August 2, 2011 - Obama Hurt, But Tops GOP In Debt Talks, Pennsylvania Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Romney, Santorum Tied With President In 2012 Matchup Word format The protracted slugfest over raising the national debt limit leaves President Barack Obama with a 54 - 43 percent disapproval among Pennsylvania voters, but he scores better than Republicans or Democrats in Congress, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. President Obama has acted more responsibly in the debt ceiling debate than Congressional Republicans, voters say 44 - 37 percent in the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN- uh-pe-ack) University poll concluded Sunday as agreement on a new debt limit was announced. Looking at the other players in the national debt debate, Pennsylvania voters: Disapprove 68 - 28 percent of the job Republicans in Congress are doing; Disapprove 67 - 28 percent of Democrats in Congress. Pennsylvania voters say 52 - 42 percent that Obama does not deserve to be reelected. Matching the president against possible Republican challengers shows: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 44 percent to Obama's 42 percent; Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 43 percent to Obama's 45 percent; Obama leads Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann 47 - 39 percent; Obama tops Texas Gov. Rick Perry 45 - 39 percent. "Any good poll is a snapshot of public opinion and this survey shows President Barack Obama at a low point just before a major announcement on the national debt limit, after a long and bitter debate," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Let's see how the public reacts to the news and whether today's results are a baseline for measuring future results, or whether they show the president is in big trouble in Pennsylvania, a key swing state." "If it's any consolation to the White House, voters say Obama acted more responsibly than Republicans during the debt ceiling debate, and approval ratings for Congress are just plain miserable," Malloy added. "While Obama was slugging it out with Republicans in Washington, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum were closing the gap in the Keystone State for the 2012 presidential race. How much this shift has to do with the just concluded debt ceiling debate is difficult to read. Again, we'll have to wait to see if Obama gets a bounce or whether he gets bounced." A June 15 Quinnipiac University survey showed Obama topping Romney 47 - 40 percent in Pennsylvania and leading Santorum 49 - 38 percent. Romney tops a possible Republican presidential primary field with 21 percent, unchanged from June 15. Other results are: Santorum with 14 percent, compared to 16 percent June 15; Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin with 12 percent, compared to 11 percent; Bachmann with 11 percent, up from 5 percent; Perry with 8 percent. He was not included June 15. No other candidate tops 5 percent. Nine percent of Pennsylvania voters say reports of Bachmann's migraines make them less likely to vote for her, while 87 percent say the reports won't affect their vote. Those who have read or heard of Bachmann's migraines say 53 - 42 percent media coverage has not been sexist. By a narrow 48 - 45 percent women say coverage has been sexist, while men disagree 60 - 36 percent. U.S. Sen. Robert Casey Pennsylvania voters approve 48 - 29 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Robert Casey is doing and say 47 - 33 percent he deserves to be reelected in 2012. Casey leads an unnamed Republican 47 - 35 percent. From July 25 - 31, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,358 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The survey includes 532 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 4.3 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 1. If the 2012 Republican primary for President were being held today, and the candidates were - Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Thaddeus McCotter, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman and Herman Cain, for whom would you vote? Tot Men Wom Palin 12% 14% 9% Gingrich 4 3 5 Romney 21 21 20 Pawlenty 2 2 3 Bachmann 11 13 9 Perry 8 10 5 McCotter - - - Santorum 14 14 13 Paul 5 4 5 Huntsman 1 1 1 Cain 4 6 1 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 4 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 3 DK/NA 14 9 21 TREND: If the 2012 Republican primary for President were being held today, and the candidates were Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Gary Johnson, Rick Perry, Thaddeus McCotter, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman and Herman Cain for whom would you vote? (*na=not asked in survey reported) Aug 02 Jun 15 2011 2011 Palin 12 11 Gingrich 4 5 Romney 21 21 Pawlenty 2 4 Bachmann 11 5 Perry 8 na McCotter - na Santorum 14 16 Paul 5 6 Huntsman 1 1 Cain 4 8 Johnson na - SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 3 DK/NA 14 17 2. If the 2012 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and Rick Santorum the Republican, for whom would you vote? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Obama 45% 10% 80% 45% 41% 48% 49% Santorum 43 82 11 38 48 39 37 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 DK/NA 7 3 5 11 5 9 9 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Obama 44% 72% 45% 55% 36% 26% 35% Santorum 43 21 40 36 49 50 54 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 4 1 4 5 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 - 5 2 3 5 1 DK/NA 6 6 6 5 9 14 6 TREND: If the 2012 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and Rick Santorum the Republican for whom would you vote? Aug 02 Jun 15 2011 2011 Obama 45 49 Santorum 43 38 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 4 DK/NA 7 7 3. If the 2012 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and Mitt Romney the Republican, for whom would you vote? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Obama 42% 7% 81% 39% 39% 45% 50% Romney 44 85 8 39 48 40 31 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 2 3 4 3 3 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 3 5 5 1 5 DK/NA 8 5 5 12 5 11 9 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Obama 41% 69% 47% 49% 34% 26% 34% Romney 43 19 42 41 47 52 53 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 3 2 1 4 9 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 2 4 2 4 5 2 DK/NA 10 8 6 6 11 8 8 TREND: If the 2012 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and Mitt Romney the Republican for whom would you vote? Aug 02 Jun 15 2011 2011 Obama 42 47 Romney 44 40 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 4 DK/NA 8 6 4. If the 2012 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and Michele Bachmann the Republican, for whom would you vote? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Obama 47% 12% 83% 47% 42% 51% 52% Bachmann 39 75 7 34 43 35 32 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 3 2 5 4 3 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 3 1 5 4 2 6 DK/NA 8 6 7 9 7 9 8 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Obama 47% 75% 46% 59% 38% 30% 36% Bachmann 39 16 37 30 42 47 50 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 2 5 2 1 7 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 - 5 2 8 5 2 DK/NA 6 6 8 7 11 10 9 5. If the 2012 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and Rick Perry the Republican, for whom would you vote? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Obama 45% 8% 82% 44% 40% 49% 51% Perry 39 75 7 36 44 34 35 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 4 2 3 4 3 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 4 2 3 5 2 5 DK/NA 10 9 7 14 7 13 9 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Obama 42% 67% 46% 55% 39% 29% 35% Perry 40 21 36 32 42 43 49 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 4 3 4 2 1 3 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 5 - 4 2 7 5 2 DK/NA 8 8 10 8 11 20 10 8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob Casey Jr. is handling his job as United States Senator? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 48% 39% 61% 46% 49% 47% 51% Disapprove 29 39 17 30 35 23 27 DK/NA 23 22 22 24 16 30 22 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 51% 47% 46% 50% 44% 44% 49% Disapprove 26 31 28 23 27 34 33 DK/NA 23 22 26 27 29 21 19 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob Casey Jr. is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... High Low Aug 02 Jun 15 Apr 28 Feb 17 Dec 16 May 28 Dec 16 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2009 2010 Approve 48 47 44 44 39 56 39 Disapprove 29 26 26 24 29 21 29 DK/NA 23 27 30 31 32 23 32 9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Pat Toomey is handling his job as United States Senator? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 44% 67% 25% 42% 50% 38% 40% Disapprove 31 14 47 32 32 30 38 DK/NA 25 19 27 26 18 31 22 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 50% 30% 40% 46% 40% 43% 50% Disapprove 29 41 30 32 26 31 30 DK/NA 21 29 30 22 34 26 20 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Pat Toomey is handling his job as United States Senator? Aug 02 Jun 15 Apr 28 Feb 17 2011 2011 2011 2011 Approve 44 45 43 41 Disapprove 31 28 25 21 DK/NA 25 27 31 39 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 43% 9% 77% 40% 39% 46% 48% Disapprove 54 89 20 56 58 51 49 DK/NA 3 2 3 4 3 3 3 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 47% 68% 46% 51% 37% 28% 30% Disapprove 50 30 52 44 61 70 68 DK/NA 3 2 3 5 3 2 2 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? APPROVE....... High Low Aug 02 Jun 15 Apr 28 Feb 17 Dec 16 May 04 Apr 28 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2009 2011 Approve 43 48 42 51 44 66 42 Disapprove 54 48 53 44 43 29 53 DK/NA 3 4 5 5 13 5 5 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 28% 7% 53% 22% 24% 32% 36% Disapprove 67 89 43 72 73 61 60 DK/NA 5 4 4 6 4 6 3 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 29% 45% 29% 32% 21% 17% 24% Disapprove 67 53 62 64 75 77 71 DK/NA 4 3 9 3 4 6 5 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Approve 28% 50% 9% 24% 29% 26% 22% Disapprove 68 45 88 71 67 68 73 DK/NA 5 6 3 4 4 6 5 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Approve 31% 18% 25% 24% 30% 26% 34% Disapprove 63 77 72 73 65 66 61 DK/NA 6 5 3 3 5 8 5 14. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President... Do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes/deserves 42% 5% 79% 42% 38% 46% 48% No/does not 52 90 16 51 57 46 45 DK/NA 6 5 5 7 4 7 6 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Yes/deserves 43% 71% 45% 49% 37% 27% 31% No/does not 52 25 47 43 58 70 62 DK/NA 5 4 8 8 5 3 7 TREND: Looking ahead to the 2012 election for President, do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Aug 02 Jun 15 Apr 28 Feb 17 Jul 14 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 Yes/deserves 42 48 42 48 42 No/does not 52 46 52 45 48 DK/NA 6 6 6 8 10 15. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for United States Senator... If the 2012 election for United States Senator were being held today, do you think you would vote for Bob Casey Jr. the Democratic candidate, or for the Republican candidate? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Casey 47% 11% 85% 46% 44% 50% 57% Republican 35 72 3 31 40 31 27 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 8 10 5 8 8 7 4 DK/NA 10 7 7 16 9 12 12 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Casey 50% 62% 49% 52% 42% 40% 38% Republican 34 21 31 32 39 41 42 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 9 5 7 8 7 8 8 DK/NA 7 11 12 9 11 11 11 TREND: If the 2012 election for United States Senator were being held today, do you think you would vote for Bob Casey Jr. the Democratic candidate, or the Republican candidate? Aug 02 Jun 15 Apr 28 Feb 17 Dec 16 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 Casey 47 47 46 45 43 Republican 35 32 34 35 35 DEPENDS ON CAND(VOL) 8 10 9 9 11 DK/NA 10 11 11 11 11 16. Looking ahead to the 2012 election for United States Senator... do you feel that Bob Casey Jr. deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes/deserves 47% 27% 73% 44% 47% 47% 56% No/does not 33 54 11 35 40 27 27 DK/NA 19 20 16 21 13 25 16 Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl Yes/deserves 45% 59% 49% 52% 40% 37% 44% No/does not 34 22 33 28 33 41 40 DK/NA 21 19 18 20 26 21 16 TREND: Do you feel that Bob Casey Jr. deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Aug 02 Jun 15 Apr 28 Feb 17 Dec 16 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 Yes/deserves 47 47 48 46 40 No/does not 33 31 31 28 33 DK/NA 19 21 21 26 27 19. Who do you think is behaving more responsibly in the negotiations over the national debt ceiling: President Obama or Republicans in Congress? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Obama 44% 14% 77% 41% 40% 47% 49% Republicans 37 67 9 37 41 33 33 BOTH(VOL) 1 1 - - 1 1 - NEITHER(VOL) 13 14 8 15 15 11 14 DK/NA 6 5 6 6 3 9 4 20. Who do you think is behaving more responsibly in the negotiations over the national debt ceiling: Democrats in Congress or Republicans in Congress? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Democrats 37% 7% 71% 31% 35% 38% 39% Republicans 37 66 7 37 42 32 33 BOTH(VOL) 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 NEITHER(VOL) 19 19 17 22 19 18 21 DK/NA 7 7 5 8 3 10 7 36. Have you heard or read anything about Michele Bachmann's migraines? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes 54% 50% 54% 58% 58% 50% 55% No 45 49 46 41 41 49 45 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 - 37. Does Michele Bachmann having migraines make you more likely to vote for her for President, less likely to vote for her, or doesn't it make a difference? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds More likely 1% 2% 2% - 2% 1% 1% Less likely 9 7 12 9 8 11 8 No difference 87 91 83 88 88 86 89 DK/NA 2 1 3 3 2 2 3 38. (If "Yes" q36) Do you think the news media coverage of Michele Bachmann's migraines has been sexist or not? HEARD OR READ Q36.............................. Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHlds Yes 42% 55% 35% 39% 36% 48% 45% No 53 43 59 55 60 45 48 DK/NA 6 2 7 6 4 7 6 Demographic Summary
