Poll: 1 in 5 Say Romney's Wealth a Problem
The Republican's finances have been the recent focus of Obama's swing-state campaign.
| Posted Thursday, July 12, 2012, at 10:04 AM
Photo by Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images.
A new poll out Thursday suggests that 20 percent of registered voters are troubled by Mitt Romney's wealth. Unsurprisingly, those saying as much are mainly Democrats and independents.
The Gallup results indicates that Team Obama's recent focus on his rival's wealth seems to have had at least a modest effect on swing voters so far. Still, 75 percent of voters—and 76 percent of self-declared independents—said the candidate's wealth makes no difference to them. Four percent said it makes them more likely to vote for Romney.
The survey results also show a division among income level, with those making under $24,000 slightly more likely (28 percent) than those at higher income levels (18 to 20 percent) to say that Romney's wealth decreases their likelihood of voting for the wealthy ex-governor. Gallup pollsters suggest that the percentages of those reacting negatively to Romney's wealth could be a factor in some swing state votes.
As NBC News notes, some in the GOP are worried that the Obama campaign's attacks on Romney's wealth could eventually become a big negative factor in the candidate's swing voter support, should the Romney camp not address the issue head-on. They also note effectiveness of similar lines of attack when used by Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry during the primary season.
