Behind the Numbers - Public opinion in this country is everything.

Posted at 11:47 AM ET, 04/27/2012

Rubio’s Hispanic appeal uncertain

By Scott Clement

Sen. Marco Rubio is weaker among non-Cuban Hispanics in Florida.

By Scott Clement | 11:47 AM ET, 04/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: GOP nomination, 2012 polls, Exit polls, Immigration, Republican Party | Tags: Marco Rubio, polls

Posted at 11:20 AM ET, 04/25/2012

Arizona immigration law persistently popular

By Scott Clement

Despite all the controversy, Americans like the law. A lot.

By Scott Clement | 11:20 AM ET, 04/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Barack Obama, Immigration, Supreme Court, Behind the Numbers, Republican Party

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 04/15/2012

Tea party support stable, but interest is waning

By Scott Clement

Increasing numbers say the more they hear about the movement, the less they like it.

By Scott Clement | 07:00 AM ET, 04/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, Republican Party, Tea party, The Independents

Posted at 02:22 PM ET, 04/10/2012

Poll: Which voters thought Santorum should drop out — and which didn’t

By Peyton M. Craighill

Republicans and independents who lean to the GOP were ambivalent toward this move, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll with interviews concluding on Sunday.

By Peyton M. Craighill | 02:22 PM ET, 04/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: GOP nomination, Republican Party | Tags: Polls, presidential election

Posted at 06:30 AM ET, 04/04/2012

Wisconsin exit polls highlights

By Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement

Democrats back Santorum and Romney gets invited to tea party.

By Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement | 06:30 AM ET, 04/04/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Exit polls, Voting

Posted at 11:06 AM ET, 04/03/2012

Wisconsin, Maryland exit polls: What to watch for

By Scott Clement

Blue state Republicans, fewer evangelicals and around 6,000 Republican voters in D.C. are what’s in store for Tuesday’s primaries.

By Scott Clement | 11:06 AM ET, 04/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, Exit polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party

Posted at 12:50 PM ET, 03/29/2012

Romney’s slog to the nomination: Not what you might think

By Peyton M. Craighill

Exit poll data show Romney’s problem is less about “very conservative” voters than it is with the GOP’s delegate rules this year.

By Peyton M. Craighill | 12:50 PM ET, 03/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: GOP nomination, Republican Party

Posted at 08:37 AM ET, 03/21/2012

Romney nets double-digit Illinois win

By Jon Cohen, Scott Clement and Peyton M. Craighill

Republican voters clashed along familiar dividing lines Tuesday, with Mitt Romney scoring a convincing win amid Illinois’ more welcoming Republican electorate.

By Jon Cohen, Scott Clement and Peyton M. Craighill | 08:37 AM ET, 03/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: GOP nomination, Exit polls, 2012 polls, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 12:26 PM ET, 03/20/2012

Romney appears poised to win Illinois: A look at why

By Scott Clement

The state’s swing in his favor has less to do with changes among the state’s voters and more with his emergence as this year’s mainstream and moderate Republican choice.

By Scott Clement | 12:26 PM ET, 03/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, Exit polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 12:11 AM ET, 03/14/2012

Is Romney losing his edge among "economy voters?"

By Jon Cohen

Beyond a pair of loses Tuesday, one potentially troubling sign for Mitt Romney is his slippage among "economy voters." The chart below compiles data from the Republican contests with exit polls. It shows Romney's once big advantages among these voters has dissipated significantly as the primaries have unfolded.

By Jon Cohen | 12:11 AM ET, 03/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Crosstabs, Economy, Exit polls, Republican Party, GOP nomination, Voting

Posted at 05:48 PM ET, 03/13/2012

Preliminary exit polls: Who is voting in Mississippi and Alabama?

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement

Here are some of the highlights on what the electorate looks like and what voters were focused on as they left polling places.

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement | 05:48 PM ET, 03/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Exit polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting | Tags: Alabama, Mississippi, Republican Party, presidential election, Polls

Posted at 01:39 PM ET, 03/13/2012

Mississippi, Alabama exit polls: What to watch for

By Scott Clement

With no clear favorite in the Mississippi and Alabama GOP primaries, here are three key factors to watch in tonight’s exit polls.

By Scott Clement | 01:39 PM ET, 03/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, Exit polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting | Tags: Alabama, Mississippi, polls

Posted at 01:03 PM ET, 03/12/2012

Poll: Are Republicans happy with their choices?

By Peyton M. Craighill

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are each picked by about three in 10 Republicans and GOP-leaning independents in the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll, but few say they would be very satisfied with either one atop the party’s ticket.

By Peyton M. Craighill | 01:03 PM ET, 03/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: GOP nomination, Republican Party

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 03/08/2012

Is Gingrich primed for a Southern sweep?

By Scott Clement

Newt Gingrich had a convincing win in Georgia on Tuesday. Can he run the table in the South’s remaining March contests?

By Scott Clement | 06:00 AM ET, 03/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, Exit polls, GOP nomination, Voting, Republican Party

Posted at 11:54 PM ET, 03/06/2012

Romney wards off Paul in Virginia despite independent surge

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill, Scott Clement and Kristina Meacham

Independents in Virginia picked Ron Paul by a 2 to 1 margin, but Mitt Romney dominated among Republicans.

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill, Scott Clement and Kristina Meacham | 11:54 PM ET, 03/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Exit polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting, Virginia

Posted at 10:36 PM ET, 03/06/2012

Evangelical voters raise Santorum to victory in Tennessee

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill, Scott Clement and Kristina Meacham

The Tennessee electorate turned out to be the most evangelical so far in the Republican nomination fight, helping secure a victory for former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum.

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill, Scott Clement and Kristina Meacham | 10:36 PM ET, 03/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Exit polls, GOP nomination, Voting, Republican Party | Tags: Super Tuesday, Rick Santorum, Tennessee, Tennessee primary

Posted at 09:00 PM ET, 03/06/2012

Ohio primary amplifies party divide

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill, Scott Clement and Kristina Meacham

Mitt Romney narrowly edged Rick Santorum in Ohio, the biggest prize of Super Tuesday, splitting the Republican electorate along now familiar ideological and religious lines.

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill, Scott Clement and Kristina Meacham | 09:00 PM ET, 03/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Exit polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 06:12 PM ET, 03/06/2012

Super Tuesday exit polls: an early look

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement

In Ohio, Tennessee and Georgia, GOP electorates are shaping up to look a lot like those of four years ago, with some important differences.

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement | 06:12 PM ET, 03/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Exit polls, Voting, Republican Party

Posted at 09:29 AM ET, 03/06/2012

Super Tuesday exit poll cheat sheet

By Scott Clement

Here’s a cheat sheet for following all Super Tuesday's voting and what to look for in the exit poll numbers as they start to trickle out this evening.

By Scott Clement | 09:29 AM ET, 03/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Exit polls, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 11:38 AM ET, 03/05/2012

Romney up in Super Tuesday polls

By Scott Clement

Mitt Romney is a favorite to win Virginia, Massachusetts, Vermont, Idaho and possibly Ohio.

By Scott Clement | 11:38 AM ET, 03/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 09:51 PM ET, 02/28/2012

‘Electability’ fuels Romney’s victory, Religion and Democrats for Rick Santorum in Michigan

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement

Mitt Romney eked out a victory in Michigan Tuesday, beating back a stiff challenge from Rick Santorum by scoring big wins among voters looking for “experience” and those prioritizing electability.

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement | 09:51 PM ET, 02/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting, Exit polls

Posted at 01:26 PM ET, 02/28/2012

Michigan and Arizona exit polls: Five things to watch

By Scott Clement

Today’s contests in Arizona and Michigan are the biggest test of Rick Santorum’s staying power since beating Mitt Romney in Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota earlier this month.

By Scott Clement | 01:26 PM ET, 02/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, Exit polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 02:48 PM ET, 02/27/2012

Poll watcher: Michigan polls predict tight race

By Scott Clement

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are running very closely in Michigan, according to the latest state polling, with Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich far behind.

By Scott Clement | 02:48 PM ET, 02/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 12:34 PM ET, 02/21/2012

Obama’s rising gas prices problem

By Scott Clement

President Obama’s improved polling numbers (and his reelection chances) are threatened by a perennial bugaboo: spiking gas prices.

By Scott Clement | 12:34 PM ET, 02/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, Barack Obama, Economy, GOP nomination, Republican Party

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 02/17/2012

Poll watcher: Independents a key for Romney in Michigan?

By Scott Clement

A potentially decisive question mark lingers ahead of the Wolverine State’s Feb. 28 primary: How many political independents will show up?

By Scott Clement | 06:00 AM ET, 02/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Voting, Republican Party

Posted at 02:37 PM ET, 02/13/2012

Republicans more doubtful of Romney’s conservative bona fides

By Scott Clement

Core Republican groups are increasingly skeptical of Romney’s conservative credentials, especially those who agree with the tea party movement.

By Scott Clement | 02:37 PM ET, 02/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: GOP nomination, 2012 polls, Republican Party

Posted at 12:01 AM ET, 02/06/2012

Romney leads big in poll as GOP base splinters

By Scott Clement

Mitt Romney holds a wide lead over other GOP contenders in a new Washington Post-ABC News national poll, but his support continues to lag among core Republican constituencies.

By Scott Clement | 12:01 AM ET, 02/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 08:19 PM ET, 01/31/2012

What’s behind Romney’s romp?

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement

Mitt Romney scored a decisive win in Florida’s primary Tuesday by regaining momentum on electability and neutralizing major weaknesses.

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement | 08:19 PM ET, 01/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, Exit polls, GOP nomination, Voting, Republican Party

Posted at 01:14 PM ET, 01/31/2012

Florida exit polls: Five things to watch

By Scott Clement

It’s in the 70s and sunny in Tampa Bay as Florida voters head to the polls. Here are our top five factors to watch as exit poll results start rolling in.

By Scott Clement | 01:14 PM ET, 01/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Exit polls, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 12:17 PM ET, 01/30/2012

Poll watcher: Are capital gains tax rates popular?

By Scott Clement

A New York Times/CBS News poll shows a stark partisan divide on whether investment income should be taxed at a lower rate than ordinary earnings.

By Scott Clement | 12:17 PM ET, 01/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Barack Obama, Economy, Federal Budget Deficit, GOP nomination, Presidential Approval, Republican Party, Voting, methodology | Tags: budget deficit, gop nomination, Republican Party

Posted at 09:25 AM ET, 01/27/2012

Poll watcher: Romney leads Gingrich in Florida

By Scott Clement

Romney leads Gingrich by 38 to 29 percent in the Florida Republican primary contest, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.

By Scott Clement | 09:25 AM ET, 01/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Voting, Republican Party | Tags: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 03:05 PM ET, 01/25/2012

Poll watcher: Domestic policy prime in 2012

By Scott Clement

A slender 9 percent of Americans say President Obama should focus on foreign policy, while 81 percent prefer a domestic focus.

By Scott Clement | 03:05 PM ET, 01/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Barack Obama, Congress, Economy, GOP nomination, Republican Party, International polls | Tags: Barack Obama, Congress, Economy, GOP Nomination, International Polls

Posted at 01:25 PM ET, 01/23/2012

Poll watcher: Newt Gingrich surges in national polls

By Scott Clement

One week ago, Mitt Romney amassed a record 23-point lead in Gallup tracking polls. But in the latest poll, Romney holds a tenuous five-point edge over Newt Gingrich.

By Scott Clement | 01:25 PM ET, 01/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: GOP nomination, Race, Republican Party, 2012 polls

Posted at 09:52 PM ET, 01/21/2012

Debates, late deciders propel Gingrich to win in South Carolina

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement

Newt Gingrich posted a double-digit victory in Saturday’s South Carolina primary, with late deciders delivering a clear rebuke to Mitt Romney, the one-time-front-runner.

By Jon Cohen, Peyton M. Craighill and Scott Clement | 09:52 PM ET, 01/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting, Exit polls

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 01/21/2012

South Carolina primary exit polls: Five key factors

By Scott Clement

Here are five factors that seem key going into South Carolina primary day.

By Scott Clement | 07:00 AM ET, 01/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 11:57 AM ET, 01/20/2012

Newt Gingrich surging against Mitt Romney in South Carolina

By Scott Clement

The latest horserace polls out of South Carolina show Newt Gingrich surging in advance of Saturday’s Republican primary.

By Scott Clement | 11:57 AM ET, 01/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party, Voting

Posted at 02:06 PM ET, 01/18/2012

Newt Gingrich’s tea party stalwarts hold strong

By Peyton M. Craighill

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s support has been nearly cut in half since December and the falloff has been broad based, with relatively even declines among all stripes of Republicans — save one group: strong tea party supporters.

By Peyton M. Craighill | 02:06 PM ET, 01/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Republican Party

Posted at 01:51 PM ET, 01/18/2012

Poll shows Ron Paul’s strengths and weaknesses in GOP primary

By Scott Clement

Texas Rep. Ron Paul earns 16 percent support for the Republican nomination in the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll, statistically unchanged from 15 percent in December and in the same range as Newt Gingrich (17 percent) and Rick Santorum (13 percent). Frontrunner Mitt Romney leads with 35 percent.

By Scott Clement | 01:51 PM ET, 01/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: GOP nomination, 2012 polls, Republican Party

Posted at 12:24 PM ET, 01/17/2012

Tea party opposed by half of Americans

By Scott Clement

Fully half of Americans oppose the tea party political movement in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

By Scott Clement | 12:24 PM ET, 01/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: 2012 polls, GOP nomination, Presidential Approval, The Independents, Republican Party

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 01/10/2012

Romney’s favorable ratings top Paul, Santorum among GOP

By Peyton M. Craighill

Mitt Romney’s stubborn hold on the title of front-runner for the GOP nomination is due in part to his solid favorable ratings among Republicans, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News national poll.

By Peyton M. Craighill | 07:00 AM ET, 01/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: GOP nomination, Republican Party

Posted at 03:25 PM ET, 12/01/2011

Poll watcher: Republicans split on global warming; health-care reform and GOP intensity

By Scott Clement

A new poll reveals a growing internal divide within the GOP between conservatives and moderates, as well as between tea party and non-tea party Republicans.

By Scott Clement | 03:25 PM ET, 12/01/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Republican Party, Health care, GOP nomination

Posted at 02:56 PM ET, 11/29/2011

Poll watcher: Who is Newt Gingrich’s base? Tea party districts sour on tea party and doggy health care

By Scott Clement

In surging to the top in the race for the Republican nomination, recent polls find Newt Gingrich has built a coalition of three high-turnout groups: older Republicans, tea party supporters and conservatives.

By Scott Clement | 02:56 PM ET, 11/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: GOP nomination, Republican Party, Barack Obama

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 12/01/2009

In their own words

By Jennifer Agiesta

Republicans, Democrats and independents who took the new Washington Post poll on the state of the Republican Party told us the first words they would use to describe the GOP. Click here to see the tag clouds that show which words each group uses most....

By Jennifer Agiesta | 08:00 AM ET, 12/01/2009 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Republican Party

Posted at 12:55 PM ET, 11/30/2009

A deeper look at the GOP generation gap

By Jennifer Agiesta

One Republican Party fissure highlighted by today's Washington Post poll is a sharp generational divide on how the Party should operate in a Democratically-controlled Washington and which issues should be at the top of the platform. Younger Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in the poll are more apt to say they...

By Jennifer Agiesta | 12:55 PM ET, 11/30/2009 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Categories: Republican Party, Republican Party

Behind the Numbers: Republican Party