In the selection of recent public opinion polls below showing presidential preferences in the state of North Carolina, we have highlighted findings on gender.*
Recent attention to the gender gap in presidential vote choice frequently reflects confusion between what is traditionally known as the gender gap in voting between men and women voters and a commonly reported difference in support for each major party candidate among women voters. The data below includes both measures.
The Gender Gap: The difference between the percentages of women and men who support a given candidate, generally the leading or winning candidate. Even if women and men favor the same candidate, they may do so by different margins, resulting in a gender gap. We calculate the gender gap for each poll based on the votes of women and men who support the candidate leading in that poll.
Example: [%Women for Leading Candidate] – [%Men for Leading Candidate] = Gender Gap
The Women's Vote: The percentage point advantage that one candidate has over the other among women voters – that is, the difference in support for the major party candidates among women voters only.
Example: [%Women for Obama] – [%Women for Romney] = Women's Vote
* Polls are based on samples of either registered or likely voters. Follow the link to each poll for additional details on methodology.
Final North Carolina Exit Poll, 2008
Obama: 50%
McCain: 49%
Gender Gap: 12 pts.
Women's Vote: +11% Obama
Pre-Election Polls
| Poll | Date in Field | Overall Vote | Gender Gap |
Women's Vote |
Women |
Men |
Women |
Men |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (PDF) | 11/3-11/4 | Obama 49% Romney 49% |
10 pts., 8 pts. | +8% Obama | 46% | 54% | 54% | 44% |
| Public Policy Polling | 10/29-10/31 | Obama 49% Romney 49% |
1 pts., 3 pts. | +2% Obama | 48% | 51% | 50% | 49% |
| SurveyUSA/WRAL | 10/26-10/29 | Obama 45% Romney 50% |
4 pts., 5 pts. | Tied | 47% | 52% | 47% | 43% |
| Elon University (PDF) | 10/21-10/26 | Obama 45% Romney 45% |
12 pts., 11 pts. | +11% Obama | 40% | 51% | 51% | 39% |
| Public Policy Polling (PDF) | 10/23-10/25 | Obama 48% Romney 48% |
11 pts., 10 pts. | +10% Obama | 43% | 53% | 53% | 42% |
| Public Policy Polling (PDF) | 10/12-10/14 | Obama 47% Romney 49% |
4 pts. | +7% Obama | 46% | 50% | 53% | 43% |
| Gravis Marketing (PDF) | 10/6-10/8 | Obama 41% Romney 50% |
10 pts. | +3% Obama | 44% | 54% | 47% | 36% |
| Public Policy Polling (PDF) | 9/27-9/30 | Obama 48% Romney 48% |
14-15 pts. | +12% Obama | 42% | 57% | 54% | 40% |
| NBC News/WSJ/Marist Poll (PDF) | 9/23-9/25 | Obama 48% Romney 46% |
9 pts. | +11% Obama | 42% | 51% | 53% | 44% |