Romney and Obama neck and neck ahead of November vote
PRESIDENT Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are tied at 47 per cent support each among likely voters with just over two weeks to go before the US presidential election, a NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released yesterday said.
The nationwide poll, which was conducted after last Monday’s presidential debate, reinforced the perception of the race as a cliffhanger.
Meanwhile a Reuters/ Ipsos poll on Saturday showed Obama with a razor-thin lead of 46 per cent to 45 per cent. The margin had narrowed from Friday when he had a three-point lead.
Among a larger sample of registered voters, Obama led Romney 49 per cent to 44 per cent, the Wall Street Journal said. This, however, was down from a seven-point edge the President had among registered voters in late September, the Journal said.
Obama’s lead among women – 51 per cent to 43 per cent – was his smallest this year.
The final televised debate takes place tonight. It would seem to play more to Obama’s strengths since it is focused on foreign policy. Obama can claim credit for the US mission that led to the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and for pulling troops out of Iraq.
Romney’s campaign has made the weak US economy the central issue and he is not a foreign policy expert although he is now getting regular US intelligence briefings.