/29. On personal character, Romney takes 44% of the respondents, Santorum comes in second at 34%, while Gingrich comes in last at 7%.
Could this change? There is only one debate on the schedule, but it will be in Arizona, six days before the primary. Michigan will hold its primary on the same day as Arizona, so Gingrich may choose to split his time or default in Michigan, where Romney will undoubtedly be strong. However, Gingrich probably can’t win by going negative, not with personal ratings like these, so unless he uncorks a beauty of a performance in that debate, he’s going to get buried. Meanwhile, Romney gets 57% of the voters who say they’ve made up their minds, and 44% of those who could still change, while Gingrich gets 22% and 30%, respectively.
In Rasmussen’s daily presidential tracking poll, Barack Obama ends up in virtual dead heats with three of the four Republicans in the race. Guess which one Obama beats outside of the MOE?
In potential Election 2012 matchups, it’s President Obama 46% and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney 45%. However, if former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is the Republican nominee, the president holds an eight point lead, 49% to 41% (see tracking history). These matchup results are updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update). Rick Santorum trails the president by two points, 46% to 44%. Ron Paul trails by three, 45% to 42%.
You both gave me the answer I already knew but didnt want to believe. America is gone...unbelievable! I’m not sure whether to move out of the USA or become a isolationist...and tune out on politics. The one good thing is the creme de la creme are with us...Thomas Sowell, Michael Reagan, Art Laffer, Palin, Mark Levin, Jim Robinson, Rick Perry, Allen West and Chuck Norris..the sad thing is there are not enough of us.
If I decide to leave this country...it will be with a heavy heart but looks like the handwriting is on the wall.
See my post#38. This to me is the best strategy we could do to save the country and send a strong message to the GOP establishment. It would have to be an organized and coordinated effort nationally.
I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the recent outbreak of establishmentitis has me wondering whether people in the media operate on a system similar to how the Democrats govern their Blue Dogs, where the leadership designates who’s allowed to “oppose” something, and their support can always be counted on in the rare case of an actual emergency (IE the rise of Newt).
In the end, the checkered-pants Republicans are buying their way to another wishy-washy liberal’s candidacy. If this is what money and power does to people, no wonder Jesus said that it’s harder for a camel to fit through the head of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven.
Prayer is the only thing that gets me through some days. I felt so alone until I found Free Republic God Bless you guys I feel at home here.
You're also right about our side being aligned with the creme de la creme...good people and true patriots, all.
But, if you were to leave, where would you go? Where else is there? I'm in Texas and am d&%m glad about that.
I will be voting for Newt, but I don’t expect him to win here. Arizona isn’t nearly as conservative as many people believe. We have way to many California transplants, not to mention a lot of Mexican citizens who can vote in west Tucson without much challenge.
And in truth, we have a lot of old folks who can’t pull their mouths off of the government teat!
only the really good lds get into the temple they have what the call wards (I call them dens of satan) Where they brainwash adherents with testimonies from the outside looking in it looks crazy but from the inside they make people feel special Their testaments are usually that Heavenly Father told them the Book of Mormon was true and Joe Smith was a true prophet. Women call their husbands priesthood heads and if they are really good wives they can get into heaven (their husband’s own planet) if he calls them there otherwise they go to outer darkness
Quite a few in NV, too. And influential.
I agree but I doubt it will happen
I’m sorry bub. Impossible is not in my vocabulary. In todays media driven society it is easy to do and there is enough sentiment out there that this outcome can be done. The national Tea Party can pull this off. You do not need a large consensus to do this just enough to tip the scales a certain way. Staying home and pouting is for babies and cowards.
Welcome to Free Republic!
“What is wrong with these people?”
Rovian mind-control is the only possible answer.
Newt turned out to be a flash and crash just like the others. Though it would be a race if Santy got out, or if Newt got out. Not going to happen though.
Rush always was a relatively mushy moderate. Fox started out to the left of center and at a steady slow pace moves to the left. The juxtaposition of the two with the alphabet networks has Rush and Fox looking conservative when they are not.
Yes, and John McPain is now for Romney; people in AZ never learn.
The majority of Republican voters are moderates, and have been for a long time. Protected bubbles like FR can cause people to lose perspective.
After the leftist’s emptied the treasury with Tarp and Quantatitive easing and Bank Bailouts, they no longer need money from the little people to get elected, they took all the little peoples money already.
We are now is the position of little Red Riding Hood, My my Mr. Goobermint, what big teeth you have”!
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