Peter A. Brown, Assistant Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 582-5201 Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

, Public Relations Pat Smith (212) 843-8026 FOR RELEASE: MARCH 28, 2012

WOMEN FAVOR OBAMA IN FLORIDA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY SWING STATE POLL FINDS; ECONOMY, HEALTH CARE TOP VOTER CONCERNS
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FLORIDA: Obama 49 Romney 42; Obama 50 Santorum 37 OHIO: Obama 47 Romney 41; Obama 47 Santorum 40 PENNSYLVANIA: Obama 45 Romney 42; Obama 48 Santorum 41 In his best showing in this election cycle, President Barack Obama pulls away from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum in two critical swing states, while a third state remains too close to call, according to todays Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Women back the president over Romney or Santorum by 6 to 19 percentage points in the three states, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Most matchups among men are too close to call. Voters in these states are much more concerned with the economy and health care than they are with social issues and womens reproductive health. Matching Obama against either Romney or Santorum in each of these key states no one has won the White House since 1960 without carrying at least two of them shows:

Florida:

Obama tops Romney 49 42 percent; Obama beats Santorum 50 37 percent. Ohio: Obama over Romney 47 41 percent; Obama leads Santorum 47 40 percent. Pennsylvania: Obama edges Romney 45 42 percent; Obama tops Santorum 48 41 percent. President Barack Obama is on a roll in the key swing states. If the election were today, he

would carry at least two states. And if history repeats itself, that means he would be re-elected, said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/March 28, 2012 page 2 But the election is not today. It is seven months away. Two months ago President Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney were in a statistical tie in Ohio and Florida, Brown added. The biggest reason for the presidents improving prospects probably is the economy. Roughly six in 10 voters in all three states think the economy is recovering. Moreover, voters blame the oil companies and oil-producing countries for the rise in gasoline prices and only about one in six voters blame them on President Obama. Although the lead Romney had over Obama in trial matchups late last year has disappeared, he remains the stronger of the two major GOP contenders. Voters in Pennsylvania still see Romney as better able than the president to fix the economy and both Romney and Obama are stronger than Sen. Rick Santorum on that measure in each state. Despite the focus on social issues such as same-sex marriage and womens reproductive health, these issues are lower priorities for the voters. Voters blame oil companies and oil-producing nations more than Obama for gas prices. And about 60 percent in each state blame environmental regulations for increased prices. Florida Florida voters give Obama a split 47 49 percent job approval rating, and say 50 47 percent he deserves to be reelected. Voters describe candidate positions on these issues as important in their vote: The economy 90 percent extremely important or very important; Unemployment 81 percent; The 2010 healthcare law 78 percent; The federal budget deficit 76 percent; The war in Afghanistan 67 percent; Gas prices 66 percent; Immigration 55 percent; Womens reproductive health issues 48 percent; Social issues such as abortion and gay marriage 39 percent. The economy is in a recession, 68 percent of voters say, but 57 percent say it is beginning to recover. Romney would do a better job on the economy, 48 percent of voters say, while 45 percent pick the president, but Obama tops Santorum 50 39 percent on this issue. Oil companies are most to blame for gas prices, 32 percent of voters say, while 23 percent blame oil-producing countries most; 18 percent blame Obama and 16 percent blame supply and demand. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/March 28, 2012 page 3 Florida voters oppose 54 36 percent releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to curb rising gas prices. Florida voters disapprove 52 36 percent of the job Gov. Rick Scott is doing, continuing his year-long streak of negative ratings. Although a solid majority of Florida voters see environmental regulations as a cause of higher gasoline prices, Sunshine State voters are slightly less likely than their brethren in Ohio and Pennsylvania to see things that way. They are also the least supportive of the idea of tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to combat higher gas prices, Brown said. Ohio Ohio voters also give Obama a split 47 49 percent job approval rating, and split 48 48 percent on whether he deserves to be reelected. Voters describe candidate positions on these issues as important in their vote: The economy 91 percent extremely important or very important; Unemployment 82 percent; The 2010 healthcare law 77 percent; The federal budget deficit 75 percent; Gas prices 67 percent; The war in Afghanistan 66 percent; Womens reproductive health issues 49 percent; Immigration 47 percent; Social issues such as abortion and gay marriage 43 percent. The economy is in a recession, 68 percent of voters say, but 58 percent say it is beginning to recover. Voters split 45 45 percent on whether Obama or Romney would do a better job on the economy, but Obama tops Santorum 48 41 percent on this issue. Oil companies are most to blame for gas prices, 39 percent of voters say, while 19 percent blame oil-producing countries most; 18 percent blame Obama and 14 percent blame supply and demand. Ohio voters oppose 49 44 percent releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Ohio voters split 42 42 percent in their approval of the job Gov. John Kasich is doing, his best score since he was elected more than a year ago. After years as the poster children for the nations economic woes, Ohio voters are becoming more optimistic about the economy, and this increasing optimism seems to be helping Gov. John Kasich whose job approval is even, but his best in his first year in office. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/March 28, 2012 page 4 Pennsylvania Pennsylvania voters disapprove 50 45 percent of the job Obama is doing, still negative but his best score in recent surveys, and say 50 46 percent he does not deserve to be reelected. Voters describe candidate positions on these issues as important in their vote: The economy 88 percent extremely important or very important; Unemployment 79 percent; The 2010 healthcare law 77 percent; The federal budget deficit 74 percent; The war in Afghanistan 66 percent; Gas prices 66 percent; Womens reproductive health issues 52 percent; Immigration 46 percent; Social issues such as abortion and gay marriage 45 percent. The economy is in a recession, 65 percent of voters say, but 57 percent say it is beginning to recover. Voters say 48 42 percent that Romney would do a better job on the economy than Obama, but Obama tops Santorum 49 41 percent on this issue. Oil companies are most to blame for gas prices, 34 percent of voters say, while 25 percent blame oil-producing countries most; 17 percent blame Obama and 15 percent blame supply and demand. Pennsylvania voters oppose 55 39 percent releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to curb rising gas prices. Gov. Tom Corbett gets a 41 38 percent job approval rating. Although he is a native son, Rick Santorum runs worse against Obama in Pennsylvania than does Mitt Romney, Brown said. The former U.S. senator also is liked the least. From March 20 26, Quinnipiac University surveyed: 1,228 Florida voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent; 1,246 Ohio voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent; 1,232 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and nationwide as a public service and for research. For individual statewide crosstabs and trends visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x2881.xml or call (203) 582-5201.

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and - Rick Santorum the Republican, for whom would you vote? FL Obama Santorum SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 50% 37 3 4 7 OH 47% 40 3 4 6 PA 48% 41 2 4 6

2. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and - Mitt Romney the Republican, for whom would you vote? FL Obama Romney SMONE ELSE(VOL) WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) DK/NA 49% 42 2 2 5 OH 47% 41 2 3 7 PA 45% 42 2 3 7

3. Is your opinion of - Mitt Romney favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? FL Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 41% 36 19 4 OH 36% 43 19 3 PA 37% 38 22 3

4. Is your opinion of - Rick Santorum favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? FL Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 28% 39 30 2 OH 33% 37 27 3 PA 37% 45 15 3

5. Is your opinion of - Barack Obama favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? FL Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 51% 44 2 3 OH 49% 46 2 2 PA 48% 46 3 2

6. Is your opinion of - the Republican Party favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it? FL Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 39% 50 8 3 OH 37% 49 10 4 PA 41% 48 8 2

7. Is your opinion of - the Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it? FL Favorable Unfavorable Hvn't hrd enough REFUSED 45% 45 6 4 OH 43% 45 8 4 PA 45% 46 8 2

8. Compared to past presidential elections, how would you describe your level of enthusiasm about voting in this year's presidential election; are you more enthusiastic than usual, less enthusiastic, or about the same as usual? FL More Less About the same DK/NA 35% 27 37 1 OH 29% 23 47 1 PA 28% 27 43 1

9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rick Scott(FL)/John Kasich(OH)/Tom Corbett(PA) is handling his job as Governor? FL(RS) OH(JK) PA(TC) Approve Disapprove DK/NA 36% 52 13 42% 42 16 41% 38 22

10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? FL Approve Disapprove DK/NA 47% 49 5 OH 47% 49 5 PA 45% 50 5

11. Do you feel that Barack Obama deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? FL Yes/Deserves No/Does not DK/NA 50% 47 3 OH 48% 48 4 PA 46% 50 4

12. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? FL Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA 4% 27 26 43 1 OH 3% 28 28 40 1 PA 3% 26 29 41 -

13. How important will the candidate's position on - unemployment be in influencing your vote for president; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important? FL Extremely important Very important Smwht important Not important DK/NA 39% 42 15 3 1 OH 39% 43 15 2 1 PA 35% 44 18 4 -

14. How important will the candidate's position on - the economy be in influencing your vote for president; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important? FL Extremely important Very important Smwht important Not important DK/NA 51% 39 7 2 1 OH 52% 39 8 1 PA 52% 36 11 1 -

15. How important will the candidate's position on - social issues such as abortion and gay marriage be in influencing your vote for president; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important? FL Extremely important Very important Smwht important Not important DK/NA 18% 21 29 31 1 OH 19% 24 31 25 2 PA 22% 23 30 25 1

16. How important will the candidate's position on - the federal budget deficit be in influencing your vote for president; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important? FL Extremely important Very important Smwht important Not important DK/NA 38% 38 19 4 1 OH 41% 34 21 4 1 PA 40% 34 21 3 1

17. How important will the candidate's position on - the healthcare law passed in 2010 be in influencing your vote for president; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important? FL Extremely important Very important Smwht important Not important DK/NA 41% 37 14 5 3 OH 41% 36 16 5 2 PA 43% 34 18 3 2

18. How important will the candidate's position on - immigration be in influencing your vote for president; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important? FL Extremely important Very important Smwht important Not important DK/NA 23% 32 33 12 1 OH 16% 31 40 12 1 PA 19% 27 39 14 1

19. How important will the candidate's position on - women's reproductive health issues be in influencing your vote for president; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important? FL Extremely important Very important Smwht important Not important DK/NA 22% 26 26 23 3 OH 22% 27 27 22 2 PA 25% 27 27 19 2

20. How important will the candidate's position on - gas prices be in influencing your vote for president; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important? FL Extremely important Very important Smwht important Not important DK/NA 36% 30 20 13 1 OH 35% 32 20 12 1 PA 34% 32 23 11 1

21. How important will the candidate's position on - the war in Afghanistan be in influencing your vote for president; extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important? FL Extremely important Very important Smwht important Not important DK/NA 26% 41 25 6 2 OH 25% 41 27 7 1 PA 25% 41 28 6 1

22. Do you think the United States economy is in a recession now? FL Yes No DK/NA 68% 28 4 OH 68% 29 3 PA 65% 30 5

23. Do you think the economy is beginning to recover or not? FL Yes No DK/NA 57% 39 4 OH 58% 39 3 PA 57% 39 4

24. Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on the economy, Barack Obama or - Mitt Romney? FL Obama Romney DK/NA 45% 48 7 OH 45% 45 10 PA 42% 48 10

25. Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on the economy, Barack Obama or - Rick Santorum? FL Obama Santorum DK/NA 50% 39 11 OH 48% 41 11 PA 49% 41 10

26. Overall, who do you trust to do a better job on - issues especially important to women the Democrats or the Republicans? FL Democrats Republicans DK/NA 58% 28 14 OH 54% 33 12 PA 58% 31 11

27. Who do you trust to do a better job on - women's reproductive health issues the Democrats or the Republicans? FL Democrats Republicans DK/NA 57% 27 16 OH 53% 34 13 PA 55% 31 14

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28. Who do you trust to do a better job on - birth control issues the Democrats or the Republicans? FL Democrats Republicans DK/NA 56% 27 17 OH 52% 34 14 PA 52% 34 14

29. Who do you trust to do a better job on - abortion issues the Democrats or the Republicans? FL Democrats Republicans DK/NA 53% 31 16 OH 48% 38 14 PA 50% 36 13

30. Who do you blame the most for the recent increase in gasoline prices; Oil producing countries, oil companies, President Obama, Americans who drive vehicles that use a lot of gasoline, or normal supply and demand pressures? FL Oil countries Oil companies Obama American drivers Supply/Demand DK/NA 23% 32 18 3 16 8 OH 19% 39 18 3 14 8 PA 25% 34 17 3 15 7

31. Please tell me whether you think environmental regulations deserve a great deal of blame, some blame, not much blame, or no blame at all for the recent increase in gas prices. FL Great deal blame Some blame Not much blame No blame at all DK/NA 19% 39 11 25 5 OH 19% 41 17 19 4 PA 16% 44 15 22 3

32. To combat rising gasoline prices, some have urged President Obama to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The reserve is the government's oil stockpile, set aside for emergencies. Do you support or oppose releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve? FL Support Oppose DK/NA 36% 54 10 OH 44% 49 8 PA 39% 55 6

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33. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan? FL Approve Disapprove DK/NA 53% 39 7 OH 52% 40 8 PA 52% 39 9

34. Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now? FL Right thing Shld't be invl DK/NA 26% 66 8 OH 28% 65 7 PA 27% 64 9

35. From what you've read and heard, do you think Barack Obama is removing U.S. troops from Afghanistan too quickly, not quickly enough, or is he handling this about right? FL Too quickly Not quick enough About right DK/NA 15% 31 47 7 OH 15% 34 47 5 PA 12% 34 47 6

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