Presidential Poll: Republicans Give Romney 59% Favorable Rating

Gov Romney holds 1 month old Molly Vyskocil after speaking with small business owners concerned about the economy at Meetze Plumbing in Irmo, SC. Dad Mark Vyskocil, holding son Mark, looks on. 5/21/11

Bloomburg has released an extensive poll today; more thumbs-up for Governor Romney:

Romney Gets a 59% Favorable Rating From Republicans in Presidential Poll

Mitt Romney, the frontrunner in the Republican presidential race, is in strong shape with his party’s rank and file as the 2012 nomination race enters a more heated phase.

Among Republicans, 59 percent hold a favorable view of the former Massachusetts governor, according to a Bloomberg National Poll, while only 16 percent view him negatively. He’s also more popular than unpopular with independent voters by a 10 percentage point margin.

While the poll shows more than half of Republicans are dissatisfied with the current choices in the field, an overwhelming 85 percent want candidates seeking their support to focus almost entirely on economic issues, not social ones.

Romney, 64, has made the economy the centerpiece of his campaign as he again pursues the White House following his unsuccessful 2008 attempt for the Republican nomination — a race in which he focused more on social issues.

“Romney is threading the needle the way a seasoned candidate knows he must,” said J. Ann Selzer, president of Des Moines, Iowa-basedSelzer & Co., which conducted the June 17-20 poll. “He’s saying enough of the things Republicans want to hear while holding the interest of independents.”

(emphasis added)

Interesting numbers regarding the Tea Party…

Tea Party Disapproval

Negative attitudes about the Tea Party are growing, with 45 percent saying they have an unflattering view of the political movement, the highest level since the poll first asked the question in March 2010. Among independents, 50 percent view the Tea Party unfavorably.

Among all poll participants, Romney was viewed favorably by 37 percent and unfavorably by 31 percent, with 32 percent saying they are unsure. President Barack Obama’s favorable rating among the entire poll sample was 54 percent, while 42 percent viewed him unfavorably.

To read Bloomberg’s results on other candidates, the religious issue, insurance mandate, and more click here.


► Jayde Wyatt