In the selection of recent public opinion polls below showing presidential preferences in the state of New Hampshire, we have highlighted findings on gender.*
Recent attention to the gender gap in presidential vote choice frequently reflects confusion between what is traditionally known as the gender gap in voting between men and women voters and a commonly reported difference in support for each major party candidate among women voters. The data below includes both measures.
The Gender Gap: The difference between the percentages of women and men who support a given candidate, generally the leading or winning candidate. Even if women and men favor the same candidate, they may do so by different margins, resulting in a gender gap. We calculate the gender gap for each poll based on the votes of women and men who support the candidate leading in that poll.
Example: [%Women for Leading Candidate] – [%Men for Leading Candidate] = Gender Gap
The Women's Vote: The percentage point advantage that one candidate has over the other among women voters – that is, the difference in support for the major party candidates among women voters only.
Example: [%Women for Obama] – [%Women for Romney] = Women's Vote
* Polls are based on samples of either registered or likely voters. Follow the link to each poll for additional details on methodology.
Final New Hampshire Exit Poll, 2008
Obama: 54%
McCain: 45%
Gender Gap: 12 pts.
Women's Vote: +23% Obama
Pre-Election Polls
| Poll | Date in Field | Overall Vote | Gender Gap |
Women's Vote |
Women |
Men |
Women |
Men |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (PDF) | 11/3-11/4 | Obama 50% Romney 48% |
12 pts. | +9% Obama | 45% | 53% | 54% | 46% |
| WMUR Granite State Poll (PDF) | 11/1-11/4 | Obama 50% Romney 45% |
16 pts. | +18% Obama | 40% | 53% | 58% | 42% |
| NBC News/WSJ/Marist | 10/28-10/29 | Obama 49% Romney 47% |
14 pts. | +16% Obama | 40% | 53% | 56% | 42% |
| Public Policy Polling (PDF) | 10/26-10/28 | Obama 49% Romney 47% |
18 pts. | +18% Obama | 39% | 56% | 57% | 39% |
| Public Policy Polling (PDF) | 10/26-10/28 | Obama 49% Romney 47% |
18 pts. | +18% Obama | 39% | 56% | 57% | 39% |
| ARG | 10/19-10/22 | Obama 47% Romney 49% |
8 pts. | +6% Obama | 45% | 53% | 51% | 44% |
| WMUR Granite State Poll (PDF) | 10/17-10/21 | Obama 49% Romney 41% |
15 pts. | +23% Obama | 34% | 49% | 57% | 42% |
| Public Policy Polling (PDF) | 10/17-10/19 | Obama 48% Romney 49% |
6 pts. | +5% Obama | 46% | 52% | 51% | 44% |
| Suffolk University/7News (PDF) | 10/12-10/14 | Obama 47% Romney 47% |
3-7 pts. | +4% Obama | 46% | 49% | 50% | 43% |
| ARG | 10/9-10/11 | Obama 46% Romney 50% |
5 pts. | +1% Obama | 48% | 53% | 49% | 52% |
| WMUR Granite State Poll (PDF) | 9/30-10/6 | Obama 47% Romney 41% |
5 pts. | +9% Obama | 41% | 42% | 50% | 45% |
| WMUR Granite State Poll (PDF) | 9/27-9/30 | Obama 52% Romney 37% |
12 pts. | +17% Obama | 31% | 43% | 58% | 46% |
| ARG | 9/25-9/27 | Obama 50% Romney 45% |
10 pts. | +17% Obama | 38% | 52% | 55% | 45% |
| NBC News/WSJ/Marist Poll (PDF) | 9/23-9/25 | Obama 51% Romney 44% |
12 pts. | +20% Obama | 37% | 50% | 57% | 45% |
| ARG | 9/15-9/17 | Obama 48% Romney 46% |
9 pts. | +10% Obama | 42% | 51% | 52% | 43% |
| WMUR Granite State Poll (PDF) | 9/4-9/10 | Obama 45% Romney 40% |
8 pts. | +14% Obama | 35% | 46% | 49% | 41% |