NewsmaxZogby Poll: Ryan, Biden Neck and Neck for Assuming President Role

Paul Ryan and Joe Biden are in a statistical dead heat for assuming the role of president if called upon, results of a NewsmaxZogby poll after last Thursday?s debate show.

The vice president led the Wisconsin representative by a mere 2 percentage points ? 42 to 40 percent ? a stunning feat given Biden?s high profile as vice president and the time he has spent in the political arena.

Republican candidate Mitt Romney is riding that wave of confidence in his vice presidential pick ? he has caught up to President Barack Obama and is in a statistical dead heat among respondents, 44 to 47 percent, respectively, when asked who they would vote for if the election were held now.

But more oppose Obama?s re-election than approve ? 49 percent said ?it is time for someone new,? with only 43 percent weighing in that he should be re-elected.

As for the debate itself, 46 percent of respondents gave Ryan an A or a B on performance. Slightly more, 49 percent, felt Biden deserved the same grades. Graded along party lines, 78 percent of Democrats felt Biden earned an A or a B, 75 percent of Republican respondents felt Ryan deserved an A or B.

Respondents were divided when it came to a failing grade, however: Overall, 14 percent of those polled gave Biden a failing grade, while only 8 percent gave Ryan a failing grade. Along party lines, 28 percent of Republican respondents said Biden deserved an F, but only 13 percent of Democrats felt that way about Ryan.

The poll, conducted Friday, Oct. 12 through Saturday, Oct 13, shows that demographics continue to haunt the president. A full 67 percent of seniors polled said they ?somewhat disapprove? or ?strongly disapprove? of Obama?s job as president.

And while he leads among younger voters (58 percent to Romney?s 36 percent among 18- to 29-year-olds), he is tracking well below what he garnered in the 2008 election (66 percent to Republican candidate John McCain?s 30 percent, according to previous Zogby data).

The NewsmaxZogby poll of U.S. likely voters sampled 863 online respondents among whom were 37 percent Democrats, 34 percent Republicans, and 29 percent independents; 73 percent white, 10 percent Hispanic, and 12 percent African-American; and 17 percent age 18-29, 39 percent age 30-49, 25 percent age 50-64, and 19 percent age 65 or older.

The joint venture between Newsmax and the New York state-based pollster will feature tracking polls in the battleground states of Ohio, Florida, and Virginia as well as in the nation as a whole up to Election Day.

? 2012 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/zogby-ryan-biden-debate/2012/10/15/id/460003

dept of justice weather chicago swizz beatz mpaa south carolina debate lauren scruggs william shatner