The latest election poll results from California show that President Barack Obama holds a substantial double-digit lead over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney among likely voters, 53 percent to 41 percent. The poll, released by PPIC, also revealed that California independents are closely divided among the candidates, 44 percent for Obama and 43 percent for Romney.
The PPIC poll, which was released on Thursday, found that voter satisfaction for their candidate picks had increased from 49 percent in December 2011 to 69 percent today. Satisfaction among Republicans has grown sharply since May, 46 percent to 69 percent, the poll found. Independents also recorded a 19-point jump in voter preference satisfaction since December, 33 percent to 52 percent.
Despite being lower than when he took office, Obama's approval rating is above his national approval rating at 54 percent, the poll revealed. The president's disapproval rating among California's likely voters was found to be at 45 percent.
According to the PPIC, the approval rating for Congress remains dangerously low at 15 percent, with an 81 percent disapproval rating. The PPIC also found that in congressional elections, California likely voters prefer a Congress controlled by Democrats (52 percent) than by Republicans (39 percent).
Overall party preferences remain favorable to the Democratic Party over the Republican Party or the Tea Party movement. The poll found that "53 percent of likely voters have a favorable impression of the Democratic Party, up from 44 percent in September 2011." Favorability ratings for the Republican Party (38 percent) and Tea Party movement (32 percent) remain low.
California, with its 55 electoral votes, will be a crucial state to win for President Obama to win. The Democratic incumbent has been the consistent winner of recent election polls in that state, with RealClearPolitics giving him a 16.3 percentage point lead. The latest electoral vote predictions by Latinos Post place the state clearly in Democratic hands.