CNN/ORC poll: Barack Obama tied with GOP nominee in Ga.
Updated at 4:30 p.m.: Yet another poll of the presidential primary in Georgia, again showing Newt Gingrich in the upper-40 percentile, has just been dropped by CNN/ORC International.
The poll also shows, like two others today, Santorum dangerously under 20 percent — the amount needed Tuesday for a share of 34 at-large Georgia delegates. The CNN top lines:
– Gingrich, 47 percent;
– Mitt Romney, 24 percent;
– Santorum, 15 percent;
– and Ron Paul, 9 percent.
More interesting is the portion of the CNN poll that looks at a general election contest with President Barack Obama. Asked whether they would vote for the Republican nominee or the incumbent Democrat in November, 1,775 registered Georgia voters were split, 48 to 48 percent.
Updated at 12:15 p.m.: In the wee hours this morning, following on the heels of a weekend AJC poll, Public Policy Polling of North Carolina came out with yet another survey that shows GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich creeping toward the 50 percent mark in Georgia.
The PPP bottom line:
– Gingrich, 47 percent;
– Mitt Romney, 24 percent;
– Rick Santorum, 19 percent;
– Ron Paul, 8 percent.
Just before noon, Landmark/Rosetta Stone in Gwinnett County released a third poll, conducted Sunday (901 likely voters) and showing similar numbers: Gingrich, 44 percent; Romney, 23 percent; Santorum, 17 percent; and Paul, 7 percent.
The 50 percent mark is a significant one. As far as 34 statewide delegates go, distribution would still be proportional. But even if Gingrich finishes in the mid-40 percentile on Tuesday, that means he’d probably clear 50 percent in some congressional districts. And that’s where the winner-takes-all rule, with 42 delegates at stake, does apply.
The most salient PPP statistics:
[Sixty-six percent] of Republicans in the state have a favorable opinion of [Gingrich] to only 27% with a negative one. And although he now lives in Virginia, he’s still embraced as a native son. 71% of voters consider him to be a Georgian to only 22% who do not.
A Landmark/Rosetta poll from last week had Gingrich at 42 percent. Their analysis:
Gingrich leads in both the Metro Atlanta region as well as non-Metro Atlanta area. He retains particular commanding support among those voters who are age 65 and older, a demographic group in which he carries a majority of the vote. These voters remember Gingrich as a leader who led Republicans to a new House majority in the 1994 elections, the first such majority in four decades.
An AJC poll published on Saturday — in the field Wednesday, Thursday and Friday — gave Gingrich a lead of 38 percent. See the internals here.
***
Among those who consider Newt Gingrich to be a “fellow Georgian” is Gov. Nathan Deal, who today has an op-ed in the Marietta Daily Journal with his endorsement of the former 6th District congressman:
As Georgia conservatives, we owe Newt Gingrich — who in 1994 led the Republican Party to victory for the first time in 40 years — a debt of gratitude. Without this man giving voice to the practical conservatism the majority of Georgians now hold dear, the Republican Party in our state would not be where it is today.
***
Remember how Rick Santorum called President Barack Obama a “snob” for encouraging kids to get a college education? His wife was among those who persuaded him to backtrack. From Politico.com:
“He knows you always separate what you say from the person,” said Karen Santorum in an interview Saturday…, her first of the presidential campaign with a print media outlet. “He should have said what (Obama) said is ‘snobbish.’ It was a ‘snobbish comment,’ not he is ‘snobbish.’ There is a big difference. And he knows that. But everybody makes those mistakes along the journey.”
Karen Santorum also said this about the current first lady in the White House:
“[Michelle Obama] has done a lot for our country, and I admire her because she also has a very rigorous schedule. She is juggling being a mother and being first lady,” Karen Santorum said before lowering her voice to a girly whisper, “and you know, she’s got great arms.”
***
While much of the political world last week was in an uproar over health insurance coverage for contraception, former GOP candidate for governor was writing a coda for the previous uproar – over Planned Parenthood and abortion.
In an interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Handel reprised the events that led to her resignation as vice president of governmental affairs for Susan G. Komen for the Cure – after a Komen effort to cut off funds to Planned Parenthood exploded:
Handel again accused Planned Parenthood of violating a “gentle lady’s agreement” to accept the decision quietly. Handel also said she was appalled by a media slant when it came to the topic of abortion.
“There is clearly a real bias around this, that somehow, the right to an abortion equals women’s rights. And I reject that,” she said. Here’s the clip:
***
The AJC’s Politifact Georgia today takes a look at the claim by Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash that , when it comes to unemployment, her county is doing better than much of metro Atlanta.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
171 comments Add your comment
BRW
March 5th, 2012
7:14 pm
It’s the change I wanted. So Newt just paid the big fine out of the goodness of his heart, correct? And if you listen to Neal Boortz any more about Newt you’ll find out he can walk on water too…..
Non-theist
March 5th, 2012
8:02 pm
Here’s a few facts about Mitt’s beliefs that probably won’t sit well with many of you, although I could be wrong on that, since it seems a lot of you support Newt and his hypocrisy.
Fact #1 – Mormons view all non-Mormon Christian denominations as misdirected from the true teaching of God. Their emphasis when approaching Christians is on the “Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ” as revealed to Joseph Smith. In their eyes, Christianity has suffered from a “Great Apostasy” ever since the formation of the early Christian church, necessitating the revelation of Joseph Smith and, therefore, the need to spread his message throughout the existing Christian world.
Fact #2 – The temple is used to perform the Mormon endowment ceremony. During this ritual, adult Mormons go through a series of lessons and exercises to deepen their faith, and they make covenants with God to keep his commandments. After receiving their endowments, Latter-day Saints wear a distinctive underwear on which special marks are embroidered. Known as “garments”, this underwear, worn next to the skin at nearly all times, is meant to remind individuals of their commitment to their faith and to God.
Fact #3 – From 1849 until 1978, blacks could join the church but weren’t allowed to be ordained to the priesthood. In the Mormon faith, being ordained to the priesthood is similar to a bar mitzvah, a more or less universal rite of passage that every Mormon male undergoes. Priesthood authority allows Mormon men to perform sacraments, give blessings, go on missions, hold office in the church hierarchy and seal couples in marriage. Women have never been allowed to hold the priesthood.
Several reasons were given for the 130-year ban. The early rationale was that blacks were descended from the Old Testament figure Cain, whose skin was darkened after he murdered his brother Abel. (This reasoning was also used by other Christian churches to justify their exclusion of blacks.) Brigham Young in 1852 stated, “[A]ny man having one drop of the seed of [Cain] … in him cannot hold the priesthood and if no other prophet ever spake it before I will say it now in the name of Jesus Christ I know it is true and others know it.”
Non-theist
March 5th, 2012
8:24 pm
Fact #4 – All Mormon men aged 19 to 26 are eligible to receive a mission call and concentrate two years of their life to what current LDS President Gordon Hinckley calls “this sacred service.” Women over the age of 21 may also be called as missionaries, but they only serve 18 months. The vast majority of the missionary force — 76 percent — are young men.
Missionaries are expected to cover all expenses of their mission; many Mormon children start saving for their missions when they first get an allowance, at 6 or 7 years old. Many young Mormons also work after-school jobs to save for their missions. If the cost is simply too high for a missionary and his/her family to bear, however, a missionary’s local ward may help to bear his/her expenses. Once accepted, missionaries are trained at the nearest Missionary Training Center. The rigorous training can last up to three months of sixteen-hour days. The trainees learn six basic lesson plans designed to take the potential convert to the goal of baptism. Every aspect of their behavior and appearance is scrutinized. They are taught how to listen, to smile, to find common ground with a stranger on the street, and to answer difficult questions or deal with hecklers. The location where missionaries serve is entirely determined by the church.
The mission itself involves long work days, six days per week. A typical day involves two hours of scriptural study and eight to nine hours of going door to door “teaching and contacting” potential converts. One day a week is set aside for personal activities like laundry, letter writing or sightseeing in the host country.
While on their mission, missionaries can call home only on Christmas and Mother’s Day; they must be with their missionary companion 24 hours a day; they cannot come within arm’s length of the opposite sex; they cannot watch television or films; and they are only allowed to listen to music and read books that are of a religious nature.
Fact #5 – The church operates under a strict top-down hierarchy. The highest office is that of the president, Gordon B. Hinckley, who is regarded by believers as the church’s “prophet, seer and revelator.” The president serves a life term and selects his first and second counselors, who are also believed to possess prophetic abilities. These three men together form the First Presidency.
Below the First Presidency is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, also comprising male members believed to be prophets. The Quorum technically elects the church president, but tradition has it that the apostle who has served longest in the Quorum of the Twelve will automatically become president/prophet. The Quorum of the Twelve acts under the First Presidency to lead the church at the global level.
Fact #6 – Mormons believe that an 1829 revelation to Joseph Smith from John the Baptist gave the church an exclusive right to the Christian priesthood, meaning the ability to perform prescribed spiritual services and blessings, also known as “ordinances.” The ordinances learned and practiced in the priesthood include the blessing of sacramental bread and water, eligibility to be sealed into eternal marriage, and the right to instruct and ordain other members.
Mormon males typically enter the first order, the “Aaronic” priesthood, at age 12 as “deacons.” As they learn more, they progress to the levels of “teacher” and then “priest,” usually by age 18.
At age 18, the average Mormon man enters the second (higher) “Melchizedek” priesthood as an “elder.” It is at this point that they become eligible to serve on a mission, take on such leadership positions as bishop (local pastor) and stake president, perhaps even advancing to higher ranks within the church, such as joining a Quorum of the Seventy or becoming an apostle.
Fact #7 – The LDS Church holds that deceased persons who have not accepted or had the opportunity to accept the gospel of Christ in this life will have the opportunity to accept the gospel in the afterlife. As all must follow Jesus Christ, they must also receive all the ordinances that a living person is expected to receive, including baptism. For this reason, members of the LDS Church are encouraged to research their genealogy. This research is then used as the basis for church performing temple ordinances for as many deceased persons as possible. As a part of these efforts, Mormons have performed temple ordinances on behalf of a number of high profile people. Of particular interest are: the Founding Fathers of the U.S., Presidents of the U.S., Pope John Paul II, John Wesley, Christopher Columbus, Adolf Hitler, and others.
Wake Up Georgia!
March 5th, 2012
8:55 pm
48 to 48? Maybe there is still hope for this state!
Shine
March 5th, 2012
9:23 pm
I took a poll in my immedaite close by family and we all voting for Obama tomorrow. This will be a first dem ballot by most of us in a decade or more.
Cardinal Sin
March 5th, 2012
9:31 pm
What POLL? That MORON Obama can not possibly tied with any of these Rep canadiates as he SUCKS!!!
Michael
March 5th, 2012
9:36 pm
The only poll that counts is in November.
tiredofIT
March 5th, 2012
9:39 pm
It’s very telling that the republican candidates are ready to bomb Iran, but don’t have the balls to call out Rush. Of course, if we bomb Iran they won’t be doing it. Taking on Rush they have to do. More chicken hawks; they are brave when someone else is do the fighting.
Republican for Life
March 5th, 2012
9:39 pm
I am not sure who will get my vote. I have no confidence in our current party leadership nor the candidates running for office. No one is truly focusing on the true problems our nation is faced with & there is no way Newt will be able to fix gas prices as he is promising. Our political system is a proces & any changes will have to proceed accordingly. I am praying for all of us at this point & for the 1st time in 32 yrs, I may not vote in our primary:(
Ed Longert
March 5th, 2012
9:40 pm
Wake up all of you stupid Georgia crackers. President Obama fought hard for unemployment compensation, He was able to get Obamacare passed to provide medical coverage for you stupid #$%&&&. He fought against radical GOP changes in Social Security and Medicare. He made your asses safe by killing Osama bin Laden. He fought the Republicans for a cut in the payroll taxes so you could see more money in your paychecks. He’s done all of this and much much more so you can attain a better quality of life and you cast your vote for a Republican who cares only for the rich and the corporate entities. Now tell me why do you keep voting against your own best self interest?
Go figure!!!!!!!!
tiredofIT
March 5th, 2012
9:55 pm
Ed: they are missing an important skill … critical thinking!
nah
March 6th, 2012
12:27 am
Obama and the libs can get confident all they want. Facts are facts. Reagan trailed carter in a long primary and destroyed him after the GOP convention. Bush sr lead Clinton I’m 1991 by over 15 points and he won by a large margin over bush 41. Anytime the incumbent isn’t running a contested primary he always surges ahead in the polls. But Obama is running behind, dead even or.l slightly ahead in these polls. THAT IS BAD NEWS for the president and his campaign. Romney or whoever wins the gop primary will beat the president by a large and decisive margin. It’s not even a question.
nah
March 6th, 2012
12:30 am
ed….. wow! Hey kool aid
nah
March 6th, 2012
12:38 am
ed….. wow! LOL let’s deal in the truth my fiend. obama took office and unemploymentvwas at 7.8 % in may of 2009 he and the democratic controlled house and senate said we MUST pass the stimulus and to keep unemployment under 8% in October of 2009 it rose above 10.1% and has never dropped below the 7.8 % when BHO was swor. n in. he also said at this point in his first term unemployment would be at 6% and the defecit would be cut in half! fact is obama has tripled! the defecit like a typical tax and spend liberal and unemployment hasn’t dropped below his red water line of 8%. not to mention the national average for a gallon of gas was 1.88 now its approaching $4 and projections are saying 5-
nah
March 6th, 2012
12:39 am
5-6$ honestly I can’t wait until November! Obama will lose in a land slide
nah
March 6th, 2012
12:42 am
good night everyone, sorry for the text errors using smart phone and its not going well. Romney 2012
Manny
March 6th, 2012
6:51 am
I keep hearing about how Reagan beat Jimmy Carter in 1980, as a comparison between Obama vs. Romney (or Santorum). This is really an apples-to-oranges comparison. Here’s why:
In 1980, the country was spiraling into recession. The majority of the people thought that the country was getting worse and worse. There was the Iranian hostage crisis. Inflation was up to 13%. The country was headed INTO the recession of 1980-1982. Plus, Carter went through the Three Mile Island meltdown, Russia invading Afghanistan, the energy crisis, Mt. St. Helens volcano eruption, etc. Carter was so unpopular, he faced a bitter primary challenge that went all the way through the Democratic National Convention. Oh, and remember- he even re-instated the draft, LOL!
Obama’s presidency isn’t even close to being that bad. He faces no primary fight. The economy is on the upswing. He still have his base of supporters (minorities, college-educated younger people, liberals, etc.) But he will get good opposition from Wall Street and non-college educated whites.
It’s going to be an interesting race, but this is no way Carter vs. Reagan.
heySammy
March 6th, 2012
7:02 am
Stop being the spelling police. If you have nothing to contribute but your red grading pencil, then stay off here.
David Farrar
March 6th, 2012
9:02 am
Has anybody seen any other Democratic presidential challengers in any other state primaries other than Obama?
Is it because no Democrat wants to run against Barack Obama, or is it because like all good communist, he is subverting the democratic process by denying ballot access through the state Democratic Party’s executive committees?
Does anyone need more than one guess?
ex animo
davidfarrar
Time to change back
March 6th, 2012
10:31 am
Vote right…. That’s all I have to say.
Obama and his Energy guru want gas prices to be 10.00 by this time next year. You do the math, 2 cars with 25 gallon tanks is $2,000 per month. You think your gonna get a raise to cover this? Think again. You think Marta will do you favors ha ha ha. Think again, their fares will go sky high. So will food, transportation, and everything else you ship in. The trucking industry will go bust.
Watch what you vote for, this time it REALLY DOES MATTER.
And also remember Nancy Pelosi’s own word when asked this question.
“DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SHUT DOWN A COMPANY IF IT REFUSES TO GO UNION” Her answer, YES, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SHUT DOWN ANY PLANT THAT REFUSES TO GO UNION.
Vote wisely people. You really are voting for your future this time.
Newt2012
March 6th, 2012
10:45 am
Wow. It’s painfully obvious again why the AJC circulation keeps dropping. Nobody but the ultra liberal, America hating, double standard using leaches of the taxpayer reads that trash. Keep kissing Obama’s ring you clowns.