A new national poll from Gallup shows Americans are both warming to the current economic conditions and to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the likely Republican nominee. Romney notches his highest favorability rating since the Republican primary campaign swung into action, hitting 50 percent favorability against 41 percent unfavorability, well higher than his negative splits from early in 2012. The TPM Poll Average has shown Romney’s personal rating tick up since he became the presumptive nominee.
“The former Massachusetts governor gets stronger ratings than the president when it comes to handling the economy, the issue likely to drive the campaign,” USA Today, which commissioned the survey, wrote. “In the poll, 55 percent say the economy would get better over the next four years if Romney was elected, compared with 46 percent who say it would improve if Obama was re-elected. Twenty-seven percent said the economy would get worse in a Romney first term, compared with 37 percent who say that of an Obama second term.”
The survey also shows that Americans are viewing the economy more generally in a more optimistic way. From USA Today:
Though an overwhelming 71 percent rate economic conditions as poor, a 58 percent majority predict they will be good a year from now. Although those surveyed are inclined to say they are financially worse off than a year ago, nearly two-thirds say they think they’ll be better off this time next year.
That assessment of personal finances already is on the upswing. More than one-third report they are better off than they were a year ago — the highest number since before the economic meltdown in 2008. (They’re still outnumbered by the four in 10 who say they’re worse off.)
