Voters who follow NASCAR (68%) are more likely than average U.S. voters (54%) to say the country is on the wrong track, according to data from Republican polling firm The Tarrance Group. The firm conducted a national poll via telephone Oct. 1-4 among 1,022 registered “likely” voters. Overall, 18% of likely voters in the survey said that they followed NASCAR very or somewhat closely. Also, while 48% of voters disapprove of President Obama’s job performance, nearly two thirds (63%) of NASCAR followers disapprove. NASCAR followers have the same priorities as all voters, with 71% mostly concerned with “pocketbook” issues, including the economy (27%), government spending and the budget deficit (19%), and jobs (16%). While President Obama is up in general election polls, Mitt Romney receives 63% of the vote from NASCAR followers, while Obama receives 34% and 3% are undecided (The Tarrance Group).
| APPROVAL FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
AMONG "LIKELY" VOTERS WHO FOLLOW NASCAR |
| ISSUE | ROMNEY | OBAMA | OTHER/UNSURE |
| Economy | 65% | 33% | 3% |
| Budget and spending | 64% | 32% | 4% |
| Jobs | 61% | 37% | 2% |
| Foreign policy | 59% | 35% | 6% |
| Taxes | 56% | 38% | 6% |
| Sharing your values | 59% | 34% | 7% |
| Being a strong leader | 59% | 39% | 3% |
| Can get things done | 59% | 33% | 7% |
| Standing up for the middle class | 55% | 43% | 3% |
| Medicare | 52% | 38% | 10% |
