Poll: Voter reaction to Romney's "47 percent" comment leans negative
By
Leigh Ann Caldwell
/ CBS News
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks to reporters about the secretly taped video from one of his campaign fundraising events in Costa Mesa, Calif., Monday, Sept. 17, 2012.
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
(CBS News) A new poll released by Gallup Wednesday reveals a generally negative voter reaction to Mitt Romney's comments about "47 percent" of Americans being dependent on government.
Thirty-six percent of voters say Romney's comments make them less likely to vote for him, while 20% say the remarks make them more likely to vote for him, and 43% say the comments won't make a difference, Gallup reports.
Meantime, 29 percent of independents, who Gallup notes are less partisan by definition, say they are less likely to vote for Mitt Romney after being read the comments that were caught on video at a May fundraiser. Fifteen percent who say they are more likely to vote for him after hearing the remarks. Although the poll indicates that independents view Romney's comments as more negative than positive, just over half - 53 percent - say his comments will make no difference in their vote.
The poll, which surveyed 885 registered voters on Sept. 18 and has a +/-4 percent margin of error, is the first snapshot of how Romney's remarks, which have caused a political firestorm, are being viewed by the electorate.
Gallup also asked respondents their income and found that 42 percent of those voters who make under $24,000 per year are less likely to vote for Romney after hearing his comments with only 14 percent saying they're more likely. On the other end of the income spectrum, 28 percent of voters making more than $90,000 say they're less likely to vote for Romney after his remarks, while 24 percent say they're more likely to vote him.
Poll: Voter reaction to Romney's "47 percent" comment leans negative
By Leigh Ann Caldwell
/ CBS News
(CBS News) A new poll released by Gallup Wednesday reveals a generally negative voter reaction to Mitt Romney's comments about "47 percent" of Americans being dependent on government.
Thirty-six percent of voters say Romney's comments make them less likely to vote for him, while 20% say the remarks make them more likely to vote for him, and 43% say the comments won't make a difference, Gallup reports.
Meantime, 29 percent of independents, who Gallup notes are less partisan by definition, say they are less likely to vote for Mitt Romney after being read the comments that were caught on video at a May fundraiser. Fifteen percent who say they are more likely to vote for him after hearing the remarks. Although the poll indicates that independents view Romney's comments as more negative than positive, just over half - 53 percent - say his comments will make no difference in their vote.
The poll, which surveyed 885 registered voters on Sept. 18 and has a +/-4 percent margin of error, is the first snapshot of how Romney's remarks, which have caused a political firestorm, are being viewed by the electorate.
Gallup also asked respondents their income and found that 42 percent of those voters who make under $24,000 per year are less likely to vote for Romney after hearing his comments with only 14 percent saying they're more likely. On the other end of the income spectrum, 28 percent of voters making more than $90,000 say they're less likely to vote for Romney after his remarks, while 24 percent say they're more likely to vote him.
Leigh Ann Caldwell is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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