Nationwide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election

Nationwide public opinion polls that were conducted relating to the 2012 United States presidential election are as follows. The election was between Democratic Incumbent President Barack Obama, Republican Mitt Romney, as well as other third-party and independent challengers.

The persons named in the polls were official candidates in the general election or former candidates for a particular party's nomination.

General election of 2012

Two-way race

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- style="background:lightgrey;" ! Poll source ! Date ! Barack Obama ! Mitt Romney ! Leading by % ! Sample Size* ! Margin of Error (MoE) |- |RCP AverageRCP Average | | | 48.8% | 48.1% | | 0.7

|Politico/George Washington University/Tarrance Group/Lake Research PartnersPolitico/George Washington University/Tarrance Group/Lake Research Partners |November 4–5, 2012 |47% |47% |Tied |1000 LV |±3.1% |- |The Economist/YouGovThe Economist/YouGov |November 3–5, 2012 | | 49% |47% | | 2 |740 LV |±4.6% |- |Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing |November 3–5, 2012 |48% |48% |Tied |872 LV |±3.3% |- |UPI/CVOTERUPI/CVOTER |November 3–5, 2012 | | 49% |48% | | 1 |3000 LV |±3.5% |- |Investor's Business Daily/TIPPInvestor's Business Daily/TIPP |November 3–5, 2012 | | 50.3% |48.7% | | 1.6 |712 LV |±3.7% |- |Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking)Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking) | November 3–5, 2012 | 48% | 48% | 1 | 3000 LV | ±2.5% |- |American Research GroupAmerican Research Group |November 2–4, 2012 |49% |49% |Tied |1200 LV |±3% |- |CNN/Opinion Research CorporationCNN/Opinion Research Corporation |November 2–4, 2012 | 49% | 49% | Tied | 693 LV | ±3.5% |- |Gallup (Daily Tracking)Gallup (Daily Tracking) |November 1–4, 2012 | 49% | | 50% | | 1 | 2551 LV | ±2% |- |Democracy Corps/Greenberg Quinlan Rosner (D)Democracy Corps/Greenberg Quinlan Rosner (D) | November 1–4, 2012 | | 49% | 45% | | 4 | 1080 LV | Not reported |- |Monmouth University/Braun Research/SurveyUSAMonmouth University/Braun Research/SurveyUSA |November 1–4, 2012 |48% |48% |Tied |1417 LV |±2.6% |- |Daily Kos/Service Employees' International Union/Service Employees' International Union/Public Policy Polling (D)Daily Kos/Service Employees' International Union/Public Policy Polling (D) |November 1–4, 2012 | | 50% |48% | | 2 |1300 LV |±2.7% |- |Angus Reid Public Opinion | November 1–3, 2012 | | 51% | 48% | | 3 | Not reported | Not reported |- |NBC News/Wall Street JournalNBC News/Wall Street Journal | November 1–3, 2012 | | 48% | 47% | | 1 | 1475 LV | ±2.55% |- |Pew Research CenterPew Research Center |October 31 – November 3, 2012 | | 48%| 45% | | 3 | 2709 LV | ±2.2% |- |YouGovYouGov | October 31 – November 3, 2012 | | 48.5%| 46.5% | | 2 | 36472 LV | Not reported |- |UPI/CVOTERUPI/CVOTER |November 2, 2012 | | 49%|48% | | 1 |1074 LV |±4.5% |- |Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking) |October 31 – November 2, 2012 |48%|48%|Tied|3000 LV |±2.5% |- |Purple StrategiesPurple Strategies |October 31 – November 1, 2012 | | 47%|46% | | 1 |1000 LV |±3.1% |- |Americans United for Change/Public Policy Polling (Daily Tracking) (D)Americans United for Change/Public Policy Polling (Daily Tracking) (D) | October 30 – November 1, 2012 | | 49%| 48% | | 1 | 1200 LV | ±2.8% |- |Politico/George Washington University/Tarrance Group/Lake Research PartnersPolitico/George Washington University/Tarrance Group/Lake Research Partners | October 29 – November 1, 2012 | 48% | | 49%| | 1 | 1000 LV | ±3.1% |- |Reuters/Ipsos (Daily Tracking)Reuters/Ipsos (Daily Tracking) |October 28 – November 1, 2012 | | 47%|46% | | 1 |4556 LV |±3.4% |- |ABC News/Washington Post (Daily Tracking)ABC News/Washington Post (Daily Tracking) | October 28–31, 2012 | | 49%| 48% | | 1 | 1293 LV | ±3% |- |UPI/CVOTERUPI/CVOTER | October 15–31, 2012 | | 49%| 48% | | 1 | 3633 LV | ±4.5% |- |Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking) |October 28–30, 2012 |47% | |49%| |2 |1500 LV |±3% |- |Fox News/Anderson Robbins/Shaw & CompanyFox News/Anderson Robbins/Shaw & Company |October 28–30, 2012 | 46%| 46%| Tie| 1128 LV | ±3% |- |High Point UniversityHigh Point University | October 22–30, 2012 | | 46%| 43% | | 3 | 805 RV | ±3.45% |- |The Economist/YouGovThe Economist/YouGov |October 26–28, 2012 | | 48%| 47% | | 1 | 688 LV | ±4.6% |- |United Technologies/National JournalUnited Technologies/National Journal | October 25–28, 2012 | | 50%| 45% | | 5 | 713 LV | ±4.4% |- |CBS News/New York TimesCBS News/New York Times | October 25–28, 2012 | | 48%| 47% | | 1 | 563 LV | ±4% |- |Daily Kos/Service Employees' International Union/Public Policy PollingDaily Kos/Service Employees' International Union/Public Policy Polling | October 25–28, 2012 | 49%| 49%| Tied| 1400 LV | ±2.6% |- |American Research Group |October 25–28, 2012 |48%|48%|Tied|1200 LV |±3% |- |Pew Research CenterPew Research Center |October 24–28, 2012 | 47%| 47%| Tied| 1495 LV | ±2.9% |- |Gallup (Daily Tracking)Gallup (Daily Tracking) |October 22–28, 2012 | 46% | | 51%| | 5 | 2700 LV | ±2% |- |Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking)Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking) |October 25–27, 2012 |47% | |50%| |3 |1500 LV |±3% |- |ABC News/Washington Post (Daily Tracking)ABC News/Washington Post (Daily Tracking) |October 24–27, 2012 |48% | |49%| |1 |1278 LV |±3% |- |Reuters/Ipsos (Daily Tracking)Reuters/Ipsos (Daily Tracking) |October 23–27, 2012 | |47%|45% | |2 |1291 LV |±3.1% |- |Investor's Business Daily/TIPP (Daily Tracking)Investor's Business Daily/TIPP (Daily Tracking) | October 22–27, 2012 | | 45.4%| 44.1% | | 1.3 | 942 LV | ±3.5% |- |Americans United for Change/Public Policy Polling (Daily Tracking) (D)Americans United for Change/Public Policy Polling (Daily Tracking) (D) |October 23–25, 2012 |48%|48%|Tied|1200 LV |±2.8% |- |NPR/Resurgent Republic/Democracy Corps/North Star Opinion ResearchNPR/Resurgent Republic/Democracy Corps/North Star Opinion Research | October 23–25, 2012 | 47% | | 48%| | 1 | 1000 LV | ±3.1% |- |Politico/George Washington University/Tarrance Group/Lake Research PartnersPolitico/George Washington University/Tarrance Group/Lake Research Partners | October 22–25, 2012 | | 49%| 48% | | 1 | 1000 LV | ±3.1% |- |UPI/CVOTERUPI/CVOTER |October 19–25, 2012 |48%|48%|Tied|1203 LV |±4.5% |- |Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking)Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking) |October 22–24, 2012 |47% | |50%| |3 |1500 LV |±3% |- |ABC News/Washington Post (Daily Tracking)ABC News/Washington Post (Daily Tracking) | October 20–23, 2012 | 48% | |49%| | 1 | 1394 LV | ±3% |- |Associated Press/GfK Group/RoperAssociated Press/GfK Group/Roper |October 19–23, 2012 | 45% | | 47%| | 2 | 839 LV | ±4.2% |- |Americans United for Change/Public Policy Polling (D)Americans United for Change/Public Policy Polling (D) |October 20–22, 2012 |47% | |49%| |2 |1200 LV |±2.8% |- |Reuters/Ipsos (Daily Tracking)Reuters/Ipsos (Daily Tracking) |October 18–22, 2012 |46%|46%|Tied|957 LV |±3.6% |- |Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking)Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking) | October 19–21, 2012 | 47% | | 49%| |2 | 1500 LV | ±3% |- |Monmouth University/Braun Research/SurveyUSAMonmouth University/Braun Research/SurveyUSA | October 18–21, 2012 | 45% | | 48%| | 3 | 1402 | ±2.6% |- |Democracy Corps/Greenberg Quinlan Rosner (D) |October 18–21, 2012 | |49%|46% | |3 |1000 LV |±3.1% |- |Daily Kos/Service Employees' International Union/Service Employees' International Union/Public Policy Polling (D)Daily Kos/Service Employees' International Union/Public Policy Polling (D) |October 18–21, 2012 |48%|48%|Tied|1300 LV |±2.7% |- |American Research Group |October 18–21, 2012 |47% | |48%| |1 |1200 LV |±3% |- |Investor's Business Daily/TIPP (Daily Tracking)Investor's Business Daily/TIPP (Daily Tracking) |October 16–21, 2012 | |47.4%|43.4% | |4 |885 LV |±3.5% |- |Gallup (Daily Tracking)Gallup (Daily Tracking) |October 15–21, 2012 |45% | |51%| |6 |2700 LV |±2% |- |Washington Times/JZ AnalyticsWashington Times/JZ Analytics | October 18–20, 2012 | | 49.7%| 47.3% | | 2.4 | 800 LV | ±3.5% |- |CBS News | October 17–20, 2012 | | 48%| 46% | | 2 | 790 LV | ±4% |- |NBC News/Wall Street JournalNBC News/Wall Street Journal | October 17–20, 2012 | 47%| 47%| Tie| 816 LV | ±3.43% |- |Americans United for Change/Public Policy Polling (D)Americans United for Change/Public Policy Polling (D) | October 17–19, 2012 | | 49%| 47% | | 2 | 1200 LV | ±2.8% |- |Gravis Marketing |October 18, 2012 |44% | |46%| |2 |805 LV |±3.4% |- |Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking)Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking) |October 16–18, 2012 |48%|48%|2 |1500 LV |±3% |- |Politico/George Washington University/Tarrance Group/Lake Research PartnersPolitico/George Washington University/Tarrance Group/Lake Research Partners | October 15–18, 2012 | 48% | | 49%| |1 | 1000 LV | ±3.1% |- |UPI/CVOTERUPI/CVOTER |October 12–18, 2012 |46% | |48%| |2 |1254 LV |±4.5% |- |Reuters/Ipsos (Daily Tracking)Reuters/Ipsos (Daily Tracking) |October 12–16, 2012 | |46%|43% | |3 |1846 LV |±2.6% |- |University of Connecticut/Hartford Courant | October 11–16, 2012 | | 48%| 45% | | 3 | 1023 LV | ±3% |- |The Economist/YouGovThe Economist/YouGov |October 13–15, 2012 | |47%|46% | |1 |826 LV |Not reported |- |Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking)Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking) | October 13–15, 2012 | 47% | | 49%| |2 | 1500 LV | ±3% |- |Investor's Business Daily/TIPP (Daily Tracking)Investor's Business Daily/TIPP (Daily Tracking) | October 10–15, 2012 | | 47.3%| 45.7% | | 1.6 | 931 LV | ±3.5% |- |Daily Kos/Service Employees' International Union/Service Employees' International Union/Public Policy Polling (D)Daily Kos/Service Employees' International Union/Public Policy Polling (D) |October 12–14, 2012 |46% | |50%| |4 |1600 LV |±2.5% |- |American Research GroupAmerican Research Group |October 11–14, 2012 |47% | |48%| |1 |1200 LV |±3% |- |Gallup (Daily Tracking) | October 8–14, 2012 | 47% | | 49%| |2 | 2700 LV | ±2% |- |ABC News/Washington PostABC News/Washington Post | October 10–13, 2012 | | 49%| 46% | | 3 | 923 LV | ±3.5% |- |Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking) |October 10–12, 2012 | |48%|47% | |1 |1500 LV |±3% |- |Angus Reid Public OpinionAngus Reid Public Opinion | October 10–11, 2012 | 47%| 47%| Tie| Not reported | Not reported |- |Politico/George Washington University/Tarrance Group/Lake Research PartnersPolitico/George Washington University/Tarrance Group/Lake Research Partners | October 7–11, 2012 | | 49%| 48% | |1 | 1000 LV | ±3.1% |- |Reuters/IpsosReuters/Ipsos | October 7–11, 2012 | 44% | | 47%| |3 | 1092 LV | ±3.4% |- |Monmouth University/Braun Research/SurveyUSAMonmouth University/Braun Research/SurveyUSA |October 8–10, 2012 |46% | |47%| |1 |1360 LV |±2.7% |- |UPI/CVOTERUPI/CVOTER |October 4–10, 2012 |46% | |49%| |3 |1110 LV |±4.5% |- |Fox News/Anderson Robbins/Shaw & CompanyFox News/Anderson Robbins/Shaw & Company |October 7–9, 2012 | 45% | | 46%| | 1 | 1109 LV | ±3% |- |Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research (Daily Tracking) |October 7–9, 2012 | |48%|47% | |1 |1500 LV |±3% |- |Investor's Business Daily/TIPP (Daily Tracking)Investor's Business Daily/TIPP (Daily Tracking) | October 4–9, 2012 | 45.7% | | 46.9%| |1.2 | 812 LV | ±3.5% |- |The Economist/YouGovThe Economist/YouGov |October 6–8, 2012 | |49%|46% | |3 |763 LV |Not reported |- |American Research Group |October 5–8, 2012 |47% | |48%| |1 |1200 LV |±3% |- |Washington Times/JZ AnalyticsWashington Times/JZ Analytics | October 5–7, 2012 | 44.5% | | 45.1%| | 0.6 | 800 LV | ±3.5% |- |Pew Research CenterPew Research Center |October 4–7, 2012 | 45% | | 49%| | 4 | 1112 LV | ±3.4% |- |Gallup (Daily Tracking) | October 1–7, 2012 | 48%| 48%| Tied| 2700 LV | ±2% |-