Polling Editor

Steven Shepard

Polling Editor

Steven Shepard is polling editor for National Journal Hotline. Since joining The Hotline in 2008, Shepard has covered the presidential election, the Obama transition, Supreme Court confirmations, and other Senate, House, gubernatorial and mayoral elections. During the 2010 campaign, Shepard covered political polling and the polling industry, and edited the “Hotline Extra” feature for National Journal. A native of East Meadow, N.Y., Shepard is a 2004 graduate of The George Washington University in Washington.

Steven Shepard's Latest Posts

Researchers Warn of 'Bias' in Landline-Only Phone Polls

By Steven Shepard

New Mass. Senate Polls a Mixed Bag for Both Candidates

By Steven Shepard and Kevin Brennan

Gallup Post Mortem Leads To Polling Changes

By Steven Shepard

The world's best-known polling firm has 4 reasons for why they badly miscalculated the election outcome. Read More »

As Weiner Launches Mayoral Campaign, Poll Still Shows Him in 2nd Place

By Steven Shepard

Former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., announces his resignation from Congress, amid the intense controversy surrounding sexually explicit messages he sent online to several women.

Weiner's Spending Dwindled in Past Two Months

By Steven Shepard

RNC Will Host GOP Pollsters Next Week

By Steven Shepard

In Massachusetts, Kids Poll the Darndest Things

By Steven Shepard

Exploring the House Generic Ballot

By Steven Shepard

Toomey Records Highest Approval Rating Yet After Sponsoring Gun Amendment

By Steven Shepard

Poll: Buono Still Not Gaining Traction in N.J.

By Steven Shepard

Poll Shows Garcetti Leading Greuel in L.A. Mayoral Runoff

By Steven Shepard

King on Possible Senate Run: 'I Can See a Path to Victory'

By Steven Shepard

Another NYC Mayoral Poll Shows Weiner in Second Place

By Steven Shepard

In-Cycle Dems Baucus, Begich, Pryor Oppose Background-Check Amendment

By Steven Shepard, Scott Bland, Kevin Brennan and Sarah Mimms

Poll: Weiner Would Start Mayoral Race in Second Place

By Steven Shepard

CAMPAIGN 2012

The Presidential Polls Were Right After All -- But the Argument Continues

By Steven Shepard

In the end, after all the unskewing, the re-weighting and the hand-wringing, the polls were right — for the most part. Read More »

Sherrod Brown Beats Josh Mandel in Ohio

By Steven Shepard

Sen. Sherrod Brown , D-Ohio, earned a second term on Tuesday, defeating the youthful Republican state treasurer, Josh Mandel , in a race marked by a massive influx of outside spending. The Associated Press called the race with ju...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Final Polls: Race Tied Nationally, But Obama Has Swing-State Edge

By Steven Shepard

President Obama and Mitt Romney are neck-and-neck in national polls released on the final weekend before Election Day, but Obama's Midwestern "firewall" of Iowa, Ohio and Wisconsin is holding and he maintains a distinct advantage...

Tuesday's Weather Unlikely to Depress Voter Turnout

By Steven Shepard

Most voters across the country are likely to encounter tranquil weather on Tuesday as they venture out to cast their ballots, according to the latest forecast, in stark contrast to a week earlier, when the remnants of Hurricane Sand...

Mourdock Camp Questions Independent Poll Results

By Steven Shepard

The campaign of Indiana Republican Senate nominee Richard Mourdock on Friday called on longtime Hoosier State political observer Brian Howey to release the unweighted data for a poll he published in his eponymous newsletter t...

Poll: Donnelly Headed to Victory in Indiana Senate Race

By Steven Shepard

Richard Mourdock 's support has collapsed following his comments about rape at a debate last week, and the GOP nominee in the Indiana Senate race now trails by a significant margin, according to a new independent poll released on ...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama Maintains Stubborn Advantage in Ohio

By Steven Shepard

New CBS News/ New York Times /Quinnipiac University polls released early on Wednesday show President Obama and Mitt Romney running neck-and-neck in Florida and Virginia, while Obama maintains his 5-point lead in Ohio, a state cons...

Pollsters Suspend Surveys Due to Sandy

By Steven Shepard

Hurricane Sandy has severely disrupted the political polling industry just a week before one of the closest presidential elections in a generation. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama, Romney Vie for Small Pool of Voters

By Steven Shepard

The race between President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney is a dead heat, according to a new Pew Research Center poll released on Monday, with both candidates fighting over the narrow slice of the electorate that is sti...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Battleground-State Polls Show Race Could Tip Either Way

By Steven Shepard

The race to 270 electoral votes remains extremely tight, according to new battleground-state polls released Sunday that underscore that Mitt Romney has made inroads in wrestling away President Obama's advantage in the Electoral College. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Close Races in Key Western States

By Steven Shepard

The presidential race remains tight in two critical Western battleground states won by President Obama in 2008, according to new NBC News/ Wall Street Journal /Marist polls released late Thursday. The polls show Obama and Mitt Romne...

New Poll Shows Obama, Romney Tied

By Steven Shepard and Alex Roarty

The race between President Obama and Mitt Romney is deadlocked among likely voters in the Nov. 6 general election, according to a new NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll slated to be released on Sunday. Read More »

Hotline Sort: Rendell Rips Casey

By Julie Sobel and Steven Shepard

Welcome back to Hotline Sort . The Club for Growth makes its first foray into the ad war in Ohio's Senate race, Warren and Scott Brown have tough new ads out, Obama and Romney show off their lighter sides, and Rendell blasts Casey...

Polls: Obama Leading in Key Midwest States

By Steven Shepard

As most polls continue to show Mitt Romney gaining momentum in the final weeks of the campaign, two new surveys from Midwestern states released late Thursday show President Obama may be maintaining his firewall in Iowa and Wisconsin...

Poll: Race Tied in Wisconsin

By Steven Shepard

A new poll released Wednesday shows President Obama and Mitt Romney tied in Wisconsin, erasing the significant lead that Obama had built following the Democratic convention and putting the state's 10 electoral votes firmly in play. Read More »

Poll: Christie-Booker Would Be Close Race

By Steven Shepard

While the rest of the political world is focused on the 20 days from now until Election Day, New Jerseyans are looking forward to 2013, and a new poll released early Wednesday suggests that popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker would ...

Obama Campaign Criticizes Gallup for Swing-State Poll

By Steven Shepard

President Obama's campaign apparatus is criticizing the Gallup Organization in the wake of a USA Today /Gallup poll showing the president trailing in a survey of likely voters in 12 swing states. This marks the second time this yea...

Poll: Race Still Tied as GOP Enthusiasm Jumps

By Steven Shepard

A new ABC News/ Washington Post poll released early Monday shows rising Republican enthusiasm following the first presidential debate, but GOP nominee Mitt Romney does not gain ground on the ballot test, as the percentage of voters...

Poll: Longtime N.Y. Rep. Slaughter in Tight Race

By Steven Shepard

Having been shut out of all but one of Upstate New York's congressional districts in 2009, Republicans picked up five seats in 2010, one of their most impressive hauls in a banner year for the party. But a new poll released Sunday ...

Nevada Polls May Understate Democratic Support

By Steven Shepard

The majority of public polls in the final month of the 2010 Nevada Senate race showed Republican Sharron Angle with a modest advantage over Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid . Of course, the polls were wrong, and Reid won the ...

Poll: Romney Rise in Fla. Helps Mack Close the Gap

By Steven Shepard

For the past six weeks, the presidential race in Florida has been neck-and-neck, and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson has led Republican Rep. Connie Mack by a comfortable margin in that state's Senate race. But a new Mason-Dixon poll co...

New Report Highlights Pollsters' Cell Phone Problem

By Steven Shepard

The fundamental, founding principle of polling is the probability sample -- the notion that each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected to participate in the survey. But what if most public polls in many of ...

Poll: Tight Contests in the Granite State

By Steven Shepard

A new poll released late Thursday continues to show a close fight in the race to succeed retiring New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch , with Republican Ovide Lamontagne inching in front of Democrat Maggie Hassan , whose standing fell...

Poll: Romney Leads Obama in Florida

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney has opened up a lead in Florida, a must-win state for the Republican presidential nominee, according to a new poll released late on Thursday, but its results are at odds with another recent poll released less than 24 hou...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls Show Small Romney Bump in Swing States

By Steven Shepard

New battleground-state polls show slight movement toward Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in five of the states that could prove pivotal in the battle for the White House, and in the wake of last week's presidential debat...

Romney Edges Obama in First Gallup Measure of Likely Voters

By Steven Shepard

The Gallup Organization maintains the most robust public, daily tracking poll, and on Tuesday they released their first estimate of the presidential race among respondents they deem likely to vote, showing Mitt Romney edging in fron...

Brown Leads Warren in New Poll

By Steven Shepard

A new poll released Tuesday shows Sen. Scott Brown , R-Mass., receiving a slight boost at the top of the ticket and pulling into a statistically-insignificant lead over Democrat Elizabeth Warren in their closely-watched race. T...

Poll: Romney Closes Deficit in Native Michigan

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney is riding a national surge in the wake of his strong debate performance last week, and a new poll out late Monday shows that bump extending to the state in which he was born, Democratic-leaning Michigan. Romney and Presi...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Takes Narrow Lead After Dominating Debate

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has surged following his strong debate performance last week, and he now holds a slight lead over President Obama among likely voters, according to a new poll released Monday by the Pew Research...

Gallup: Tied Race After Resounding Romney Debate Win

By Steven Shepard

President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney were tied in interviews conducted for Gallup's daily tracking poll in the three days immediately following last week's first presidential debate, with more than 7-in-10 Americans ...

Hochul, Collins Remain Tied in Poll

By Steven Shepard

The race between Rep. Kathy Hochul , D-N.Y., and her Republican challenger, Chris Collins , remains tied, according to a new Buffalo News /WRGZ-TV/Siena College poll released Sunday. Read More »

Poll: Warren Holds Slight Lead Over Brown in Mass.

By Steven Shepard

Democrat Elizabeth Warren continues to hold an apparent edge in the closely-watched Massachusetts Senate race over the Republican incumbent, Scott Brown , according to a new poll conducted for The Republican newspaper of Spri...

Obama Approval Falls in Post-Debate Gallup Poll

By Steven Shepard

Americans have mixed opinions about President Obama's job performance following last week's presidential debate, according to new poll results released Sunday by Gallup. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama Holds Narrow Lead in Colorado After Debate

By Steven Shepard

President Obama holds a narrow lead in Colorado following his uninspired debate performance last week in Denver, according to a new poll released Sunday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Before Debate, Poll Showed Obama Hitting Demographic Targets

By Steven Shepard

If President Obama matches the 80 percent he won in 2008 among nonwhite voters, including African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and others, he can reassemble a national majority by attracting only about 40 percent of whites. As Democ...

Poll: Apparent Slide for Obama Following Debate

By Steven Shepard

A new poll shows a slight change in the presidential race immediately following Wednesday night's debate in Denver, with a 4-point lead for President Obama the day before the debate becoming a 1-point deficit the day after his unins...

Q Poll: McMahon, Murphy in Dead Heat

By Steven Shepard

Amid a robust television ad campaign, Republican Linda McMahon remains neck-and-neck with Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy in the race for the open Senate seat in solidly-Democratic Connecticut, according to a new Quinnipiac Univer...

Poll: Obama Maintains Wisconsin Lead

By Steven Shepard

President Obama maintains a double-digit lead over Mitt Romney in Wisconsin, according to a new Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Obama Still Leads in Ohio; Tighter Races in Fla., Va.

By Steven Shepard

President Obama remains stubbornly ahead in Ohio, while the race against Mitt Romney remains close in Florida and Virginia, according to new NBC News/ Wall Street Journal /Marist polls released early Wednesday. Read More »

Poll: Hassan, Lamontagne Tied in N.H. Gov. Race

By Steven Shepard

Democrat Maggie Hassan and Republican Ovide Lamontagne are running neck-and-neck in New Hampshire's open gubernatorial race, a new WMUR-TV Granite State Poll released late Tuesday shows. Results of the poll released on Monday s...

Poll: Obama Has Slim Edge in Florida

By Steven Shepard

A new poll released late Tuesday shows President Obama with a slim advantage over Mitt Romney in the critical battleground state of Florida, suggesting that the state is not slipping away from the GOP nominee, as another survey last...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls Align With Obama Narrowly Leading Romney

By Steven Shepard

President Obama holds a 4-percentage-point lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney in a new Quinnipiac University poll released early on Tuesday. The results are consistent with other recent surveys showing a slender advantage...

Poll: Obama Opens Up Large Lead in New Hampshire

By Steven Shepard

A new poll released Monday evening gives President Obama a significant, 15 percentage-point lead among likely voters in New Hampshire, as the gap in motivation between his supporters and backers of Republican challenger Mitt Romn...

Warren Edges Brown in Another Poll

By Steven Shepard

A second poll in as many days shows Democrat Elizabeth Warren with a slight lead over Sen. Scott Brown , R-Mass., propelled by President Obama 's 2-to-1 advantage in the Bay State. Warren leads Brown, 49 percent to 45 percent, ...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Race Remains Tight, But Debates Loom Large

By Steven Shepard

President Obama remains in a virtual tie with Mitt Romney in a new ABC News/ Washington Post poll released early Monday, but the incumbent has ticked up on many measures, including earning his highest approval rating for handling t...

Polls: Democratic Candidates Tied in Western Senate Races

By Steven Shepard

Three new live-caller polls out of Arizona, Montana and North Dakota show Democrats running neck-and-neck in Senate contests in states likely to be carried by the Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney . Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls Show Close Races in Nevada, North Carolina, and Virginia

By Steven Shepard

New battleground-state polls released on Thursday show tight presidential contests in Nevada, North Carolina, and Virginia, three states that President Obama wrestled away from Republicans in his historic 2008 election. Obama holds ...

Poll: Donnelly, Mourdock Tied in Indiana

By Steven Shepard

Indiana's open-seat Senate race remains a dead heat, with Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly running neck-and-neck with state Treasurer Richard Mourdock , according to a new bipartisan poll released Thursday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Obama Holds Big Leads in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania

By Steven Shepard

President Obama now holds his largest leads to date in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to three new CBS News/ New York Times /Quinnipiac University polls released early Wednesday. The polls all show Obama easily clearing...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Republicans to Pollsters: Too Many Democrats In Your Surveys

By Steven Shepard

It has become a recurring refrain among some Republican pundits and observers each time a new poll shows President Obama or downballot Democrats doing well: Check the party composition. But pollsters say their results reflect chan...

Swing-State Newspaper Polls Show Obama Leading in Ohio, Tied in Florida

By Steven Shepard

Florida voters awoke Sunday to headlines on the front pages of the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times that a new poll shows the race for the state's 29 electoral votes is too close to call. But in Ohio, readers of newspapers a...

Mason-Dixon Poll: Rehberg, Tester Run Close

By Steven Shepard

The Montana Senate race is neck-and-neck, with Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg leading Democratic incumbent Jon Tester by a statistically-insignificant margin in a new poll released Sunday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls Show Obama Edge in More Swing States

By Steven Shepard

Another slate of battleground-state polls released late Thursday confirms that President Obama holds a clear, if tenuous, advantage in the race to 270 electoral votes, reaching 50 percent in smaller swing states Colorado, Iowa, and ...

Polls: Obama Leads in Florida, Ohio, Virginia

By Steven Shepard

New polls conducted for Fox News released late on Wednesday show President Obama leading Mitt Romney in three battleground states -- Florida, Ohio, and Virginia -- as surveys continue to depict the incumbent ahead in the race...

Fox News Polls: Dems Lead Key Senate Races

By Steven Shepard

New polls released late Wednesday show Democrats ahead in Senate races in Florida, Ohio and Virginia, the latest sign that Republicans face an increasingly uphill path on their quest to regain control of the Senate in the November ...

National Polls Paint Divergent Picture of Presidential Race

By Steven Shepard

A divide has developed between public-opinion polls that show President Obama and Mitt Romney neck-and-neck in the November presidential race and those that depict the president ahead, as observers size up the state of play with few...

Another Poll Shows Obama Leading in Wisconsin

By Steven Shepard

A second poll out Wednesday shows President Obama opening a significant lead in Wisconsin, which had emerged as a critical battleground state, prompting both sides to divert money and resources to winning its 10 electoral votes. The...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Obama Leads in Wis.; Closer in Colo., Va.

By Steven Shepard

New polls out early on Wednesday show President Obama opening up a significant lead in Wisconsin, but the race for president is within the margin of error in two other critical battleground states, Colorado and Virginia. The CBS...

Poll: Warren Leads Brown in Mass. Senate Race

By Steven Shepard

Democrat Elizabeth Warren has a 6-point lead over Sen. Scott Brown , R-Mass., in one of the marquee Senate races of the 2012 cycle, according to a new poll released Sunday. Warren's lead is not considered statistically significa...

Poll: Obama Holds Slight Likely-Voter Lead

By Steven Shepard

President Obama received a significant increase in support following the two national conventions, according to portions of a new CBS News/ New York Times poll released early on Friday, and the president now has a slight edge amo...

Interim Texas Congressional Maps Likely to Remain in Place

By Steven Shepard

The federal district court that drew the interim maps under which Texas congressional and state legislative candidates will seek office this November announced Thursday that those districts will likely remain unchanged for the 2012 ...

Court Throws Out Texas Congressional Map

By Steven Shepard and Scott Bland

Updated at 4:35 p.m. Read More »

Poll Shows Cicilline Under 50 -- Among Dems

By Steven Shepard

Embattled Rep. David Cicilline can't even break 50 percent in his competitive Democratic primary in Rhode Island's First District, according to a new poll released late Monday night. Read More »

CONVENTIONS 2012

Another National Poll Shows Neck-and-Neck Race

By Steven Shepard

Yet another poll confirms that the presidential race remains a virtual tie headed into each party's convention, with a new CBS News survey released Tuesday showing the two candidates separated by an insignificant, razor-thin margin. Read More »

Q Poll: McMahon Edges Murphy in Connecticut Senate Race

By Steven Shepard

Former pro wrestling executive Linda McMahon has a slight lead in the race to replace Sen. Joe Lieberman , ID-Conn., a stark reversal from her losing Senate bid in 2010, according to a new poll released early Tuesday. Read More »

Dead-Heat Polls: It’s Still the Economy ...

By George E. Condon Jr. and Steven Shepard

President Obama and Mitt Romney remain deadlocked nationally in the latest ABC News/ Washington Post poll, heightening the stakes for the Republican National Convention this week and making almost certain that Romney will leave Tam...

Polls: Races Tight in Convention Host States

By Steven Shepard

As the two parties prepare to hold their quadrennial conventions in important battlegrounds over the next two weeks, new CNN/ Time /ORC International polls released Monday show close races in the two host states prior to any bounces...

Tampa Copes With Glancing Blow as Isaac Churns in Gulf

By Steven Shepard

Tropical Storm Warnings remained in effect for the Tampa area early Monday even though the center of Tropical Storm Isaac remained nearly 200 miles offshore over the Gulf of Mexico. Read More »

CONVENTIONS 2012

For Candidates, the Gathering Can Mean Bump or Bust

By Steven Shepard

Polling since 1964 suggests that both Mitt Romney and President Obama can expect small but significant increases in support following their respective party conventions. But sustaining those bumps is no sure thing. Read More »

Tampa Under Tropical Storm Warning

By Steven Shepard

The National Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the Tampa area just hours after the program for the first night of the Republican National Convention was scrapped amid preparations for Tropical Storm Isaac. Tro...

CONVENTIONS 2012

Isaac Prompts Tropical Storm Watch for Tampa Area

By Steven Shepard

The National Hurricane Center on Saturday morning issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Tampa, Fla., as a strengthened Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to pass close to the Tampa Bay area early next week before making landfall along the...

Poll: McCaskill Leads Badly-Damaged Akin

By Steven Shepard

Most stunningly, 56 percent of likely voters now have an unfavorable opinion of Akin, who just a week ago was a strong favorite to defeat the unpopular McCaskill in the Show-Me State. Only 17 percent of voters view him favorably. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Obama's Lead Cut in Florida, Wisconsin

By Steven Shepard

The presidential race has tightened slightly in Florida and Wisconsin since the rollout of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney's running mate, according to new Quinnipiac University/CBS News/ New York Times polls released early Thursday, ...

Poll: Tied Race in Wisconsin After Ryan Pick

By Steven Shepard

The race for Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes is a virtual tie, though the naming of home-state Rep. Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney's running mate has provided no significant bump for the Republican ticket, according to a new poll release...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Split Verdict on Ryan as Romney's Veep Choice

By Steven Shepard

President Obama remains marginally ahead of Mitt Romney after the selection of Paul Ryan to join the GOP ticket, according to a new NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll released late Tuesday that shows voters delivering a split v...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Marriage Gap Drives Close Obama-Romney Race

By Steven Shepard

President Obama continues to hold a tenuous, statistically insignificant lead in a new Quinnipiac University poll released early on Wednesday, driven by what the pollsters describe as a wide gap in the vote preferences o...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama, Romney Remain Tied

By Steven Shepard

Buoyed by his strongest performance to-date among independents, Mitt Romney remains tied with President Obama in a new ABC News/ Washington Post poll released on Tuesday, as majorities disapprove of the way Obama is handling of ...

CONGRESS

Poll: Americans Prefer Obama’s Tax Cut Plan

By Steven Shepard

Americans think it is more important to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for families earning less than $250,000 a year, as President Obama proposed on Monday, than extending them for all taxpayers, as advocated by congressional Republi...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Claims Slight Edge in 15 'Battleground' States

By Steven Shepard

But its group includes three GOP-leaning states, differing from other polls. Read More »

HEALTH CARE

Polls Agree: Americans Still Deeply Divided About Health Care Reform

By Margot Sanger-Katz and Steven Shepard

The intensity of feeling on both sides of the health care law has grown in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision, even as the overall split remains basically unchanged, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll conducte...

Cell Phone Addiction Threatens Polling Industry

By Steven Shepard

Fully half of American households receive all or nearly all of their telephone calls on cellular phones, according to a new government report released Thursday that confirms the nation's continuing abandonment of landline phones. Read More »

Poll: McCrory, Dalton Deadlocked in N.C. Governor's Race

By Steven Shepard

Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory and Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton are virtually tied in the North Carolina governor's race, closely reflecting the state of the presidential contest in the state, according to a new NBC News/Marist p...

Polls Show Virtual Ties in Swing States

By Steven Shepard

President Obama and Mitt Romney are neck-and-neck in three new battleground-state polls released early on Thursday, suggesting a broad electoral map at this stage of the general election. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama Leads in Swing States But Falls Short of Majority Support

By Steven Shepard

President Obama runs ahead of Mitt Romney in three important swing states, according to new polls released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University . But the polls all show Obama below the critical 50-percent threshold for an incumbent i...

Poll: Obama, Romney Still Neck-and-Neck Despite Active June

By Steven Shepard

The state of the presidential race remains unchanged over the past month, according to a new NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll that shows Americans unhappy with the state of the nation's economy and President Obama's stewardship o...

Democratic Poll: Bachmann Vulnerable in Reelection Bid

By Steven Shepard

Rep. Michele Bachmann , R-Minn., withdrew from the presidential race in January to focus on her reelection campaign, but a new poll conducted for her Democratic opponent shows Bachmann with only a tenuous, single-digit lead in her ...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Supporters More Engaged, But Not Because of Him

By Steven Shepard

Voter turnout could reach a record high this year, a new poll suggests, but Democrats and younger voters so far are less engaged in the presidential campaign -- suggesting that President Obama has lost some ground in his effort t...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama Takes Slight Lead in Florida

By Steven Shepard

President Obama has battled back in vote-rich Florida, wrestling away a slight lead from Mitt Romney on the backs of independent voters, according to a new poll released early Thursday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama Leads Romney in Wisconsin

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney boldly predicted earlier this week on his bus tour that he would win Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes in November, but a new poll released Wednesday shows he is still trailing President Obama in the Badger State. Read More »

Obama at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll Showing Obama Well Ahead Differs From Other Surveys

By Steven Shepard

Obama leads Romney in Bloomberg News survey, but other polls continue to show a neck-and-neck race. Read More »

Fischer Leads Kerrey By 25 in Own Poll

By Steven Shepard

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey , D-Neb., trails badly in his quest to return to the Senate, according to a poll conducted for the campaign of his Republican rival this week. Read More »

Poll: King Holds Wide Lead in Maine

By Steven Shepard

Independent Angus King is a strong favorite to succeed popular Sen. Olympia Snowe , R-Maine, leading the respective party nominees by a wide margin, according to a new poll released on Monday . Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama Leads in Pennsylvania But Remains Vulnerable

By Steven Shepard

President Obama holds a slight lead in the race for Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes, but Mitt Romney remains well within striking distance in the Keystone State, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Tuesday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama, Romney Tied in Michigan

By Steven Shepard

President Obama and Mitt Romney are in a virtual dead heat in Michigan, as self-identified independent voters have abandoned the incumbent, according to a new poll released on Thursday. Read More »

President Barack Obama shakes hands with students

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama's Va. Coalition Gives Him Slight Lead Over Romney

By Steven Shepard

President Obama holds a slight and tenuous lead over Mitt Romney in Virginia, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday morning that also shows that, despite his high approval ratings, Gov. Bob McDonnell woul...

POLITICS

Wisconsin Exit Poll: Voters Like Obama, Don't Like Recalls

By Steven Shepard

A majority of voters said it was inappropriate to recall Republican governor without charges of official misconduct. Read More »

Poll: Warren Still Ties Brown, But Negatives Rise

By Steven Shepard

Poll: Inslee, McKenna in Virtual Tie

By Steven Shepard

A new poll in the Washington State governor's race, conducted by the Seattle-based public affairs firm Strategies 360 and released on Thursday, shows Republican state Attorney General Rob McKenna leading former Democratic Rep. Ja...

Berkley, Heller Neck-and-Neck in New Poll

By Steven Shepard

CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama, Romney Neck-and-Neck in Swing-State Polls

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney is tied with President Obama in three key battleground states that Obama flipped from red to blue four years ago, according to new NBC News/Marist polls released early Thursday. Read More »

The Barrett Campaign's Uneven Polling Criticism

By Steven Shepard

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett 's campaign is upset by the new Marquette Law School poll released on Wednesday that showed him seven points behind in his quest to unseat Wisconsin's Republican Governor, Scott Walker , in June 5's r...

Walker Keeps Slight Lead in New Marquette Poll

By Steven Shepard

Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker has retained a slight lead over his Democratic rival in next week's recall election, according to a new Marquette Law School poll released on Wednesday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama Trails Romney in Florida Poll

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney now leads President Obama in the race for Florida's 29 electoral votes, a significant reversal from earlier this spring, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Wednesday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Another Poll Shows Toss-Up Race for the White House

By Steven Shepard

A second national poll released Tuesday shows President Obama and Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, locked in a close race with less than six months until Election Day. The new NBC News/ Wall Street Jour...

Poll: Obama, Romney in Dead Heat

By Steven Shepard

President Obama and Mitt Romney run neck-and-neck both overall and on the economic issues that Americans say matter most in choosing the next president, according to a new ABC News/ Washington Post poll released early Tuesday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Pollsters Offer Insiders' Advice on Appraising the Races

By Steven Shepard

ORLANDO, Fla. — With the two major-party presidential nominees this year all but certain, pollsters gathered in a hotel conference room here on the third day of the American Association for Public Opinion Research's annual symposi...

Researcher Examines Variation of the 'Bradley Effect'

By Steven Shepard

ORLANDO, Fla. — During the 2008 presidential campaign, analysts warned that then-Sen. Barack Obama's lead might be overstated by the polls as a result of the so-called "Bradley Effect" — the social-desirability bias that occurs ...

How To Replace Early Polls

By Steven Shepard

Romney Edges Obama in Panel-Back Survey

By Steven Shepard

President Obama and Mitt Romney continue to run neck-and-neck in a CBS News/ New York Times poll, with Romney pulling marginally ahead of the president in the wake of Obama's announcement that he supports the right of gays and les...

Another Ohio Poll Shows Obama, Romney Tied

By Steven Shepard

In its second look at the presidential race in the pivotal battleground state of Ohio in the past week, a Quinnipiac University poll released early on Thursday confirms that President Obama and Mitt Romney are in a virtual tie in th...

CONGRESS

Key Groups Support Student Loans, VAWA

By Steven Shepard

The Obama administration and congressional Democrats have spent much of this spring criticizing Hill Republicans for what they say is the GOP’s opposition to legislative initiatives including the Violence Against Women Act, studen...

Swing-State Poll Shows Obama, Romney in Virtual Tie

By Steven Shepard

President Obama and Mitt Romney once again are neck-and-neck in a USA Today /Gallup poll of 12 battleground states released early Monday, a significant tightening of the race since Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, becam...

Howey/DePauw Poll: Mourdock Up Ten Over Lugar

By Sean Sullivan and Steven Shepard

In what is likely to be the final live-caller public poll ahead of Tuesday's Indiana Senate Republican primary, state Treasurer Richard Mourdock has opened up a ten point lead over Sen. Richard Lugar , whose 35-year Senate career...

Poll: Obama Leads Romney in Virginia

By Steven Shepard

President Obama holds a small-but-significant lead over Mitt Romney in potentially-decisive Virginia, according to results of a new Washington Post poll published in that newspaper's Friday editions. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Ties Obama in Two Big Swing States

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney now runs neck-and-neck with President Obama in electoral-vote-rich Ohio and Florida, according to the latest installment of the Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll , another sign that the two candidates begin the ge...

Heitkamp up Five in New Poll, DSCC Launching Ad

By Steven Shepard and Julie Sobel

The seat of retiring North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad is viewed as one of the best Republican pick-up opportunities on the Senate landscape this cycle, but Democrats have long contended that their prospects of holding onto the seat i...

Hotline Sort: Carolina Blues

By Sean Sullivan and Steven Shepard

Welcome back to Hotline Sort. A new study on Mexican immigration patterns could impact domestic politics, Dewhurst doubles down on hitting Cruz with a China attack, Sarah Steelman has trouble commenting on the Violence Against Wo...

Poll: Quinn up 20 Points in NYC Dem Mayoral Race

By Steven Shepard

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama Leads Romney But Trails on Economy

By Steven Shepard

President Obama holds a slight lead over Mitt Romney, but Romney is seen by more Americans as the candidate who can improve the U.S. economy, according to a new NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll released late on Thursday, capping ...

Call From Pollsters May Have Saved Woman's Life

By Steven Shepard

Poll: Hatch, Herbert on Verge of Avoiding Primary in Utah

By Steven Shepard

Bartlett Trailing Delaney in Challenger's Poll

By Steven Shepard

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett , R-Md., trails Democrat John Delaney in the general election in his western Maryland congressional district, according to a poll conducted for the challenger's campaign and released on Tuesday. Read More »

CONGRESS

Public Doubts Congress Can Get Jobs Policy Done

By Steven Shepard

Most Americans think it is very important for Congress to address the nation’s job situation and reduce the federal budget deficit over the next year, but they remain pessimistic that President Obama and the legislative branch wil...

Q Poll: Menendez Holds Single-Digit Advantage Over Kyrillos

By Steven Shepard

Lugar Holds Single-Digit Lead Over Mourdock in New Poll

By Steven Shepard

Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar , the most senior Republican in the Senate, is in serious jeopardy of losing his May 8 GOP primary race to state Treasurer Richard Mourdock , a new poll released on Thursday shows. Read More »

Q Poll: Gillibrand Unthreatened by Turner, Other GOP Candidates

By Steven Shepard

Republican Rep. Bob Turner entered the New York Senate race last month with the hopes of mounting a serious challenge against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand , but a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Thursday sho...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Makes Inroads with Santorum Supporters in Wisconsin

By Steven Shepard

In winning the Wisconsin Republican presidential primary Tuesday, Mitt Romney made modest gains among the segments of the GOP electorate previously most resistant to his candidacy, the latest sign that voters see the former Massachu...

Poll: Romney Leads by Single-Digits in Wisconsin

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney has a slight lead over Rick Santorum in next week's Wisconsin Republican presidential primary, according to a new NBC News/Marist poll released early Friday that also shows President Obama well ahead of his GOP challen...

Delaney Leads Garagiola by 26 in Own Poll

By Steven Shepard

Businessman John Delaney has a commanding lead in next week's Democratic primary in Maryland's Sixth Congressional District, according a new poll conducted this week for his campaign. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Obama Stronger, Still Vulnerable in Swing States

By Steven Shepard

President Obama runs ahead of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in three key swing states, according to new Quinnipiac University polls released Wednesday, but -- though Obama is in a stronger position than he was late las...

Critz Internal Poll Shows Closer Race Against Altmire

By Steven Shepard

The campaign of Rep. Mark Critz , D-Pa., released an internal poll on Monday showing their candidate within single digits of fellow Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire in the April 24 member-vs.-member primary, much closer than an Altm...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Santorum Makes Inroads Into Romney Territory in Big Louisiana Win

By Steven Shepard

Rick Santorum's convincing win in Saturday's Louisiana Republican presidential primary was fueled by the same groups that have supported his candidacy in other contests, but the state's more conservative and more religious GOP elect...

Q Poll: McMahon Leads Shays, But Weaker Against Dems

By Steven Shepard

CORRECTION: The previous version of this post incorrectly stated Bysiewicz's title. She is the former secretary of state. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Exit Polls: Illinois Voters More Tailored to Romney

By Steven Shepard

Illinois Republican primary voters were largely suburban, more affluent and less evangelical than their Deep South counterparts, a composition that heavily favored winner Mitt Romney. But, like their Southern brethren, they were ...

Altmire Leads Critz by 24 in Own Poll

By Steven Shepard

A poll conducted for Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire 's campaign in his member-vs.-member primary race against fellow Democrat Mark Critz shows Altmire increasing his lead over the past two months, after the Critz camp...

ELECTION ANALYSIS

Romney Didn't Get the Demographic Breakthroughs He Needed for Southern Wins

By Steven Shepard

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney needed demographic breakthroughs to win the Mississippi and Alabama primaries, and he didn't get them. Instead GOP voters in the two states handed victories to former Pennsylvania Sen. R...

Quinn Leads 2013 N.Y. Mayoral Pack

By Steven Shepard

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is putting some distance between herself and the other potential candidates to succeed Mayor Michael Bloomberg , according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama Loses Ground to GOP Opponents

By Steven Shepard

President Obama's approval ratings have slipped, and he no longer leads Mitt Romney in a general-election matchup, according to a new ABC News/ Washington Post poll released early Monday that also shows Americans are split on whe...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Super Tuesday Voters Seek Candidate to Beat Obama

By Steven Shepard

Republican primary voters in Super Tuesday's most contested states are older, more evangelical, and most concerned with defeating President Obama in the November general election, according to exit polls conducted at polling places ...

Polls: Romney, Santorum Virtually Tied in Ohio

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney has edged in front of Rick Santorum in Tuesday's Ohio Republican presidential primary, but the race remains within the margin of error, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Monday. Read More »

Another Polling Outlier in Va. Senate Race

By Steven Shepard

New NBC News/Marist polls in Ohio and Virginia released Sunday show Democratic candidates with significant leads in both states' marquee Senate races -- results that are consistent with other public surveys in Ohio but vary from all...

Polls: Down-to-the-Wire in Ohio, Romney Romping in Va.

By Steven Shepard

The race for the Ohio Republican presidential primary remains too close to call, while Mitt Romney is poised to capture all of the delegates at stake in the two-way Virginia primary, according to new NBC News/Marist polls released S...

Poll: Romney Closes in on Santorum in Ohio

By Steven Shepard

The race between Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney is tightening in Ohio. Read More »

Back to Back Polls Show Menendez Up Double Digits Over Kyrillos

By Steven Shepard

A second poll in as many days shows Sen. Robert Menendez , D-N.J., with a solid lead over Republican state Sen. Joe Kyrillos , with the new survey, from Quinnipiac University , showing Menendez at his highest-ever approval rating...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Michigan, Arizona Voters Differed, But Had Similar Goals for Winner

By Steven Shepard

The closely-divided electorate in Michigan on Tuesday was much more moderate than voters in Arizona, but both groups casting ballots in Republican primaries had similar views of what they were looking for in the winner. Read More »

CONGRESS

Despite Detroit Comeback, Public Opposes Bailout

By Steven Shepard

A majority of Americans think the federal government should not have helped out U.S. automakers that were in financial trouble, but rather should have allowed them to go it alone, according to a new United Technologies/ National Jou...

New Virginia Senate Poll Stands Apart

By Steven Shepard

For months, public polls in the Virginia Senate race have shown a neck-and-neck race between former Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine and former Republican Sen. George Allen , so a new Roanoke College poll releas...

Polls: Stabenow Leads in Mich., Flake Favored in Ariz.

By Steven Shepard

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated the sample size and margin of error of the Michigan poll. The poll surveyed 3,149 registered voters with a margin of error of plus-or-minus 1.8 percentage points. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Romney Leads in Arizona, Tied in Michigan

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney is locked in a neck-and-neck battle with Rick Santorum in next Tuesday's Michigan Republican presidential primary, but Romney holds a double-digit lead in Arizona, the other state to vote Tuesday, according to new NBC Ne...

Mitt Romney, Chris Christie, Kelly Ayotte

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Santorum Leads As Some Republicans Pine For 'White Knight' Christie

By Steven Shepard

Rick Santorum holds a nine-point lead over Mitt Romney among Republican voters, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Wednesday that also shows that, if none of the candidates currently running wins enough d...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Has Small Lead in Tight Arizona Race

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney holds a slim lead over Rick Santorum in Arizona, one week before the Grand Canyon State's Republican presidential primary, according to a new CNN/ Time /ORC poll released on Tuesday. Read More »

Suffolk Poll Isn't All Good News For Scott Brown

By Steven Shepard

Sometimes, you have to take the bad with the good. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Santorum Edging Romney in Michigan

By Steven Shepard

Rick Santorum leads Mitt Romney by a slim margin in Michigan, Romney's birthplace and the latest battleground in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, according to a new poll released early Thursday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Santorum Leads Romney in Ohio

By Steven Shepard

President Obama's approval rating in Ohio is at its highest since the death of Osama bin Laden, but the president is still locked in a virtual tie with Mitt Romney for the Buckeye State's 19 electoral votes, according to a...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Romney Slipping Against Santorum, Obama

By Steven Shepard

Rick Santorum has pulled even with Mitt Romney among Republican voters nationwide after his victories in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri last week, according to two new polls released on Monday afternoon. Read More »

Kaine, Allen Deadlocked in Va. Senate Race

By Steven Shepard

Updated at 1:14 p.m. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney's Victory Sweeps Many Demographics

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney won an expansive and overwhelming victory in Nevada on Saturday, defeating his rivals for the GOP presidential nomination among nearly every key faction of Silver State Republicans, according to entrance polls conducted ...

Poll: Romney Well Ahead in Nevada

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney is likely to follow his resounding Florida primary victory with another convincing win in Saturday's Nevada Republican caucuses, according to a new poll conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and KLAS-TV in Las Vegas . Read More »

CONGRESS

Poll Finds Americans Pumped for Oil Pipeline

By Steven Shepard

The overall benefits of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline outweigh the risks to the environment for most Americans, including groups that are historically more environmentally conscious, according to a recent United Technologies...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Florida GOP Voters Older, Less White Than Other Early States

By Steven Shepard

The first primary restricted to only registered GOP voters Tuesday night was also the oldest and most racially diverse thus far, as Florida Republicans chose Mitt Romney as their preferred presidential candidate in the fall, accordi...

Mitt Romney, campaigns at The Hispanic Leadership Network’s Lunch

CAMPAIGN 2012

New Polls Show Romney Approaching Majority Support in Florida

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney has opened up a substantial lead on Newt Gingrich in Tuesday's Florida Republican presidential primary and could even exceed 50 percent of the vote, according to two new polls conducted over the weekend and released Monday. Read More »

Poll Shows Presidential, Senate Races Deadlocked In Va.

By Steven Shepard

Virginia is shaping up to be one of the lynchpin states for both parties in their pursuits of the White House and control of the Senate this November, and a new poll shared with Hotline On Call shows the two races at the top of th...

Poll: Romney Surges Ahead in Fla.

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has recaptured a significant lead over a fading Newt Gingrich in next Tuesday's Florida Republican presidential primary, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Friday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Florida Polls: Romney Runs Better Than Gingrich Against Obama

By Steven Shepard

As Florida Republicans prepare to cast their ballots in Jan. 31's pivotal presidential primary, two new polls show that Mitt Romney is significantly more formidable against President Obama in the general election in the Sunshine Sta...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Regains Momentum in Florida

By Steven Shepard

Newt Gingrich has tied Mitt Romney in Florida, a second poll released on Wednesday confirms, but the new survey, a CNN/ Time /ORC poll, suggests Romney has largely stopped the momentum Gingrich carried out of his blowout win in Sout...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Florida Poll: Gingrich Surges to Tie Romney

By Steven Shepard

Newt Gingrich is surging in Florida ahead of that state's GOP presidential primary next Tuesday, according to the first nonpartisan, live-caller poll conducted in the state since Gingrich's blowout victory in South Carolina last Saturday. Read More »

CONGRESS

Americans Hold Nuanced Views on Romney, Payroll Cut

By Steven Shepard

A plurality of Americans surveyed favor paying for an extension of the payroll-tax cut with a combination of spending cuts and higher taxes on the wealthy, the plan favored by Democrats, according to the latest United Technologies/ ...

Poll: Plurality Undecided on Reelecting Gillibrand

By Steven Shepard

Nearly half of New York voters say they are unsure about reelecting Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand , according to a new NY1/YNN-Marist poll released Tuesday night, but Republicans' efforts to recruit a top-tier candidate for th...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney's Unfavorability Skyrockets

By Steven Shepard

The percentage of Americans who have a favorable opinion of Mitt Romney decreased over the past two weeks, and the number who hold an unfavorable opinion of the former Massachusetts governor has skyrocketed 15 percentage points over...

CONGRESS

Poll Finds Voters Wary of Congressional GOP

By Steven Shepard

Americans are losing faith in congressional Republicans, according to a new United Technologies/ National Journal Congressional Connection Poll that underscores President Obama’s strategy as he presents his priorities on Tuesday ...

CAMPAIGN 2012

S.C. Primary Voters Were Late-Deciding, More Evangelical

By Steven Shepard

More than half of South Carolina Republicans made their decision in the last few days before the election, according to the exit poll conducted Saturday after voters casted their ballots in the first-in-the-South primary won by Ne...

Weather Service Warns of Possible S.C. Tornadoes

By Steven Shepard

A Tornado Watch has been issued for much of South Carolina's Midlands region Saturday as Republicans there go to the polls to choose their preferred candidate for the GOP presidential nomination. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Gingrich Inches Closer to Romney in S.C.

By Steven Shepard

Newt Gingrich is closing in on Mitt Romney in South Carolina ahead of the state's Saturday primary, according to two new polls out early Thursday, including a new NBC News/Marist poll that shows the former House Speaker ga...

Q Poll: Brown Leads Mandel by 15 Points in Ohio

By Steven Shepard

Sen. Sherrod Brown , D-Ohio, leads Republican Josh Mandel in a new poll released early Thursday that shows Mandel, the young state treasurer and prolific fundraiser, remains little-known among the state's voters. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Leads GOP Field, Ties Obama

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has a slight lead over his rivals for the Republican nomination, and if the general election were held today, he would be deadlocked with President Obama, according to a new national CBS N...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Leads Gingrich in S.C.

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney's lead in South Carolina is shrinking, while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has emerged as his main challenger in Saturday's winner-take-all primary, according to a new CNN/Time/ORC poll released late on Wednesday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Leads GOP Foes by More Than 2-to-1 Margin

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney has surged well ahead of his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination and is in a virtual tie with President Obama in the general election, according to an ABC News/ Washington Post poll released early Tuesday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Romney Pulling Away From GOP Field

By Steven Shepard

After apparently sweeping the first two Republican presidential nominating contests, Mitt Romney has opened up a big lead nationally on his rivals, new polls released on Friday show. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama Makes No Gains in Florida

By Steven Shepard

President Obama faces an uphill battle in electoral-vote-rich Florida, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Wednesday that shows that a majority of Sunshine State voters feel he does not deserve to be reelected. Read More »

Q Poll: Mack, Nelson Neck-and-Neck in Florida

By Steven Shepard

Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Rep. Connie Mack remain locked in a neck-and-neck race in Florida's Senate race, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early on Wednesday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

N.H. Primary Electorate Less Republican, More Concerned About Economy

By Steven Shepard

Tuesday's New Hampshire GOP primary electorate was slightly older, less Republican, and far more focused on economic issues than the 2008 electorate that chose Sen. John McCain , R-Ariz., over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Ro...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney, Paul Tie Obama

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Ron Paul , R-Texas, run neck-and-neck with President Obama in a general-election matchup, according to a new CBS News poll released late Monday that shows the two front-runners in Tu...

Are Polls Overstating Romney's Lead in N.H.?

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney remains well positioned to win Tuesday's New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, polls show, but younger voters appear to be underrepresented in these surveys, and that could lead to a closer-than-expected contest. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Leads Gingrich, Santorum in Fla.

By Steven Shepard

All eyes are on New Hampshire ahead of Tuesday's first-in-the-nation primary, but a new poll in delegate-rich Florida released early Monday shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has a significant lead in that state ahead of it...

Romney Up Big in N.H., Polls Show

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has a commanding lead in the Jan. 10 New Hampshire Republican primary, according to three new polls released on Friday that show Romney next week could become the first nonincumbent to sweep the...

Poll: Romney, Santorum Surging in S.C.

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has a wide lead in South Carolina, a state in which he finished fourth in 2008, according to a new CNN/ Time /ORC International poll released Friday, but the surging Rick Santorum could still pr...

CNN/ORC Survey Shows Limited Santorum Gains in N.H.

By Steven Shepard

As the Republican presidential campaign shifts to New Hampshire this week, Rick Santorum will be looking to capitalize on his second-place finish in Iowa and challenge Mitt Romney, but a CNN/ORC International poll conducted on Tuesd...

Iowa Poll: Romney, Paul Lead As Gingrich Collapses

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are tied for the lead in Iowa days before Hawkeye State Republicans will caucus to choose their preferred GOP presidential nominee, according to a new NBC News/Marist poll that also shows former Sen. Rick ...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Overtakes Paul in Iowa; Santorum Third

By Steven Shepard

The Iowa contest reshuffles again, as Romney moves ahead of Paul, Santorum surges past Gingrich, and division among evangelicals persists. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Well Ahead in N.H.

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is maintaining his commanding position atop the field of Republican candidates for president in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire, according to a new poll published in Chris...

Poll: Heller, Berkley Tied in Nevada Senate Race

By Steven Shepard

Poll: Majority of Voters Disapprove of D.C. Mayor Gray

By Steven Shepard

A majority of voters in the District of Columbia disapprove of the job that Mayor Vincent Gray is doing, and more voters prefer Gray's two most recent predecessors, according to a new poll released early Thursday. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama's Approval Rating Up to 49 Percent

By Steven Shepard

A second national poll out on Tuesday shows President Obama's approval rating ticking up to 49 percent among all Americans, and the president now leads his Republican rivals by significant margins among registered voters. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Gingrich, Romney Tied for Primary, General Elections

By Steven Shepard

A spate of new polls released this week place Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney in a dead heat for the GOP presidential nomination among Republican voters, while President Obama runs neck-and-neck with each in general election matchups. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Pulls Even With Gingrich Nationally

By Steven Shepard

Republican voters are warming to Mitt Romney, who has stormed back to tie Newt Gingrich for the GOP presidential nomination, according to a CNN/ORC International poll released on Monday. Read More »

Q Poll: Quinn Has Edge in NYC Mayor's Race Without Kelly

By Steven Shepard

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has a slight edge among Democrats in her bid to become the Big Apple's first female mayor in 2013 -- if NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly does not run -- according to a new Quinnipiac Uni...

CONGRESS

Poll: Independents Are Angry, Despairing

By Steven Shepard

Americans are as disgusted with their government—and with Congress, in particular—as they have ever been, and the overwhelming disillusionment of independents portends great electoral uncertainty next November, according to an a...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Gingrich Leads GOP Primary But Runs Worse in the General

By Steven Shepard

Republican primary voters nationwide prefer Newt Gingrich to Mitt Romney as their party's nominee by a wide margin, despite the fact that Romney runs significantly stronger in the general election against President Obama, according ...

Poll: Gingrich Leads Romney, But GOP Voters Are Open to Both

By Steven Shepard

Newt Gingrich holds a substantial lead over Mitt Romney among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who say they are very likely to vote in their state's presidential primary or caucus, but most GOP voters say there is a c...

Gallup Poll: Another New Low for Congress

By Steven Shepard

CONGRESS

Gallup Poll: Anti-Incumbent Mood at Record High

By Steven Shepard

More than three-in-four voters say most members of Congress don't deserve to be reelected in a new Gallup poll released early Friday, a sign that the volatility of the three most recent Congressional elections is likely to continue ...

Ohio Voters Repeal SB 5 (Collective Bargaining Limits)

Gallup Poll Shows Narrowing Enthusiasm Gap

By Steven Shepard

Republicans are less enthusiastic about voting for president in 2012, according to a new Gallup survey released early Thursday, suggesting that the turnout advantage they enjoyed in last year's midterm elections may be waning. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Surges, Obama in Trouble in Swing State Polls

By Steven Shepard

President Obama is underwater in key swing states, and appears to face electoral peril in November against both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Read More »

Warren Edges Brown in Mass. Senate Poll

By Steven Shepard

Democrat Elizabeth Warren has pulled ahead of Sen. Scott Brown , R-Mass., in a new UMass-Lowell/ Boston Herald poll released Wednesday night, as Bay State voters have begun to sour on the incumbent senator over the past few months. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Leads in Three of Four New Early-State Polls

By Steven Shepard

New polls of four early voting states suggest that Newt Gingrich could be in position to make a clean sweep—but many voters say they're not yet certain which candidate they'll support on Election Day. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Gingrich Riding Tea Party Support in Iowa

By Steven Shepard

Foir the fourth time in three days, a major survey shows former House Speaker Newt Gingrich ahead in Iowa—and this one shows that the tea party is fuelling his rise. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Leads First Gallup Tracking Poll

By Steven Shepard

The inaugural Gallup Daily tracking poll of the race for the Republican presidential nomination shows former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with a significant lead over his closest rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, four wee...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Gingrich Leads in Iowa, S.C.

By Steven Shepard

Former House Speaker and GOP presidential contender Newt Gingrich leads in the key early states of Iowa and South Carolina, according to two new polls that underscore that he is poised to claim two of the first three contests i...

CONGRESS

Public Wants Payroll Cut Even With Deficit

By Steven Shepard

A majority of Americans support efforts to extend the payroll-tax cut despite concerns that an extension of the short-term reduction would increase the federal budget deficit. The public, though, is more divided on other economic is...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Gingrich, Romney Lead in Early States

By Steven Shepard

New NBC News/Marist polls in Iowa and New Hampshire released early Sunday show former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has surged in the two early states, though former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney still retains a healthy lead in New...

Poll: Romney Stronger Than Gingrich Against Obama in California

By Steven Shepard

California voters are split when asked if they are inclined to reelect President Obama, but when asked to choose between Obama and his two chief Republican rivals, voters in the deep-blue state support Obama by double-digit margins,...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Surging Among California Republicans

By Steven Shepard

Newt Gingrich's surge in the GOP presidential primary extends to the delegate-rich, but late in the calendar, state of California, according to a new Field Poll released early Wednesday. The poll shows the former House speaker in a ...

Brewer Won't Attempt to Disband Redistricting Commission

By Steven Shepard

After her decision to oust the chair of Arizona's Independent Redistricting Commission was overturned by the state Supreme Court earlier this month, Gov. Jan Brewer opted on Tuesday not to pursue one option that would have put t...

CONGRESS

Unlike Super Committee, Public United on Taxing Wealthy

By Steven Shepard

The deficit-reduction super committee collapsed on Monday after its members failed to negotiate a proposal to reduce the nation’s debt, and this week’s United Technologies/ National Journal Congressional Connection Poll showed ...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: It's No Slam Dunk for Romney

By Steven Shepard

Polls out this week show that top-tier GOP candidate Mitt Romney may not wrap up the primary season quickly as he hopes to. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Third-Consecutive Poll Shows Gingrich Narrowly Ahead

By Steven Shepard

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is atop the field of 2012 Republican presidential candidates in the third-consecutive poll in the past 24 hours, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney close behind. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Gingrich Has Slight Lead Over Romney

By Steven Shepard

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has a slight lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in a new CNN/ORC International poll released late Monday, as Republicans begin to see Gingrich as the candidate with whom they most ag...

Poll: Stabenow Leads Hoekstra in Tight Race

By Steven Shepard

Sen. Debbie Stabenow , D-Mich., has a slight lead over former Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra , according to a new poll released Saturday that shows a tightening race for a seat pivotal to Democrats' chances of maintaining control o...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Gingrich, Romney Tied for GOP Lead

By Steven Shepard

A new USA Today /Gallup poll shows a surge for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the race to capture the Republican presidential nomination, with Gingrich now running neck-and-neck with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney, Cain Tied for Lead; Uptick for Obama

By Steven Shepard

A new poll shows Herman Cain's numbers dropping, which is good news for Mitt Romney, but President Obama's numbers are ticking up. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Polls: Romney Leads GOP Field, Obama in New Hampshire

By Steven Shepard

Democrats have won New Hampshire's four electoral votes in the past two presidential elections, but a new poll released early Wednesday shows that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has a slight lead over President Obama in the...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Ron Paul Emerges as Front-Runner in Iowa

By Steven Shepard

A second poll in as many days shows a wide-open race in Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses, as a majority of likely caucusgoers say they could be convinced to support a candidate other than their top choice. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

CNN Poll: Gingrich Surges to Tie Romney; Cain Slides

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich sit atop the GOP presidential field, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll released on Monday that also shows businessman Herman Cain's support beg...

Newt-mentum: Second Poll Shows Gingrich in Top Tier

By Steven Shepard

A second poll released on Friday morning shows former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has joined Mitt Romney and Herman Cain in the top tier of Republican presidential candidates. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Cain, Gingrich and Romney Lead Among GOP Primary Voters

By Steven Shepard

Herman Cain, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich lead the GOP field in an early-Friday CBS News poll, as the majority of Republicans say the sexual harassment allegations against Cain do not make them less likely to support him. Read More »

Poll: Mack and Nelson Neck-and-Neck in Florida

By Steven Shepard

Rep. Connie Mack , R-Fla., has not officially declared that he will seek the GOP nomination to face Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson next November, but a new Quinnipiac University poll out early Friday shows that Mack would become t...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Obama Turns It Around Against Generic Republican

By Steven Shepard

President Obama is statistically tied with the Republican candidate next November, according to a new Gallup poll of registered voters released early Thursday, a significant improvement over previous Gallup surveys this fall. Read More »

Polls: Romney Ties Obama in Key Swing States

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney is tied with a struggling President Obama in three key battleground states -- Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- but the former Massachusetts governor is struggling to coalesce the support of his own party in the Republic...

Poll: Obama Running Strong Among Latino Voters

By Steven Shepard

A new Univision poll of Latino voters in 21 states shows President Obama running as strong as he did among that key -- and growing -- voting group in 2008. Read More »

CONGRESS

Public Doubts Congress Will Aid Economy

By Steven Shepard

With time ticking down on the first session of the 112th Congress, Americans generally prefer that Congress act on priorities supported by Democratic members and the White House, but they are very pessimistic about any of these...

CAMPAIGN 2012

NBC/WSJ Poll: Cain Ties Romney, Obama Leads Both But Lags on Other Measures

By Steven Shepard

Herman Cain remains deadlocked with Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination, according to an NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll conducted as allegations surfaced that Cain sexually harassed multiple women during hi...

Poll: Republicans Less Likely to Believe Cain Allegations

By Steven Shepard

A plurality of Americans think that the sexual harassment allegations against GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain are true, but Republicans are less likely to believe the accusations, according to a new Pew Research Center poll c...

CAMPAIGN 2012

As Fourth Woman Comes Forward, Cain Remains a Front-Runner

By Steven Shepard

Herman Cain remains tied with Mitt Romney atop the national Republican field despite the revelations that multiple women have accused the former head of the National Restaurant Association of sexual harassment, according to a new U...

Poll: Americans Are Glum About Direction of Country

By Steven Shepard

Voters will go to the polls one year from today, and according to a new ABC News/ Washington Post poll released early Sunday, President Obama would face an uphill fight for reelection on that day, as Americans retain a glum attitud...

Poll: Cain Support Rises Despite Harassment Allegations

By Steven Shepard

As controversy builds around businessman Herman Cain's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, a new ABC News/ Washington Post poll shows he is still running neck-and-neck with co-frontrunner Mitt Romney, and his supp...

Poll: Obama Faces Uphill Battle in 2012 Battlegrounds

By Steven Shepard

President Obama faces a hostile environment in the dozen states likely to decide next November if he deserves a second term, according to the first USA Today /Gallup Swing States poll , released early Friday. Read More »

Hotline Sort: Republicans Already Hitting Heitkamp

By Sean Sullivan and Steven Shepard

Welcome back to Hotline Sort. Cain accuses a Perry consultant of leaking the story about sexual harassment allegations against him, North Dakota Republicans take a preemptive swipe at Heidi Heitkamp, voters are pessimistic about ...

Poll: N.Y. Voters Remain Undecided on Gillibrand

By Steven Shepard

Nearly two-in-five New York voters aren't sure whether they will vote for or against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand , D-N.Y., in a new Marist College poll released Wednesday night, but, if recent history is any guide, she remains favored ...

Pollsters: Obama Needs to Win Back 'Walmart Moms'

By Steven Shepard

A bipartisan poll finds a key voting bloc dissatisfied with President Obama but not ready to write him off. Read More »

Obama Gets a Bump in New Quinnipiac Poll

By Steven Shepard

A new Quinnipiac University poll released early Wednesday shows a significant bump over the past month for President Obama and his party, while businessman Herman Cain leads former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Republican ...

CONGRESS

On Economy, Neither Party Has Voter Edge

By Steven Shepard

Americans trust Democrats, by a narrow plurality, to do a better job coping with the nation’s major problems over the next few years, but neither party can claim an edge on the economic or fiscal issues likely to dominate the 2012...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Romney Ties Obama in Florida

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney is in a close race with President Obama--and Herman Cain--in the crucial battleground state of Florida, a new poll shows. Read More »

McKenna Has Slight Edge in Closely-Watched Wash. Race

By Steven Shepard

Republican Rob McKenna has a slight lead over Rep. Jay Inslee , D-Wash., in the 2012 gubernatorial race in Washington State, expected to be one of the most competitive state races of the cycle, according to a new University of W...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Cain, Romney Lead in Respected Iowa Poll

By Steven Shepard

Herman Cain and Mitt Romney lead the Republican presidential field in Iowa, according to a new Des Moines Register poll , historically the most definitive survey of the state's quadrennial caucusgoers. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

New Polls Hint at Scrambled 2012 Map

By Steven Shepard

Arizona and Maine were not particularly competitive in 2008, but two new polls released Wednesday show that both states could be in play in 2012. Read More »

New Polls Show Romney Ahead in First Four States

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads in new CNN/ Time polls of the first four states on the Republican presidential nominating calendar -- Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida -- though in Iowa and South Carol...

Cain Surges, Obama Continues to Struggle in Ohio

By Steven Shepard

President Obama 's approval rating remains underwater in the key swing state of Ohio, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Wednesday, but his most formidable challenger, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Rom...

Poll: Cain, Romney Lead Wide-Open GOP Field

By Steven Shepard

The Republican presidential primary field remains extremely fluid, according to a new CBS News/ New York Times poll released early Tuesday that also shows that, despite his missteps over the past two weeks, Herman Cain remains ...

Poll: Romney's Image Rating Rivals Obama's

By Steven Shepard

About half of Americans have a favorable impression of Mitt Romney , according to a new Associated Press poll released Wednesday, a significant improvement over the past eight weeks that makes the former Massachusetts governor th...

Polls: Cain, Romney Ahead in Early Southern States

By Steven Shepard

Herman Cain narrowly leads the first-in-the-South Republican presidential primary in South Carolina, and he and Mitt Romney run neck-and-neck in the crucial state of Florida, which will also hold its primary in January, accordin...

CNN Poll: Cain Most Likeable, But Romney Favored for Electability

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney and Herman Cain are in a virtual tie atop the latest CNN/ORC International poll of the Republican presidential primary, and new data released Tuesday indicate the Cain boomlet is being fueled by the former Godfat...

Poll: Nearly Three-in-Five Think Obama Policies Will Fail

By Steven Shepard

Americans say they are rooting for President Obama 's policies to succeed, but a majority thinks it is more likely that they will fail, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll released late Monday. Read More »

CNN Poll: Cain Ties Romney on Backs of Men, Affluent

By Steven Shepard

A new CNN/ORC International poll released Monday echoes other surveys in showing Herman Cain running neck-and-neck with Mitt Romney among Republican voters, with the former Godfather's Pizza CEO outrunning the former Massachus...

Obama, Menendez Remain Vulnerable in N.J.

By Steven Shepard

A new Quinnipiac University poll released early Thursday shows that President Obama 's approval rating in the reliably-blue state of New Jersey is at a record-low, and voters are split on reelecting Sen. Bob Menendez , D-N.J., c...

Poll: Cain Edges Romney Atop GOP Field

By Steven Shepard

Herman Cain, the former CEO of Godfather's Pizza, is the preferred choice of a narrow plurality of Republican presidential primary voters in a new NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll released late Wednesday, as the already-volatil...

Passing on White House Bid Boosts Christie's Rating in N.J.

By Steven Shepard

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie 's approval rating has spiked after announcing that he would not seek the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, with the bulk of the swing coming from women, a group with which he had struggled, ac...

Poll: Allen, Kaine Still Tied in Va. Senate Race

By Steven Shepard

Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and former Sen. George Allen , R-Va., remain deadlocked in the race to become the Old Dominion's next senator, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday. Read More »

Romney Leads in Iowa, New Hampshire

By Steven Shepard

The 2012 Republican presidential primary calendar is still in flux, but new NBC News-Marist polls out early Tuesday show Mitt Romney leading the field in both Iowa and New Hampshire, with his lead in the Granite State is conside...

Polls: Romney Maintains Lead on Eve of Next Debate

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney , Herman Cain and Texas Gov. Rick Perry comprise the top tier of the field of Republican presidential candidates before the next in a series of televised debates, according to two new polls of national GOP primary v...

Romney Maintains Lead in New Hampshire

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney continues to hold a wide, but soft lead in the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, and the former Massachusetts governor is well-positioned to capture the state's four electoral votes aga...

POLITICS

Brown Still Leads in Mass. Senate, But Warren Closing In

By Steven Shepard

Sen. Scott Brown , R-Mass., continues to enjoy remarkably high personal and job-related poll numbers, but Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren remains stubbornly close in a 2012 election matchup, according to a new survey of Ba...

The Merit of Being Mild

By Steven Shepard

Maybe milquetoast is working for Mitt Romney . Read More »

Poll: Romney Leads Obama on Economy

By Steven Shepard

A growing plurality of voters think Mitt Romney would do a better job on the economy than President Obama , according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Thursday, as the nation's sagging economy continues to wei...

Quinnipiac: Romney Edges Obama, Scores Higher on "Leadership"

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had edged in front of President Obama , as more voters say Romney has strong leadership qualities than say the same about the incumbent president, according to a new Quinnipiac University pol...

CBS News Poll: Cain Tied for Lead

By Steven Shepard

Businessman Herman Cain is tied with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the lead in the increasingly turbulent race for the Republican presidential nomination, according to a new CBS News poll release...

Regrets? Christie Would Have Tied Romney

By Steven Shepard

If New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination, he would have been tied for the lead with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- and he would have run slightly ahead of Presid...

ABC/Post Poll: Romney Leads, Cain Ties Falling Perry for Second

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is back atop the field of Republican presidential contenders as Texas Gov. Rick Perry 's support has been cut nearly in half, according to a new ABC News/ Washington Post poll , as business...

Obama Holds Slim Lead Over Republicans in Pennsylvania

By Steven Shepard

Poll: Perry's Lead Over Romney Narrowing

By Steven Shepard

Texas Gov. Rick Perry remains the tenuous frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, despite enduring the toughest stretch of his seven-week-old campaign, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll released Monday. Read More »

Michigan Republicans Want Rubio for Veep

By Steven Shepard

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. -- It has taken Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla., just nine months to transform from a freshman member of the World's Most Deliberative Body to the Republican many party activists want to become their vice president...

Perry Leads Romney in Fla.; Obama's Approval Rating Crashes

By Steven Shepard

Florida Republicans prefer Texas Gov. Rick Perry to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney , according to a new Quinnipiac University poll conducted ahead of Thursday's debate and this weekend's Presidency V straw poll in Orlando. Read More »

Poll: Romney Crushes Perry, Others in New Hampshire

By Steven Shepard

Texas Gov. Rick Perry may be the national frontrunner for the 2012 Republican nomination for president, but former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney holds a commanding lead in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire,...

Perry, Romney Lead Pack in South Carolina Poll

By Steven Shepard

Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney lead the Republican presidential field in the early primary state of South Carolina, according to a new Winthrop University poll released early Tuesday. Read More »

Perry Maintains Lead Over Romney, But Romney Slightly Stronger Against Obama

By Steven Shepard

Texas Gov. Rick Perry leads former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in a new USA Today /Gallup poll of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Romney runs slightly stronger against President Obama in a general ele...

Heller Leads Berkley in Republican Poll

By Steven Shepard

Sen. Dean Heller , R-Nev., leads Democraitc Rep. Shelley Berkley , by six points in one of the marquee Senate races of the 2012 cycle, according to a new survey conducted by a Republican pollster. Read More »

POLITICS

Poll: Obama's Favorability Rating Upside-Down for First Time

By Steven Shepard

For the first time, more Americans have an unfavorable opinion of President Obama than have a favorable opinion of him, according to a new CBS News/ New York Times poll released late Friday, an indication that dissatisfaction w...

GOP Polls: Obama Losing Ground Among Hispanics in Key States

By Steven Shepard

President Obama won two-thirds of the Hispanic vote in 2008, but according to new Republican-commissioned polls of Hispanics in three key battleground states, Obama has lost some ground among the crucial voting bloc. Read More »

Hotline Sort: A Clean Start

By Sean Sullivan and Steven Shepard

Welcome back to Hotline Sort. Republicans are unfazed by Perry's branding of the Social Security system as "a Ponzi scheme," in a new poll, while newly minted Rep. Bob Turner is hoping for a clean start. Meanwhile, Michael Reaga...

McMahon Trails Democrats for Conn. Senate Seat

By Steven Shepard

As former World Wrestling Entertainment executive Linda McMahon prepares a Senate bid for the second consecutive cycle in Connecticut, a new poll out early Friday shows that she leads former Rep. Chris Shays , R-Conn., for the Re...

Is Dianne Feinstein Vulnerable?

By Steven Shepard

More voters are now poised to vote against longtime Sen. Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif., if she runs in 2012 than are inclined to re-elect her, according to a new Field Poll released early Friday that also shows Feinstein's approval r...

Perry, Romney Tie Obama in Virginia

By Steven Shepard

Both Rick Perry and Mitt Romney run neck-and-neck with a weakened President Obama in the crucial battleground state of Virginia, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll that shows that, at least in this southern state, n...

Perry Threatens Romney In Calif., But Not Obama

By Steven Shepard

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads a new Field Poll of Republicans in delegate-rich California, but Texas Gov. Rick Perry also attracts significant support, claiming a close second place. Read More »

Poll: Americans Lean Toward Obama Jobs Bill

By Steven Shepard

A plurality of Americans want their member of Congress to vote for a jobs bill similar to the one President Obama proposed in a speech to a joint session of Congress last week, according to a new Gallup poll released late Wednesday . Read More »

POLITICS

Obama's Approval Rating Plummets in California

By Steven Shepard

If there was any question about the breadth and magnitude of the plunge in President Obama 's job-approval rating this summer, consider this new data point: For the first time, fewer than half of voters in deep-blue California appr...

CNN Poll: Social Security Requires Changes, But It Isn't a Failure

By Steven Shepard

A majority of Americans think the Social Security system has serious problems and requires major changes, but seniors overwhelmingly oppose Texas Gov. Rick Perry 's description of the system as a "monstrous lie" and a failure, acco...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry Continues to Lead GOP Pack on Eve of Second Debate

By Steven Shepard

After a mixed performance in his first debate since joining the field of Republican presidential candidates, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is maintaining his status as the national frontrunner, according to a new CNN/ORC International po...

POLITICS

Poll: Republicans On Verge Of Shocking NYC Upset

By Steven Shepard and Jessica Taylor

Republican Bob Turner holds a six-point lead in next week's special election to replace disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner , D-N.Y., according to a new Siena College poll released early Friday that shows voters in the overwhelm...

Poll: Brown Leads Warren, But He's Vulnerable

By Steven Shepard

Sen. Scott Brown , R-Mass, leads Democrat Elizabeth Warren by nine points, as the architect of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ponders a bid to unseat Brown in 2012, according to a new poll released Tuesday . Read More »

POLITICS

Obama Falls to New Lows in End-of-Summer Polling

By Steven Shepard

ABC News/ Washington Post and NBC News/ Wall Street Journal polls released early Tuesday show President Obama with the lowest job ratings of his tenure, leading Democratic pollster Peter Hart , who conducted the NBC News/ Wall ...

Obama Hits New Low in Quinnipiac Poll

By Steven Shepard

The percentage of American voters who disapprove of how President Obama is handling his job is at an all-time high, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Thursday that also shows Obama's approval rating am...

POLITICS

Obama Stuck At 45 Percent Against Romney, Perry

By Steven Shepard

A new Quinnipiac University poll out early Wednesday shows Texas Gov. Rick Perry has climbed to a narrow lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, but former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney runs slightly better...

After the address, Obama decided to cut his vacation short and return to Washington in anticipation of Hurricane Irene's landfall this weekend.

POLITICS

Elected Officials Winning Praise for Handling of Irene

By Steven Shepard

Advice for elected officials facing potential natural disaster? Overreact. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

CNN Poll Also Shows Perry's Broad Appeal

By Steven Shepard

A new CNN/ORC International poll released Monday confirms Texas Gov. Rick Perry 's ascendancy atop the Republican presidential field and demonstrates, along with last week's Gallup poll , that Perry has the potential to build a...

Pew Poll Shows Widespread Dissatisfaction With Washington

By Steven Shepard

Americans have turned on both political parties, according to a new Pew Research Center survey released Thursday that shows the ratings for most institutions of government, politics and other aspects of public life have reached all-...

Perry Holds Clear Lead Over Romney In Gallup Poll

By Steven Shepard

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has vaulted to the front of the field of Republican presidential candidates, according to the first Gallup poll conducted since Perry declared his candidacy earlier this month. Read More »

CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Leads in Mich. a Month Before Mackinac

By Steven Shepard

Mitt Romney is poised to repeat his winning performance in 2008 in the Michigan Republican presidential primary, according to a new poll of likely primary voters in the state Romney's father, George , once governed. Read More »

Gallup Poll: GOP Contenders Neck-And-Neck With Obama

By Steven Shepard

The top four Republican presidential candidates are running neck-and-neck with President Obama in national general election matchups, according to a new Gallup poll released Monday. Read More »

Poll: Stabenow Leads Hoekstra In Mich. Senate Race

By Steven Shepard

Sen. Debbie Stabenow , D-Mich., has a nine-point lead over her chief Republican rival, even as the percentage of Michigan voters who think she is doing a good job falls, according to a new poll released Monday. Read More »

POLITICS

Democrats in Trouble in Garden State

By Steven Shepard

A majority of New Jersey voters disapproves of the way President Obama is handling his job, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Wednesday that also shows Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez facing headwinds ...

Gallup: Record Low Approval Of Congress

By Steven Shepard

Just 13 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing according to a new Gallup poll released early Tuesday, just the latest data point showing the American public's disgust with Washington at record levels in the wake...

The Gallup Plunge, in Context

By Steven Shepard

In dropping below a 40-percent approval rating in the Gallup poll for the first time this weekend, President Obama hit a troubling milestone for his re-election campaign, but he also joined every president since John F. Kenned...

Obama Hits New Low In Gallup Survey

By Steven Shepard

Add another data point to the pile of evidence that President Obama is going to face a tough re-election bid: His approval rating in Gallup's daily tracking poll has fallen to a new low. Read More »

Allen West, Senate Candidate?

By Julie Sobel and Steven Shepard

Tea party star Rep. Allen West , R-Fla., would not completely rule out a Senate run during an interview with West Palm Beach-based WPTV-TV, saying "the door is cracked very slightly" on launching a bid to challenge Sen. Bill Nel...

Hotline Sort: Hawkeye State of Mind

By Sean Sullivan and Steven Shepard

Welcome back to Hotline Sort. A new analysis of state-level Gallup poll data from the first half of 2011 shows President Obama's path to reelection in 2012 is narrower than his first campaign. Meanwhile, it's debate day in Iowa ...

Republican Turner Within Striking Distance In N.Y. Special

By Steven Shepard

Democrat David Weprin holds a scant, six-point lead over Republican Bob Turner in a Sept. 13 special election to replace disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner , D-N.Y., according to a new Siena Research Institute poll released W...

CNN/ORC International Poll: Majority Thinks Economy Will Worsen

By Steven Shepard

According to a new CNN/ORC International poll conducted as the nation's credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor's, a majority of Americans thinks the U.S. economy "is still in a downturn and conditions are going to worsen" f...

Dems Practice Rare Redistricting Restraint

By Steven Shepard

West Virginia Democrats won't swing for the fences after all, after a key state Senate panel rejected plans to gerrymander Reps. Shelley Moore Capito and David McKinley into the same seat. Read More »

Polls Show Obama at Risk in Florida

By Steven Shepard

President Obama , who carried vote-rich Florida by three points in 2008, is deeply vulnerable in the crucial state in 2012, according to new polling data released early Thursday by Quinnipiac University. Read More »

Majority Disapproves of Debt-Ceiling Agreement in One-Day Poll

By Steven Shepard

Even after months of Sturm und Drang about the danger of the U.S. defaulting on its debt, a majority of Americans -- and an overwhelming majority of independents -- disapproves of the agreement to raise the federal debt ceiling and ...

Obama Tied with Romney, Santorum in Pennsylvania

By Steven Shepard

President Obama has seen his popularity dip significantly in the pivotal swing state of Pennsylvania and is now tied in matchups with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., according to a new Qui...

CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama Tied With Romney, Santorum in Pennsylvania

By Steven Shepard

GOP Gains Among Whites, As The Ranks Of Independents Rise

By Steven Shepard

The Democratic edge in party identification that helped to propel President Obama to a decisive victory in 2008 has waned significantly, while Republicans have gained markedly and exclusively among whites, according to a new repo...

CONGRESS

Stirrings Of A Congressional Shakeup

By Steven Shepard

The headline in Thursday's Washington Post screams "Poll: Romney is still GOP front-runner," but the number from the ABC News/ Washington Post poll that could have the biggest impact in Washington is the percentage of Americans...

Obama Holds Small Lead In Ohio

By Steven Shepard

President Obama has a scant, four-point lead over his closest Republican rival in the crucial battleground state of Ohio, while Sen. Sherrod Brown , D-Ohio, holds healthy advantages in his re-election campaign, according to a new...

BUDGET

Poll: Majority Of Americans Back Debt Ceiling Compromise

By Steven Shepard

A majority of Americans wants their political leaders to compromise to reach a deal to raise the federal debt ceiling, but many Republicans say their party should stick to its positions, according to a new NBC News/ Wall Street Jour...