Virginia Likely Voters
Which is more important to you:
The Republican nominee for president is a true conservative The Republican nominee for president has the best chance to beat President Obama Unsure
Row % Row % Row %
Virginia Likely Voters 34% 60% 6%
Party Identification** Republican 33% 63% 4%
Independent 36% 56% 8%
Tea Party Supporters 38% 59% 3%
Intensity of Tea Party Support Strongly support Tea Party 42% 53% 5%
Support Tea Party 36% 62% 2%
Does not support Tea Party 30% 63% 7%
Political Ideology Liberal-Moderate 27% 63% 9%
Conservative 31% 65% 4%
Very conservative 51% 46% 2%
Political Ideology Liberal-Moderate 27% 63% 9%
Conservative-Very conservative 37% 59% 4%
Past Participation*** Yes 32% 62% 6%
No 42% 55% 4%
Republican Candidates Mitt Romney 26% 69% 5%
Ron Paul 51% 44% 5%
Candidate Support Strongly support 27% 69% 4%
Somewhat support 32% 63% 5%
Might vote differently 49% 46% 4%
Most Important Quality Shares your values 53% 40% 6%
Is closest to you on the issues 43% 49% 8%
Can beat President Obama in 2012 15% 83% 2%
Has the experience to govern 35% 61% 4%
Gender Men 35% 61% 4%
Women 33% 60% 8%
Age Under 45 40% 55% 4%
45 or older 31% 63% 5%
Region D.C. Suburbs 15% 81% 4%
Northern Virgina Exurbs 30% 61% 9%
Central/West 46% 50% 4%
Richmond/East 39% 55% 6%
Tidewater 34% 61% 5%
Household Income Less than $75,000 43% 53% 4%
$75,000 or more 25% 68% 7%
Evangelical Christians 42% 54% 4%
Mormons are Christians Yes 27% 66% 7%
No-Unsure 44% 53% 4%
Education Not college graduate 42% 54% 5%
College graduate 28% 66% 6%
Interview Type Landline 32% 62% 6%
Cell Phone 43% 53% 4%
NBC News/Marist Poll Virginia Likely Republican Primary Voters. Interviews conducted February 29th through March 2nd, 2012, N=529 MOE +/- 4.3 percentage points. Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding.
**There are too few Democrats for analysis purposes
***Past participation refers to previous participation in a Virginia Republican Presidential Primary.