If the presidential election were held today, President Barack Obama would win in Wisconsin over Republican Mitt Romney by about 8 percentage points — 51 to 43 percent.
But a closer look into the numbers revealed Wednesday in a new poll from Marquette University Law School shows a distinct divide among voters and whom they support when that question is linked to how they see the economy.
It boils down to this:
Survey respondents who said the recession really hasn't taken a toll on their personal finances back Obama, while Romney has an edge over those still hurting from the economic turn-down.
Obama beats Romney by 51 percent to 44 percent among respondents who say they were affected by the recession but have now recovered. And among those who say the recession hasn't really hurt them back Obama by 54 percent to 40 percent.
For those who were affected and have not recovered, Romney is their candidate by a small margin, 48 percent to 45 percent.
The poll results were released as part of the school's monthly "On the Issues" program with broadcaster Mike Gousha and Professor Charles Franklin. A sample of 810 likely voters were reached via land line and cell phone to answer questions between July 5 and 8. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.
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"There is a very personal aspect for those who have suffered because of the recession and have not gotten any gains," noted Franklin, director of the poll. "They are fertile ground for the Romney campaign."
Views on the country's economic recovery also make a difference in how Wisconsin voters might lean come November. Those who think the economy is better than a year ago support Obama over Romney 77 percent to 15 percent. Those who think things will be better a year from now back the president by a 66 percent to 28 percent margin.
Likely voters more in the middle who see the economy as the same now and in the next year also support the president by double-digit margins.
But for those who think the economy is worse or expect it to get worse in the next year, Romney is their choice — 72 percent to 24 percent, and 71 percent to 22 percent respectively.
"Is it unusual to see President Obama leading in the state when so many think the economy is worse?" Gousha asked.
Yes and no, Franklin answered.
"It depends on how you do the math," he said. "Looking at it one way is that 64 percent of voters say the economy is better or the same. Or you can look at it as 75 percent say the economy is the same or worse."
Voter income levels are also tied to which candidate survey participants support.
Romney wins over Obama — 49 percent to 46 percent — with voters who make over $75,000 a year. Those in the bottom and middle third income levels support Obama over Romney, 61 to 33 and 52 to 45 percent, respectively.
"Income is related to Republican votes and that shows up in our polls as well," Franklin said.
Why did the Democrats overwhelming support the bank bailouts if bankers are so evil? Democrats delivered their caucus on the vote twice. Republicans killed it the first time, and even then, a large part of the Republican caucus still voted against it the second time around, while the Democrats once again delivered their caucus. So, why do Democrats love and trust bankers so much?
Gues what? You are still out of the loop. You get nothing.
But as some Gen-X know-it-all "conservatives" on this site would maintain, I am a grumpy old "liberal". Yeaaahhhh...., that's it. LMAO when the day comes, and probably soon, that the paper in their wallets would better suffice for wiping their widdle behinds 'cause that’s all it will be worth.
Ima Hippee, I hope that you will always post here. Your understanding of political issues is profound and your insights invaluable to every discussion.
The far right fringe of the Republican Party presents budgets which continue the same failed policies. Obstruction by this same fringe element keeps progress from being made in the government. That last Congressional vote on the Affordable Care Act--wasn't that the 32nd time they did that? Please explain these frivolous symbolic votes in the face of economic crisis and high unemployment. Please, indeed.
Mitt is no genius, lies continuously, flip flops regularly on every issue, and has not come up with anything solid to improve things. To pin your hopes on someone who issues constant criticism at his opponent that doesn't come close to being remotely true, demeans and offers disdain for most Americans, does not support the American way, ducks out of paying taxes to a country he professes to "love", and cannot articulate any real / innovative plan this late in the campaign seems more like fantasy than reality. If this man gets elected, all hopes of America achieving or being viewed as exceptional will be lost.
A sample of 810 likely voters were reached via land line and cell phone to answer questions between July 5 and 8. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.
A respondent by definition is someone who answered the phone and participated in the survey.
I don't give a damned about my situation and neither should you. It's the aggregate that counts, and what has been happening under 30 years of Reaganomics has been the decline of America, with numbskulls like Rojo complaining that we don't talk about American exceptionalism.
I read about American exceptionalism years ago and started to read its critiques about 10-15 years ago about the same time neoconservatives tweeted the concept into their own unique meaning--that being American was superior to other nations. Neocons transformed the meaning into America a better than other nations. The rest is history.