NC POLL: Obama 46, Romney 45; Obama 49, Newt 43; Obama 46, Santorum 46. Libertarian helps Obama.

[jefferson_dem]

Santorum ties Obama in N.C., Romney down one

Raleigh, N.C. – The prospective race between President Obama and Republican
frontrunner Mitt Romney remains as tight as ever in North Carolina, but for the first time
since Rick Perry’s peak in September, someone other than Romney comes closest to the
president in the Tar Heel State. Romney could also stand to lose the state by a larger
margin if newly announced Libertarian Gary Johnson wages a serious campaign.
Obama edges out Romney by one point, 46-45; it was a 46-all tie in last month’s survey.
Newt Gingrich has fallen two points from the zenith of his surge in the polls; he trailed
49-45 in December, and 49-43 now. Ron Paul lags by a similar 47-41 (47-42). And
Perry also has not moved (49-41 versus 50-42).

But it is the Iowa caucus’ co-winner Rick Santorum who performs best, tying the
president at 46%. Santorum also has the best favorability numbers of the Republican
candidates, with 35% seeing him positively and 42% negatively, edging Romney’s 34-48
and far outpacing Gingrich’s 28-57, Paul’s 21-58, and Perry’s 18-63. The president’s
approval rating is almost unchanged from last month (47-49 versus 47-50).

Johnson would take 8% of the vote in North Carolina, giving Obama a 45-41 edge over
Romney. Johnson does not hurt Obama at all with Democrats, Republicans, or
independents. Head-to-head with Romney and in the three-way contest, he takes 77% of
Democrats and 8% of Republicans, and is down to 30% of independents from 31%
against just Romney. But Johnson does hurt Romney, bringing him from 82% to 76% of
the GOP and from 51% to 40% of independents. Johnson earns 14% of independents,
9% of Republicans, and 4% of Democrats.

“North Carolina continues to look like it will be one of the closest states in the country
this year,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “And that means every
little thing, like a stronger than usual Libertarian candidate, could make the difference.”

<SNIP>

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_NC_011012.pdf

[WI_DEM]

1. Santorum won't be the nominee anyway, but the good news is Obama continues to poll

pretty well there.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. I expect Obama to win North Carolina - but it will be close.

Remember, he only won it by .3% last time - and no, that's not 3%...but .3%!

I'll take a one-point lead in the polls.

[RandySF]

3. Not shabby

We have a real shot at holding it.

[LonePirate]

4. That Santorum number bodes ill for defeating NC's marriage amendment ballot measure.

[patrice]

5. So, issue-wise, what attracts voters FROM Romney TO Johnson?

Libertarian stuff that is NOT Republican:
- Fortress America, end foreign entanglements, end nation building . . . (what about trade protectionism/regulation ?);
- LGBT Civil Rights affirmed;
- Roe v. Wade stands;
- Legalization of Marijuana;
- End the Federal Reserve;
- ???