Question:
Rick Santorum leads the Republican field in Tennessee when it comes to his ability to defeat President Barack Obama in the state’s general election if it were held today. Forty-four percent of Tennesseans say they would vote for former Pennsylvania Senator Santorum, while only 39 percent say they would vote for Obama. Among likely voters, a 51 percent majority say they would vote for Santorum, while 39 percent say they would vote for Obama.
If the election were held today and it were between Mitt Romney and Obama, 43 percent of Tennesseans say they would vote for former Massachusetts Governor Romney, while only 39 percent say they would vote for Obama. Among likely voters, 47 percent say they would vote for Romney, while 41 percent say they would vote for Obama.
In an election held today between Ron Paul and Obama, 40 percent of Tennesseans say that they would vote for Texas Congressional Representative Paul, and the same number say that they would vote for Obama. Paul pulls ahead among likely voters, though, with 44 percent saying that they would vote for him while 41 percent say they would vote for Obama.
Finally, if the election were between Newt Gingrich and Barack Obama, 42 percent of all Tennesseans say they would vote for Obama, while only 39 percent say they would vote for former Speaker of the House Gingrich. However, as with Paul, Gingrich pulls ahead among likely voters, 45 percent of whom say they would vote for Gingrich while only 41 percent say they would vote for Obama.

Poll Demographics

About this Poll
Poll interviews were conducted by telephone Feb. 13-25, 2012 by students in the College of Mass Communication at Middle Tennessee State University. Students interviewed 646 people age 18 or older chosen at random from the state population. The poll has an estimated error margin of ± 4 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. Theoretically, this means that a sample of this size should produce a statistical portrait of the population within 4 percentage points 95 out of 100 times. Other factors, such as question wording, also affect the outcome of a survey. Error margins are greater for sample subgroups.