Mitt Romney Brings Strengths and Weaknesses to GOP Stage
August 30, 2012
Mitt Romney speaks at the GOP convention with a 48% favorable rating, near his personal best but still below Barack Obama's 53%. A review of Gallup polling shows Romney also trails Obama on character ratings but leads on the economy.
Romney Lags Behind Obama on Character Ratings
Favorable ratings reflect Americans' broad reactions to a candidate, encompassing a variety of factors about the candidate as a person and leader. However, a separate Gallup measure of Romney and Obama in June on specific characteristics also found Romney lagging significantly in terms of being "likable." in 10 Americans at the time, 81%, said this trait applies to Obama, compared with 64% who said it applies to Romney. And when asked in the latest poll to say which of the two candidates is more likable, Americans chose Obama over Romney by 54% to 31%. That 23-point deficit, wide as it is, is actually an improvement for Romney compared with earlier in the year.
Obama also holds solid leads over Romney as the better candidate on a number of personal dimensions. Romney does no better than tie Obama in terms of being the candidate who Americans say can more effectively manage the government. This parity could disappoint Romney supporters, who may envision this as a core strength for Romney, given his business and gubernatorial background.
Romney Holds Advantage on Economic Issues
Romney, however, in the same poll, did better compared with Obama on two economic issues. Romney is significantly more likely to be perceived as the better candidate to handle the federal budget deficit and holds a lead on the economy. At the same time, Obama holds strong leads on foreign affairs, energy, and Medicare, as well as modest leads on taxes and healthcare.
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Nearly one in five Americans, 18%, say they would not support a Mormon for president -- a sentiment that has been remarkably constant since George Romney was running for president in 1967. And while many of those who object to a Mormon president are Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents who would not be expected to vote for Romney in any case, 10% of Republicans also say they would not vote for a Mormon. That contrasts with just 6% of Republican voters who are currently not backing Romney in the latest head-to-head ballot. However, a third of Republicans in June -- and more than 4 in 10 Americans, overall -- did not correctly identify Romney's religion as Mormonism at that time, indicating that if more do become aware, he could lose still more support over it.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/156980/mitt-romney-brings-strengths-weaknesses-gop-stage.aspx
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