2/22: Romney with 16 Percentage Point Lead in Arizona

NBC News/Marist Poll

Mitt Romney has a wide lead in the contest for the Republican nomination in Arizona.  Romney leads his closest competitor, Rick Santorum, 43% to 27%, among likely Republican primary voters including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate, early voters, and those who voted absentee in Arizona.

map of arizona

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Click Here for Complete February 22, 2012 Arizona NBC News/Marist Poll Release

Click Here for Complete February 22, 2012 Arizona NBC News/Marist Poll Tables

Here is how the contest stands among likely Republican primary voters including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate, early voters, and those who voted absentee in Arizona:

  • 43% for Mitt Romney
  • 27% for Rick Santorum
  • 16% for Newt Gingrich
  • 11% for Ron Paul
  • <1% other
  • 3% are undecided

“Electability is driving the Arizona GOP, and Romney is their pick,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.  “Romney leads Santorum among most key voting groups and competes closely for the support of others.”

Key points:

  • With early voting underway in Arizona, Romney — 52% — is ahead of Santorum — 22% — among early and absentee Republican voters.  Gingrich and Paul receive 17% and 8%, respectively.
  • Romney does best among likely Republican primary voters who are not Tea Party supporters — 52% — those who are liberal or moderate — 50% — those who want a candidate who can defeat President Obama — 49% — likely Republican primary voters who value experience — 46% — women — 46% — and those who want a candidate who is closest to them on the issues — 40%.
  • Santorum is ahead among those who are very conservative — 38% — and among Evangelical Christians — 38%.
  • Santorum also does better among values voters — 37% — compared with 33% for Romney.
  • Santorum — 37% — and Romney — 35% — vie for the lead among those who are Tea Party supporters.
  • Looking at income, Romney — 45% — is ahead of Santorum — 25% — among those who earn $75,000 or more a year.  Romney — 41% — also outpaces Santorum — 31% — among those who earn less than $75,000 annually.

Table: 2012 Arizona Republican Presidential Primary (AZ Likely Voters with Leaners, Early Voters, and Absentees)

Almost Eight in Ten in Arizona Firmly Behind Candidate

How strongly do likely Republican primary voters in Arizona support their candidate?  78% report they are firmly in their candidate’s camp while 14% are somewhat behind their pick.  Six percent might cast their ballot differently on primary day, and 1% is unsure.

Key points:

  • 83% of Romney’s supporters are strongly committed to their candidate compared with 74% of those who are for Paul.  73% of Gingrich’s backers and 69% of those who are behind Santorum express a high intensity of support.

Table: Intensity of Support (AZ Likely Voters)

Looking to Second

Santorum is the reserve candidate of 28% of Arizona’s likely Republican primary voters while 25% say the same about Gingrich.  24% select Romney as their second choice compared with 12% who view Paul as their fallback candidate.  11% are undecided.

Without Gingrich in the race, Romney maintains a similar lead.  Half of likely Republican primary voters in Arizona — 50% — would support Romney compared with 33% for Santorum.  Looking at the second choice of Gingrich’s supporters, 41% select Santorum while 38% pick Romney.

Table: Second Choice for the Republican Presidential Primary (AZ Likely Voters)

Table: 2012 Arizona Republican Presidential Primary without Gingrich (AZ Likely Voters with Leaners, Early Voters, and Absentees)

Romney Perceived by 66% to be the Inevitable Nominee

About two-thirds of likely Republican primary voters in Arizona — 66% — think Romney will be the eventual GOP nominee while 14% believe Santorum will be the victor.  Seven percent think Gingrich will top the party’s ticket, and only 2% think Paul will win the Republican nomination.  One percent believes none of the candidates will achieve the nomination, and 10% are undecided.

Key points:

  • While most of Romney’s supporters — 88% — think he will be the GOP nominee, even 59% of Paul’s backers, 53% of Santorum’s supporters, and half — 50% — of those behind Gingrich believe the nomination will go to Romney.

Table: Regardless of Support, Candidate Expected to Win Republican Nomination (AZ Likely Voters)

Electability Key Candidate Quality

What matters most to likely Republican primary voters in Arizona?  33% want a candidate who can beat President Barack Obama.  25% want someone who has the same positions on the issues while 23% put shared values at the top of their checklist.  Experience to govern is the most important candidate quality for 16% of the likely Republican primary electorate in Arizona, and 3% are unsure.

Key points:

  • Romney — 49% — is ahead among likely Republican primary voters in Arizona who think electability is the most important quality.  Here, Santorum garners the support of 24%.
  • Among those who want a candidate who has the same positions on the issues, Romney — 40% — outpaces Santorum — 31%.
  • Romney also does well among those who think experience is most important.  He receives 46% to 25% for Gingrich and 19% for Santorum.
  • When looking at values voters, Santorum receives 37% to 33% for Romney.

Table: Most Important Quality in a Republican Presidential Candidate (AZ Likely Voters)

Many Voters Choose Electability over Conservatism

63% of likely Republican primary voters in Arizona think it’s more important to have a nominee with the best chance to defeat President Obama while 29% prefer one who is a true conservative.  Eight percent are unsure.

Romney — 57% — is the candidate thought to have the best electoral chances while 17% say Santorum is best positioned to beat Obama in the general election.  11% report Gingrich is the candidate who can go the distance while just 4% believe Paul is the Republican who can win the White House.  Three percent say none of them have good electoral odds, and 7% are undecided.

Santorum, however, is believed by 37% to be the true conservative in the contest.  18% have this opinion of Romney compared with 17% for Paul and 14% for Gingrich.  Five percent think none of the candidates is a true conservative, and 9% are undecided.

When it comes to immigration, 24% say Romney best represents their views followed by Gingrich with 20%, Santorum with 18%, and Paul with 11%.  Six percent report none of the candidates reflect their position on the issue, and 20% are undecided.

Support of Arizona’s immigration law which allows police to check the citizenship papers of those detained or arrested if the officer suspects the person is in the country illegally is an attractive position to about two-thirds of likely Republican primary voters in the state.  67% would be more likely to support a presidential candidate with this stand while only 6% would be less likely to cast their ballot for that candidate.  25% say such a position does not affect their vote, and 2% are unsure.

Table: Which is More Important, a Candidate Who is a True Conservative or One Who Can Beat President Obama? (AZ Likely Voters)

Table: Candidate Who Can Beat President Barack Obama (AZ Likely Voters)

Table: Candidate Considered True Conservative (AZ Likely Voters)

Table: Candidate Considered to Best Reflect Views on Immigration (AZ Likely Voters)

Table: Impact of Candidate’s Position on Arizona Immigration Law (AZ Likely Voters)

More Than Six in Ten Say the Debates Matter

64% of likely Republican primary voters in Arizona say the debates have affected their vote to, at least, some extent while 36% report the debates have had little influence or no impact at all on their vote.

Table: To What Extent Have the Debates Helped in Deciding Your Vote? (AZ Likely Voters)

Romney, Santorum Acceptable Candidates

A majority of likely Republican primary voters in Arizona — 56% — believe Mitt Romney is an acceptable candidate for the GOP nomination.  32% agree but with reservations while 11% think he is wrong for the role.  Only 1% is unsure.

When it comes to Santorum’s acceptability, 54% believe Santorum is a satisfactory choice while 27% say he will do, but they have concerns.  15%, however, report Santorum is an unacceptable pick, and 4% are unsure.

Fewer perceive Gingrich to be acceptable.  36% think Gingrich is a good fit for the role while 30% agree but with hesitations.  33% say he is not an acceptable choice for the GOP nomination, and 1% is unsure.

Only 25% report Paul is an appropriate pick for the Republican nomination.  29% think he is acceptable, but they have reservations while 43% think Paul is not an acceptable selection.  Three percent are unsure.

Table: Acceptability for Republican Nomination — Romney (AZ Likely Voters)

Table: Acceptability for Republican Nomination — Santorum (AZ Likely Voters)

Table: Acceptability for Republican Nomination — Gingrich (AZ Likely Voters)

Table: Acceptability for Republican Nomination — Paul (AZ Likely Voters)

Split Decision on GOP Field

Despite Romney’s strong lead in the state, only 49% of likely Republican primary voters in Arizona are satisfied with the GOP candidates seeking the presidency.  48% would like to see someone else run.  Three percent are unsure.

Table: Satisfaction with Field of GOP Candidates (AZ Likely Voters)

More than Six in Ten Think Mormons are Christians

63% of likely Republican primary voters in Arizona believe a Mormon is a Christian while 37% do not or are unsure.

Key points:

  • Romney — 53% — leads Santorum — 22% — among likely Republican primary voters who say a Mormon is a Christian.  However, Santorum receives 37% to 26% for Romney among those who report a Mormon is not a Christian or are unsure.

Table: Are Mormons Christian? (AZ Likely Voters)

General Election Chances

How would the current field of Republican candidates fare against President Obama in the general election?

Here is how these hypothetical contests shape up among Arizona’s registered voters:

  • Romney receives the support of 45% of registered voters in Arizona while 40% are for Obama.  15% are undecided.
  • 45% of registered voters back Santorum compared with 42% for Obama.  12% are undecided.
  • Paul receives the support of 43% to 41% for Obama.  16% are undecided.
  • Obama — 45% — leads Gingrich — 40%.  16% are undecided.

When considering previous turnout, the GOP candidates improve their standing against Obama.  In fact, Romney’s lead over Obama grows from five percentage points currently to nine percentage points among those who voted in 2008.  His lead increases to 14 percentage points if turnout resembles 2010.

Table: 2012 Hypothetical Presidential Tossup: Obama/Romney (AZ Registered Voters)

Table: 2012 Hypothetical Presidential Tossup: Obama/Santorum (AZ Registered Voters)

Table: 2012 Hypothetical Presidential Tossup: Obama/Paul (AZ Registered Voters)

Table: 2012 Hypothetical Presidential Tossup: Obama/Gingrich (AZ Registered Voters)

Support for AZ Immigration Law a Plus, says Plurality

45% of registered voters in Arizona would be more likely to vote for a presidential candidate if that candidate supports the state’s current immigration law while 20% would be less likely to back such a candidate.  Support for the law would make no difference to the vote of 31% of registered voters.  Three percent are unsure.

Table: Impact of Candidate’s Position on Arizona Immigration Law (AZ Registered Voters)

Obama Scores Low Marks on Immigration…Job Approval Rating at 38%

Only 31% of registered voters in Arizona approve of how President Obama is handling the issue of immigration while 60% disapprove, and 9% are unsure.

When it comes to the president’s overall job approval rating, 38% of registered voters approve of the job the president is doing in office while 51% disapprove, and 10% are unsure.

Table: President Obama’s Handling of Immigration (AZ Registered Voters)

Table: President Obama Approval Rating in Arizona (AZ Registered Voters)

Voters Divide about the Future of the U.S. Economy

When thinking about the future of the U.S. economy, 47% of Arizona’s registered voters think the worst is over while 44% say the worst is still to come.  Nine percent are unsure.

Table: U.S. Economy — Will It Get Worse? (AZ Registered Voters)

Flake Leads Carmona in Hypothetical Senate Race

Arizona voters will be tasked with filling an open U.S. Senate seat in the fall.  If Republican Jeff Flake and Democrat Richard Carmona win their parties’ nominations, how would the competition unfold?  In this hypothetical contest, Flake leads Carmona, 42% to 29%.  28% are undecided.

Table: 2012 Hypothetical U.S. Senate Tossup in Arizona: Carmona/Flake (AZ Registered Voters)

How the Survey was Conducted

Nature of the Sample