USF Students Vote Obama in Straw Poll

With the elections just weeks away, the University of South Florida had a straw poll Monday to see which candidate students favored.

According to a USF press release, 63 percent of students voting favored President Barack Obama’s reelection bid, a 1 percent drop from the level of support in 2008.

Do you agree with the results, Temple Terrace? Let us know in the comments section.

Republican Mitt Romney was the choice of 30 percent of students, and lesser-known candidates rounded out the field with single digit percentages, the release states.

A total of 1,645 ballots were cast in the straw poll, which took place at six locations around campus, according to the release.

“College students still align solidly with President Obama, a trend that tracks with national polls,” said USF Political Science Professor Susan MacManus in the release. “The challenge for the President is getting them to turnout on election day.”

The event was sponsored by the campus political honor society Pi Sigma Alpha, USF’s Honors College and Student Government.

Student Heaven Hale, a member of Pi Sigma Alpha said in the release: “The turnout was much higher than I expected. It surprises me that President Obama’s numbers are almost as high as 2008. I thought he would have had more of a drop off.”

The results on major questions in the straw poll follow.

President
Barack Obama: 63 percent
Mitt Romney: 30 percent
Others: Gary Johnson, 3 percent; Jill Stein, 2 percent; all others, 2 percent

Senate
Connie Mack: 30 percent
Bill Nelson: 60 percent
Others: 10 pecent

Amendment 6
Yes: 29 percent
No: 49 percent
Don’t know enough about it yet: 22 percent

Amendment 8
Yes: 56 percent
No: 22 percent
Don’t know enough about it yet: 22 percent

Amendment 12
Yes: 35 percent
No: 16 percent
Don’t know enough about it yet: 49 percent

Which of the following issues is most important to you in selecting who to vote for in 2012?
Economy/Jobs: 45 percent
Education: 31 percent
Health Care: 12 percent
Government Corruption: 7 percent
Foreign Policy: 5 percent

Party Registration:
Democrats: 40 percent
Republicans: 25 percent
Independents: 23 percent
Others: 12 percent