2012 Presidential Campaign Blog

WDIV-TV and The Detroit News Exclusive Poll: Rick Santorum 34% Mitt Romney 30%

WDIV-TV and The Detroit News Exclusive Poll: Rick Santorum Rolls into Michigan with Slim Lead in Mitt Romney's Home State
Poll Shows Republican Presidential Primary Race is Very Fluid with Half of Voters Still Open to Changing Their Vote
Details of Exclusive Poll to be Released on Local 4 News and ClickOnDetroit.com

DETROIT, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- National observers have decried that the race for the White House begins in Michigan.  Now, an exclusive WDIV Local 4 and The Detroit News poll reveals that candidate Rick Santorum holds a 34% to 30% lead (+/- 4.38%) over Mitt Romney among likely voters in the state's upcoming Republican Presidential Primary Election.  Among only Republican voters, Santorum holds a ten-point lead, 40.7% to 31% (+/- 4.38%). 

According to survey results, the race is very fluid with 12% of likely voters still undecided, and half of voters still open to changing their vote.  44% of likely voters would prefer another choice versus only 49% that say they are satisfied with their choice.

"Rick Santorum's lead is built on traditional conservative Republican voters, while Mitt Romney's vote appears to rely on Oakland County voters, moderates and non-traditional Republican voters," said Richard Czuba, president of the Glengariff Group, Inc. and pollster for Local 4 News.   "Santorum holds a lead in nine of Michigan's fourteen congressional districts which will determine how many delegates each candidate gets.  Romney needs to focus on winning traditional Republican voters outside Oakland County."

WDIV will release additional information from the exclusive poll during Local 4 News, including an in-depth look at the race for the Senate Republican Nomination.  The complete poll results will be posted online at www.ClickOnDetroit.com.   

The WDIV Local 4 and The Detroit News exclusive poll was conducted by Glengariff Group, Inc., using a 500-person sample of registered Michigan voters likely to vote in the state's February 28, 2012 Republican Presidential Primary Election.  The live operator telephone survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.38% with a 95% level of confidence.

The effort to delve deeper into the opinions of voters with exclusive surveys is a part of WDIV's long-standing commitment to being a leader in providing comprehensive election coverage and focus on important local and national political issues.  Upcoming Local 4 Decision 2012 election initiatives include:

Free Air Time, offering an opportunity for qualified candidates for key races in the WDIV viewer area to directly address voters in the 30 day prior to the general election.
Voter's Voice, allowing viewers to ask questions directly to candidates through the station.
Voter Video Patrol, giving cameras to voters to take into their neighborhoods and document issues facing their communities to show candidates what voters are concerned about.
Ad Watch and Truth Test, checking the facts on political ad claims.
Candidate Comparisons, comparing candidates' history and political positions.
The Ultimate Voter Guide, a step-by-step complete resource guide on-air and online designed to help voters become familiar with sample of their ballots, operation of their voting machine, and information regarding their polling location. 
About Post-Newsweek Stations

Post-Newsweek Stations is owned by The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO), a diversified education and media company.  Post-Newsweek Stations owns and operates six television stations:  WDIV, the NBC affiliate in Detroit; KPRC, the NBC affiliate in Houston; WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami; WKMG, the CBS affiliate in Orlando; KSAT, the ABC affiliate in San Antonio; and WJXT, an independent in Jacksonville.  Post-Newsweek also has ownership interests in LATV Networks and Internet Broadcasting (IB).

SOURCE WDIV-TV

Public Policy Polling National Poll: Santorum 38% Romney 23% Gingrich 17% Paul 13%

Public Policy Polling National Poll: Santorum 38% Romney 23% Gingrich 17%  Paul 13%

Riding a wave of momentum from his trio of victories on Tuesday Rick Santorum has opened up a wide lead in PPP's newest national poll. He's at 38% to 23% for Mitt Romney, 17% for Newt Gingrich, and 13% for Ron Paul.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/02/santorum-surges-into-the-lead.html

Public Policy Polling Minnesota Poll: Santorum 29% Romney 27% Gingrich 22% Paul 19%

Public Policy Polling Minnesota Poll: Santorum 29% Romney 27% Gingrich 22%  Paul 19%

Minnesota looks like a toss up with any of the four candidates having some shot at winning. Santorum holds a small edge there with 29% to 27% for Romney, 22% for Gingrich, and 19% for Paul.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/02/romney-up-in-colorado-close-race-in-minnesota.html

Public Policy Polling Nevada Poll: Romney 50% Gingrich 25% Paul 15% Santorum 8%

Public Policy Polling Nevada Poll: Romney 50% Gingrich 25% Paul 15% Santorum 8%

Mitt Romney is headed for a dominant victory in Nevada on Saturday. PPP finds him polling at 50% to 25% for Newt Gingrich, 15% for Ron Paul, and 8% for Rick Santorum.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/02/romney-up-big-in-nevada.html

Rasmussen Reports Arizona GOP Primary: Romney 48%, Gingrich 24%, Santorum 13%, Paul 6%

Rasmussen Reports Arizona GOP Primary: Romney 48%, Gingrich 24%, Santorum 13%, Paul 6%

A new telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Arizona shows Romney with 48% support, while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich comes in a distant second with 24%. Thirteen percent (13%) prefer former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, and six percent (6%) support Texas Congressman Ron Paul.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/arizona/2012_arizona_republican_primary

Rasmussen Reports 2012 Michigan Republican Primary: Romney 38%, Gingrich 23%, Santorum 17%, Paul 14%

Rasmussen Reports 2012 Michigan Republican Primary: Romney 38%, Gingrich 23%, Santorum 17%, Paul 14%

Romney earns 38% support from Likely Republican Primary Voters in Michigan, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich a distant second with 23% of the vote. Seventeen percent (17%) prefer former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, and nearly as many (14%) favor Texas Congressman Ron Paul.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/michigan/2012_michigan_republican_primary

Quinnipiac University Florida Poll: Romney 43%, Gingrich 29%, Paul 11%, Santorum 11%

Quinnipiac University Florida Poll: Romney 43%, Gingrich 29%, Paul 11%, Santorum 11%

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has a 43 - 29 percent lead over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich among Republican likely voters in Florida, the nation's first big-state presidential primary, according to Quinnipiac University poll released today...Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum each have 11 percent of likely primary voters today.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/florida/release-detail?ReleaseID=1697

Rasmussen Reports Florida Primary Poll: Romney 44%, Gingrich 28%, Santorum 12%, Paul 10%

Rasmussen Reports Florida Primary Poll: Romney 44%, Gingrich 28%, Santorum 12%, Paul 10%

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Florida Republican Primary Voters, conducted Saturday, shows Romney up by 16 points with 44% support. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is a distant second at 28%.

http://50.56.53.88/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/florida/2012_florida_republican_primary

Public Policy Polling Florida Poll: Romney 40% Gingrich 32% Santorum 15% Paul 9%

Public Policy Polling Florida Poll: Romney 40% Gingrich 32% Santorum 15% Paul 9%

Romney now leads with 40% to 32% for Gingrich, 15% for Rick Santorum, and 9% for Ron Paul. Romney has gained 7 points and Gingrich has dropped by 6 since our last poll, which was conducted Sunday and Monday.

Quinnipiac University Florida Poll: Romney 38%, Gingrich 29%, Paul 14%, Santorum 12%

Quinnipiac University Florida Poll: Romney 38%, Gingrich 29%, Paul 14%, Santorum 12%

Just four days before the nation's first big-state presidential primary, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney opens up a 38 - 29 percent lead over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich among Republican likely voters in Florida, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Only 6 percent are undecided, but 32 percent say they might change their mind by Tuesday.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/florida/release-detail?ReleaseID=1696