A new Kaiser Foundation finds people think President Obama would be better for women than Mitt Romney on a host of issues, including who's looking out for their best interests, who'd be best to deal with the future of the health-care law, education, and even national security.
But the one place where Obama doesn't enjoy big leads is on the federal deficit.
On who looks out for the best interests of women, Obama leads 52-26%. Among women voters, it's 59-25%. But on who's best to deal with the deficit, Obama and Romney are essentially tied, with Obama getting the narrow edge, 40-39%, hardly a good sign for an incumbent president.
That vulnerability is one reason the Romney campaign has been pushing the issue. Even on jobs and the economy, President Obama has a 10-point lead.
Here's the question from the poll:
7. Which presidential candidate, (Barack Obama) or (Mitt Romney), do you trust to do a better job (INSERT AND RANDOMIZE)? How about
(NEXT ITEM)? (ROTATE OPTIONS IN PARENTHESES ACROSS INTERVIEWS, BUT NOT WITHIN SAME INTERVIEW) [READ IF NECESSARY: Do
you trust (Barack Obama) or (Mitt Romney) to do a better job (INSERT ITEM)?]
Based on half sample A (n=613)
Obama Romney Both Neither/other Don’t know/refused
a. Dealing with the future of the 2010 health care law 50 31 1 10 8
b. Making decisions about women’s reproductive
health choices and services 52 25 1 14 8
c. Looking out for the best interests of women 56 26 2 10 6
d. Dealing with the federal budget deficit 40 39 1 11 9
e. Improving education 53 27 3 10 7
f. Dealing with the economy and jobs 48 38 1 9 4
g. Dealing with the situation in Afghanistan 50 28 2 12 8
h. Addressing terrorism 50 30 4 10 6