UNITED States (U.S.) President Barack Obama’s slim lead over Republican rival Mitt Romney in the White House race is fueled by a broad marriage gap, with Obama enjoying a big advantage among single voters – particularly women, a Quinnipiac University poll has found.
Romney yesterday ran into a buzzsaw of criticism from black voters when he told them he wanted to repeal Obama’s landmark health care reforms.
Romney was met with a loud and sustained chorus of boos — likely the most negative reaction to anything he has said in his year-long presidential campaign — when he brought up his opposition to what he and fellow Republicans call “Obamacare.”
According to the poll, Obama leads among single voters by 54 per cent to 34 per cent, while married voters back Romney 51 per cent to 38 per cent.
The poll showed Obama with an overall three-point national edge on Romney, 46 per cent to 43 per cent, four months before the November 6 election.
Most national polls have shown a tight presidential race. A Reuters/Ipsos poll on Tuesday found Obama with a six-point edge on Romney.
The Quinnipiac poll found voters were almost evenly split on which candidate would do a better job on the economy. But 55 per cent disapproved of the way Obama was handling the economy, 52 per cent gave him a negative mark on healthcare and 52 per cent gave him a negative grade on illegal immigration.
By a narrow margin of 47 per cent to 44 per cent, voters approved of Obama’s performance on foreign policy.
Obama has a huge advantage with single women, 60 percent to 31 per cent, while Romney leads among married women 49 per cent to 42 per cent. Romney leads by 19 percentage points among married men, and Obama leads by nine points among single men.
“Although much has been made about the gender gap and how President Barack Obama’s lead among women fuels his campaign, the marriage gap is actually larger and more telling,” said Quinnipiac pollster Peter Brown.
“The marriage gap may be related to the different priorities and economic situations of married and single people.”
He continued: “Married people are more likely to be older, more financially secure and more socially conservative than unmarried voters.
“Married voters are more likely to focus on the economy and healthcare, while single voters are more focused on issues such as gay rights and reproductive issues.”
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