2012 North Carolina State Polls

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
for
Romney

Men
for
Romney

Women
for
Obama

Men
for
Obama

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%