More than half of voters, or 55 percent, say Obama connects with the needs of average Americans very or fairly well, a Pew Research Center/Washington Post poll found. Still, 41 percent told pollsters the president doesn’t understand people’s problems too well or not at all well. The two Republican candidates, however, fare much worse: only 39 percent say Romney understands the problems of average Americans very or fairly well, and just 36 percent say the same for Gingrich.

And 51 percent say Gingrich does not connect with the needs of typical Americans well, while just under half — 48 percent — told pollsters Romney understands people’s problems not too well or not at all well.