PPP: Obama up by 23 in MA

A new PPP survey of Massachusetts (936 RV, ±3.2% MoE, 3/16 - 3/18) shows Obama leading Romney in a match-up 58/35. 

Barack Obama has drastically improved his approval rating and performance against the Republican field in Massachusetts since last fall and now leads all Republican challengers by 23 points or more, a new poll from Public Policy Polling finds.

Obama leads Newt Gingrich by a whopping 34 points in Massachusetts, 62-28 (up from 58-31 last September); he leads Rick Santorum by 32 points, 61-29; and leads Ron Paul by 28 points, 58-30 (up from 55-30 last September). Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney performs best in a head to head matchup versus Obama but still loses by 23 points, 58-35 (down from 53-40 last September).

MA went for Obama 62/36 in 2008. PPP's sample for this poll shows:

Q12 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain................................................... 32%
Barack Obama................................................ 57%
Someone else/Don't remember ...................... 11%

This makes five points less for Obama, and four points less for McCain than the actual results. The sample narrowly leans Democratic by one point. One point in the sample cannot make up for a 23 point lead. 

Also, Obama has positive "favourables" in MA:

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve .......................................................... 57%
Disapprove...................................................... 38%
Not sure .......................................................... 5%

 MA has 12 EV, and is part of Obama's solid base of 239 EV.