This article is from the archive of our partner .

What does Mitt Romney have to do to make Republican voters like him—hand out free treats? With the Republican field cut down to just four candidates, voters are more unhappy than ever. Our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Findings: Republicans are more dissatisfied with their presidential candidates than ever, and for the first time, more Republicans (52 percent) are unhappy with the field than are happy with it (46 percent). Just before the New Hampshire primary, 51 percent said the candidates were good or excellent. And going all the way back to May 2011, Republican voters have seen their candidates more positively than negatively. Further, in January 2008, 68 percent of those voters saw the field as excellent or good.

Pollster: Pew Research Center

Methodology: Survey of 1,006 adults, among them 341 Republican and lean-Republican registered voters between January 26 and January 29.

Why it matters: You people are never satisfied! The Republican field has been cut in half, with the least popular people dropping out. And yet voters are less satisfied than ever. It seems like the negative ads the candidates have been running against each other have turned off not only independents, but Republicans as well. A poll from Rasmussen finds that 45 percent of likely voters think there have been too many debates.

Caveat: Republicans are still more enthusiastic to vote this fall than Democrats are, a Gallup poll shows. The "enthusiasm gap" is blamed for the size of Republicans' victory in 2010.

Findings: Romney is beating Obama in swing states, though the president has caught up since the fall. Obama gets 47 percent to Romney's 48 percent nationally, while in November Obama last 43 percent to Romney's 48 percent, and in October lost 46 percent to Romney's 47 percent. Nationally, they tie with 48 percent. Obama easily beats Gingrich in swing states, 54 percent to Gingrich's 40 percent.

Pollster: Gallup

Methodology: Telephone interviews conducted between January 24 and January 28 with 737 registered voters in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Why it matters: Swing states pick the presidents.

Caveat: In a close election, turnout matters a lot, and Republicans still have an advantage as their voters are more enthusiastic. The poll shows 62 percent of swing state Republicans are very or extremely excited to vote -- 35 percent in the extremely category -- while 54 percent of swing state Democrats are extremely or very excited to vote, just 23 percent of them extremely.