California voters side with President Barack Obama over presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on a wide variety of issues, a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll released Tuesday shows. From the economy to social issues surrounding women and the LGBT community, Obama holds a comfortable lead over the former Massachusetts governor.
The most noticeable finding from the poll is that a vote for the Republican ticket in California is more "a vote against President Obama rather than one on behalf of Romney." Just over half, or 51 percent of Californians polled who are voting for Romney characterize their choice as a vote against the president rather than for the former governor.
This signals "a lack of enthusiasm for the former Massachusetts governor among Republican voters," a USC press release stated. Just under half, or 44 percent, said their vote signalled specific support for Romney.
Overall, 56 percent of those surveyed in the May 17-21 poll said they were planning on voting for Obama while 36 percent will vote for Romney. Obama also saw rising approval numbers among majority Latinos in the state, rising from 65 to 72 percent since March.
Likewise, the president has high approvals for his economic and social policies. Obama leads Romney 59-23 on women's issues, 57-23 on health care affordability and accessibility 45-34 on deficit policy and 49-34 on tax policy. Obama also lead on "who would be a stronger voice for the middle class," besting Romney 56 to 29.
The only category in which the Republican candidate matched the president was on spending policy, where they came in at a 41-41 dead heat. Another hot button issue that might not lend as much support to the president as pundits thought is his recent announcement in support of gay marriage legalization.
Although 71 percent of Californians said they believe homosexuals should be able to get married or at least have the same rights as straight couples, 75 percent said same-sex marriage would not be an issue effecting their voting behavior. The Obama administration was hoping his announcement would help gather further support among the Democrats' liberal base.
Although Republican candidates swept the state between 1972 and 1988, Democratic presidential candidates have consistently won in Californian every election since Bill Clinton won in 1992. A Survey USA poll released last month showed the president clinching 62 percent of California voters, with 31 percent voting for Romney, an even wider margin than the USC/LAT poll.
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