HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 4, 2012 – A new High Point University Poll of registered voters finds North Carolinians split on which characteristics best fit the presidential candidates.
Forty-two percent of respondents say that the phrase “can get things done” better describes Gov. Mitt Romney, and 37 percent say the same about President Barack Obama. Forty-two percent of registered voters say that the phrase “can bring people together” better describes Obama, while 37 percent say the same about Romney.
When asked which candidate the phrase “shares my values” best describes, the candidates each receive 42 percent of registered voters’ support. While 42 percent of respondents say that “strong leader” better describes Romney, 40 percent say the same about Obama.
“These new findings shed light on reasons for the continually tight race for president here in North Carolina,” says Martin Kifer, director of the HPU Poll and assistant professor of political science at HPU. “How voters feel about the candidates on characteristics like these is a crucial element of how people make decisions about voting. That registered voters are so closely divided on these key considerations helps explain the closeness of the race itself.”
Candidate Characteristics
As I read a list of phrases, tell me if you think each phrase better describes Barack Obama, better describes Mitt Romney, if it applies to neither, or if it applies to both.
Can get things done
Better describes Barack Obama – 37 percent
Better describes Mitt Romney – 42 percent
Applies to neither – 14 percent
Applies to both – 4 percent
Not sure – 4 percent
Can bring people together
Better describes Barack Obama – 42 percent
Better describes Mitt Romney – 37 percent
Applies to neither – 15 percent
Applies to both – 3 percent
Not sure – 2 percent
Shares my values
Better describes Barack Obama – 42 percent
Better describes Mitt Romney – 42 percent
Applies to neither – 11 percent
Applies to both – 2 percent
Not sure – 3 percent
Strong leader
Better describes Barack Obama – 40 percent
Better describes Mitt Romney – 42 percent
Applies to neither – 9 percent
Applies to both – 5 percent
Not sure – 4 percent
(for registered voters, n = 543, Margin of sampling error +/- 4.3 percent)
For the survey, the HPU Poll through SurveyUSA interviewed 600 state of North Carolina adults Aug. 26 to Aug. 30. Of the adults, 543 were registered to vote. This research was conducted using blended sample, mixed mode. Respondents reachable on a home telephone (71 percent of registered voters) were interviewed on their home telephone in the recorded voice of a professional announcer. Respondents not reachable on a home telephone (29 percent of registered voters), were shown a questionnaire on their smartphone, laptop, tablet, or other electronic device. In this research, consistent with findings in other states, cellphone respondents are more Democratic than are landline respondents. Romney leads by 14 points among landline respondents. Obama leads by 22 points among cellphone respondents. When the two groups are proportionally blended, the contest is, as reported here, 46 percent for Romney and 43 percent for Obama. Additional methodological explanation is available at: http://www.surveyusa.com/client/methodology6.aspx
Additional details including crosstabs of these questions are available at the High Point University Survey Research Center website: http://src.highpoint.edu/
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Pam Haynes
Communication Specialist
336-841-9055
[email protected]