Question:

Poll Demographics

Texas Gov. Rick Perry leads former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as the presidential choice of Virginia Republicans 25 - 19 percent, with U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann at 5 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Perry tops Romney 43 - 36 percent in a two-man faceoff, but both run neck and neck against President Barack Obama.

Voters in Virginia, a key state in President Obama's 2008 winning coalition, disapprove 54 - 40 percent of the job he is doing, down from a 48 - 48 percent split in a June 30 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. Obama does not deserve four more years, voters say 51 - 41 percent.

In possible 2012 matchups, Obama has 44 percent to Perry's 42 percent, while Romney gets 44 percent to Obama's 42 percent, all too close to call. Obama does much better against two other Republicans, besting Bachmann 48 - 37 percent and Palin 50 - 35 percent.

"At this point Romney and Perry both are in a horse race against President Barack Obama, challenging Romney's 'electability' argument," said Brown. "The big difference is among independent voters, where Romney holds a solid 44 - 35 percent lead, and Perry is in a 40 - 40 percent dead heat with the president."

About this Poll

From September 7 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,368 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Republican primary includes 591 voters with a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.