The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows what we all knew: it has destroyed Mitt Romney for the general election. Here is Chuck Todd:
“The primary has done damage to Romney. He cannot afford a long primary. If this thing goes to June, that would be very problematic. He’s already in a bad position. George W. Bush, John McCain, and Bob Dole were all in primary fights and ALL were a net-POSITIVE at this time in the election cycle. In the past 20 years in the poll, no one who went on to be the major party nominee of either party with a net-negative at this point – except John Kerry, and we all know how that turned out. Clearly, Romney is looking like he’s getting his momentum back, but he has fundamental problems for the general. The primary has done him no good.”
The Washington Post-ABC News poll earlier this week showed the same thing: Mitt Romney’s popularity has dropped dramatically with an unfavorable rating at 49% and favorable rating at 31%. Worse, among independents, 51% don’t view him favorably while just 23% do. That is mind-blowingly bad. Sarah Palin bad. Dan Quayle bad. Jack the Ripper bad.
So in the end, it doesn’t matter who is the nominee of the Republican Party anymore. Whether it is Romney or Gingrich, both are going to lose, and probably lose big, to President Obama. More on that this afternoon.
But onto the REPUBLICAN PRIMARY POLLS.
FLORIDA (Sunshine State News Poll): Romney 40%, Gingrich 31, Santorum 12 and Paul 9.
FLORIDA (Quinnipiac): Romney 38, Gingrich 29, Paul 14 and Santorum 12.
NATIONAL (Gallup Tracking): Gingrich 31, Romney 25, Paul 13, Santorum 13
NATIONAL (NBC/Wall Street Journal): Gingrich 37, Romney 28, Santorum 18, Paul 12
FLORIDA (Insider Advantage): Romney 40, Gingrich 32, Paul 9, Santorum 8
FLORIDA (Rasmussen): Romney 39, Gingrich 31, Santorum 12, Paul 9
FLORIDA (Monmouth/SurveyUSA): Romney 39, Gingrich 32, Santorum 11, Paul 8
GENERAL ELECTION
NATIONAL (NBC/Wall Street Journal): Obama d. Romney (49-43); Obama d. Santorum (53-38); Obama d. Gingrich (55-37); Obama d. Romney and Ron Paul (45-32-18)
NATIONAL (Rasmussen Tracking): Obama d. Romney (46-43); Obama d. Gingrich (48-41)
FLORIDA (Quinnipiac): Obama tied with Romney (45-45); Obama d. Paul (47-39); Obama d. Santorum (49-40); Obama d. Gingrich (50-39)
MINNESOTA (PPP): Obama d. Romney (51-41); Obama d. Santorum (52-40); Obama d. Paul (51-38); Obama d. Gingrich (53-38)