Poll Dancing - 8.13.12

Chilly reaction to Ryan VP pick in early poll [USAT/Gallup 8/13]:

Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, is seen as only a "fair" or "poor" choice by 42% of Americans vs. 39% who think he is an "excellent" or "pretty good" vice presidential choice.

July poll on Romney VP shortlist showed low less than overwhelming favorability for Ryan [Rasmussen 7/17]:

Earlier polling found that 39% of all voters had a favorable opinion of Ryan, while 25% offered a negative review.  Thirty-five percent (35%) express no opinion of Ryan. The congressman is relatively unknown to the nation at large. Only a third of voters have a strong opinion in either direction.

Secure borders before legalizing undocumented workers [Rasmussen 8/12]:

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters think gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers already living here. Thirty-five percent (35%) put legalizing the status of undocumented workers first

Charlie Crist's political career not dead yet:[PPP 8/10]

Florida voters are generally favorable to the idea of former Republican Governor Charlie Crist completing his partisan transformation and becoming a Democrat. And despite an unimpressive even favorability rating at 41%, Crist benefits from voters’ deep dissatisfaction with Governor Rick Scott in order to lead his successor in a potential 2014 matchup 44% to 41%.

Voter engagement down from 2004 and 2008 [Gallup 8/13]:

Sixty-four percent of Americans say they have given quite a lot of thought to the 2012 presidential election, a slightly lower percentage than Gallup measured in July of 2004 and 2008.

Romney and Obama dead heat in Missouri: [SurveyUSA 8/12]:

In an election today 08/12/12 for President, Mitt Romney has a statistically insignificant advantage over Barack Obama, 45% to 44%, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted for KSDK-TV in St Louis, KSHB-TV in Kansas City, and KSPR-TV and KYTV-TV in Springfield. Missouri voters split their ticket: the Democratic incumbent leads in the race for Governor and the Republican challenger leads in the nationally significant race for U.S. Senator.

(Editors note: MO electoral votes have gone to future president in every election since 1904 with the exception of 1956 & 2008)

The horse race in days before official Ryan selection [POLITICO/GWU 8/13]:

Obama takes 48 percent of likely voters in the new poll, compared with 47 percent for Romney – a statistical tie and well within the margin of error. In May, the numbers were flipped: Romney was at 48 percent and Obama was at 47 percent. The poll found 5 percent of voters are undecided.