In an election for President in the state of Minnesota today, 05/24/11, the day after Republican Tim Pawlenty officially announced his plan to run for president against Barack Obama in 2012, Pawlenty fails to carry his home state, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul. In a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, Obama keeps Minnesota’s electoral votes in the Democratic column, 48% to 43% — not the vote of confidence Pawlenty may have been hoping for from those who know him. Minnesota has been a key battleground state the last several election cycles. Democrats carried MN by 10 points in 2008, by 3 points in 2004, and by 2 points in 2000. Republicans see MN as a key pick-up if they hope to re-take the White House and Pawlenty has little chance to win the White House if he does not carry his home state.

55% of Minnesotans see Pawlenty as either “very” or “somewhat qualified to be president. But: he has a net favorability rating of Minus 3 — 35% have a favorable opinion of him, compared to 38% who have a negative opinion. MN Independents chose Obama 5:4 over Pawlenty; MN moderates chose Obama 2:1 over Pawlenty.

For perspective, and to give the Pawlenty campaign some comfort, presidential aspirant Michele Bachmann has a net favorability rating of Minus 28 in her home state of MN. Just 27% say she is qualified to be president. In a head-to-head hypothetical matchup against Obama today, Obama defeats Bachmann 57% to 32%.

Minnesota voters are divided on a possible amendment to the state constitution that would define marriage as being between one man and one women. 51% say they would vote for such an amendment if it were on the ballot, 40% say they would vote against. Cell Phone voters oppose; landline voters support.

Minnesota voters overwhelmingly favor a possible amendment to the state constitution that would require voters to present a photo ID when they show up to vote at an election.

State taxpayers 2:1 oppose reaching into their pockets to pay for a portion of the new Vikings Stadium.

Voters blame everyone for the lack of progress on a state budget. A plurality of voters, 36%, want elected officials to cut spending, followed closely by 31% who want legislators to tax the wealthy. But if there is a shutdown of the state government, Republicans, DFL legislators, and the Governor would all be at fault, voters tell SurveyUSA.

This poll contains interviews with “cell phone” voters who do not have home telephones. 600 state of MN adults were interviewed by SurveyUSA 05/23/11 and 05/24/11. 26% of the adult respondents use a cellphone as the only, or primary, way they make and receive phone calls. The remaining respondents were interviewed on their landline (home) telephone using the recorded voice of a professional announcer. Of the 600 adults interviewed, 552 were registered voters in Minnesota and were asked the questions that appear.