University Survey: Virginians Not Satisfied with GOP Primary Choices

Virginians aren’t happy with the choices on the GOP ballot for the Republican presidential primary coming up on March 6, according to a new poll conducted by Christopher Newport University.

Conducted for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the statewide survey shows that 57 percent of Republicans and Independents are not happy with the choices. The university’s Wason Center for Public Policy conducted the survey of 1,018 registered voters from Feb. 4-13.

The candidates on the Super Tuesday ballot are former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Congressman Ron Paul. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum did not turn in enough signatures required to get onto the ballot in Virginia.

In the survey, a proposed match-up between President Obama and Romney, Obama polls at 46 percent versus 43 percent for Romney, the university reported.

The survey results also show that Virginia’s Independent voters go for Romney or Santorum over Obama. Independents break for Romney over Obama by 13 percent (48 to 35 percent), and for Santorum over Obama by 23 percent (54 to 31 percent).