2012 Iowa State Polls

In the selection of recent public opinion polls below showing presidential preferences in the state of Iowa, 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 Iowa Exit Poll, 2008

Obama: 54%
McCain: 45%
Gender Gap: 5 pts.
Women's Vote: +12% Obama

Pre-Election Polls

Poll Date in Field Overall Vote Gender Gap

Women's Vote

Women
for
Romney

Men
for
Romney

Women
for
Obama

Men
for
Obama

NBC News/WSJ/Marist 10/28-10-29 Obama  50%
Romney 44%
12 pts. +16% Obama 40% 48% 56% 44%
University of Iowa 10/18-10/27 Obama  44%
Romney 45%
2 pts. +2% Obama 44% 46% 46% 43%
Public Policy Polling/Health Care for America 10/29-10/30 Obama  50%
Romney 45%
9 pts. +12% Obama 43% 48% 55% 46%
Public Policy Polling/Health Care for America (PDF) 10/23-10-24 Obama  49%
Romney 47%
0 pts. +2% Obama 47% 48% 49% 49%
Public Policy Polling (PDF) 10/17-10/19 Obama  48%
Romney 49%
1 pts. +1% Obama 48% 49% 49% 47%
NBC News/WSJ/Marist Poll 10/15-10/17 Obama  51%
Romney 43%
12 pts. +18% Obama 39% 48% 57% 45%
ARG 10/11-10/14 Obama  48%
Romney 48%
13-15 pts. +13% Obama 41% 56% 54% 41%
Public Policy Polling (PDF) 9/24-9/26 Obama  51%
Romney 44%
4 pts. +9% Obama 44% 44% 53% 49%
ARG 9/20-9/23 Obama  51%
Romney 44%
11 pts. +17% Obama 39% 51% 56% 45%
NBC News/WSJ/Marist Poll (PDF) 9/16-9/18 Obama  50%
Romney 42%
10 pts. +18% Obama 37% 47% 55% 45