Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #19758

On Eve of 1st Presidential Debate, Obama with Largest Lead Yet in Washington State; Now Out-Performs 2008:

For the first time in SurveyUSA polling in Washington State in 2012, Barack Obama outperforms his 2008 finish, in the contest for President of the United States, according to research conducted for KING5-TV in Seattle. Obama today leads Republican Mitt Romney by 20 points, 56% to 36%. In 2008, Obama carried Washington state by 17 points. Obama gains ground and Romney loses ground among many different sub-populations.

* Romney's support among men erodes from 42% to 38%.
* Romney's support among seniors erodes from 47% to 43%. His support among those age 50 to 64 erodes from 36% to 32%.
* Romney's support among Independents erodes from 36% to 33%.
* Romney's support among moderates erodes from 27% to 24%.
* Romney's support in greater Seattle erodes from 34% to 26%.

Cell-phone and home-phone respondents included in this research: SurveyUSA interviewed 700 state of Washington adults 09/28/12 through 09/30/12, using blended sample, mixed mode. Of the adults, 621 were registered to vote; of the registered voters, 540 were identified by SurveyUSA as being likely to vote in the November general election. Respondents reachable on a home telephone (73% of likely voters) were interviewed on their home telephones in the recorded voice of a professional announcer. Respondents not reachable on a home telephone (27% of likely voters) were shown a questionnaire on their smartphone, tablet, laptop or other electronic device. 12 electoral votes are at stake in 2012.

If the election for President were today, would you vote for ... (choices rotated) Republican Mitt Romney? Democrat Barack Obama? Or one of the other candidates?

540 Likely Voters	All	Gender		Age				<50 / 50+		Race				Cell Phone / Lan		Party Affiliation			Tea Party Member		Ideology			Education			Income			Region
Credibility Interval: ± 4.3 pct points	All	Male	Female	18-34	35-49	50-64	65+	18-49	50+	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian/Ot	Cell Pho	Landline	Republic	Democrat	Independ	Yes	No	Conserva	Moderate	Liberal	High Sch	Some Col	4-year C	< $40K	$40K - $	> $80K	W WA	E WA	Metro Se
Mitt Romney (R)	36%	38%	35%	34%	39%	32%	43%	36%	37%	40%	**	28%	27%	32%	38%	84%	4%	33%	77%	32%	84%	24%	4%	43%	42%	31%	40%	36%	34%	42%	57%	26%
Barack Obama (D)	56%	54%	59%	56%	53%	61%	53%	54%	58%	54%	**	63%	59%	57%	56%	12%	94%	53%	13%	62%	11%	67%	92%	50%	52%	62%	52%	54%	63%	53%	38%	66%
Other	4%	4%	4%	5%	4%	4%	2%	4%	3%	4%	**	4%	6%	2%	5%	2%	1%	9%	10%	3%	4%	4%	3%	4%	5%	3%	5%	5%	2%	5%	3%	4%
Undecided	3%	4%	2%	6%	5%	2%	1%	5%	2%	3%	**	5%	9%	9%	1%	3%	1%	6%	1%	3%	1%	4%	1%	3%	2%	4%	3%	5%	1%	1%	3%	5%
Total	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Composition of Likely Voters	100%	49%	51%	24%	26%	31%	19%	50%	50%	78%	3%	7%	11%	27%	73%	28%	37%	34%	7%	88%	28%	42%	24%	12%	38%	49%	30%	38%	32%	27%	21%	52%

** Too few respondents of this type were interviewed for this data to be meaningful.