



Raleigh,

N.C. – PPP’s newest

poll of the Presidential race in Minnesota actually finds Barack Obama

expanding his lead to 10 points over Mitt Romney at 53-43. Our last poll there

in mid-September had found Obama’s advantage to be 7 points at 51-44. A

majority of the interviews for this poll were conducted Saturday and Sunday.

There’s

an overwhelming sense in Minnesota as elsewhere that Romney won last week’s

debate. 64% think he was the victor to only 19% who say Obama. But unlike in

other places it hasn’t led to a big improvement in Romney’s image. Just 42% of

voters have a favorable opinion of him to 53% with a negative one. That’s

actually slightly worse than a month ago when he was at 43/51.

Obama has a solid 53/45 approval rating. Voters trust him more than Romney

both on the economy (50/44) and on foreign policy (54/41). Obama has a 49/41

lead with independents, has the advantage with both women (56/41) and men

(50/45), and has at least a small lead within all four age groups.

“Mitt Romney’s received a bounce nationally after his debate victory last

week but not in Minnesota,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy

Polling. “Barack Obama continues to lead by a healthy margin there.”

In the Senate race Amy Klobuchar has expanded her already wide lead from 19

points to 26 over the last month. She’s at 57% to 31% for opponent Kurt Bills.

Klobuchar probably would have been unbeatable for any opponent. She’s one of

the most popular Senators in the country with 59% of voters approving of her to

27% who disapprove. But Bills has proven to be particularly weak. Last month

his name recognition in the state was 41%. Now it’s actually dropped to 38%.

He’s not making himself any better known to the voters.

PPP surveyed 937 likely

Minnesota voters from October 5th to 8th. The margin of error for

the survey is +/-3.2% This poll was not paid for

or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are

conducted through automated telephone interviews.

Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President

Barack Obama’s job performance?

Approve …………………………………………………. 53%

Disapprove……………………………………………… 45%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%

Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion

of Mitt Romney?

Favorable……………………………………………….. 42%

Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 53%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%

Q3 The candidates for President are Democrat

Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney. If

the election was today, who would you vote

for?

Barack Obama………………………………………… 53%

Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 43%

Undecided………………………………………………. 4%

Q4 Do you trust Barack Obama or Mitt Romney

more on the issue of the economy?

Barack Obama………………………………………… 50%

Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 44%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%

Q5 Do you trust Barack Obama or Mitt Romney

more on the issue of foreign policy?

Barack Obama………………………………………… 54%

Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 41%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%

Q6 Who do you think won the debate between

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney this week?

Barack Obama………………………………………… 19%

Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 64%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%

Q7 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Amy

Klobuchar’s job performance?

Approve …………………………………………………. 59%

Disapprove……………………………………………… 27%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion

of Kurt Bills?

Favorable……………………………………………….. 17%

Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 21%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 62%

Q9 The candidates for Senate are Democrat Amy

Klobuchar and Republican Kurt Bills. If the

election was today, who would you vote for?

Amy Klobuchar ……………………………………….. 57%

Kurt Bills…………………………………………………. 31%

Undecided………………………………………………. 12%

Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion

of Big Bird?

Favorable……………………………………………….. 61%

Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 7%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 32%

Q11 Do you support or oppose federal funding for

PBS?

Support ………………………………………………….. 56%

Oppose ………………………………………………….. 29%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%

Q12 Do you think the Bureau of Labor Statistics is

manipulating the unemployment numbers to

help Barack Obama, or not?

It is ………………………………………………………… 30%

It is not …………………………………………………… 53%

Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%

Q13 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,

somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat

conservative, or very conservative?

Very liberal ……………………………………………… 13%

Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 20%

Moderate………………………………………………… 30%

Somewhat conservative……………………………. 23%

Very conservative ……………………………………. 14%

Q14 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.

Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%

Man……………………………………………………….. 48%

Q15 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,

press 2. If you are an independent or identify

with another party, press 3.

Democrat ……………………………………………….. 38%

Republican……………………………………………… 29%

Independent/Other…………………………………… 32%

Q16 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.

White …………………………………………………….. 93%

Other……………………………………………………… 7%

Q17 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to

45 years old, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If

you are older than 65, press 4.

18 to 29………………………………………………….. 15%

30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%

46 to 65………………………………………………….. 37%

Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%