Obama leads 50 percent to 47 percent, which is within the margin of error. His 50 percent job approval rating puts him at a crucial threshold for an incumbent seeking reelection. It’s an uptick from the spring and summer, but 48 percent still disapprove.
Romney, meanwhile, finds himself sliding in the wake of two events — the choice of his running mate and the Republican national convention — that were supposed to buoy his candidacy. His unfavorable rating ticked up from 46 percent to 49 percent over the past seven weeks, as the share viewing him favorably held steady at 46 percent. Personal likability boosts the president, who is viewed favorably by 53 percent. …
Obama now ties or has an edge over Romney on who is best to handle every major issue except the federal budget and spending.
Romney has lost his edge on jobs. A month ago, he led Obama by 6 points on the question of who is best equipped to put Americans back to work. Now they’re even. Among those who say creating jobs is their top priority, Obama’s up 11 points.
A slight majority disapproves of the way Obama’s handling the economy, yet he narrowly leads Romney on who is better to manage it.
The tax numbers may be the most striking in the poll. By a small, 4-point margin, voters say they would rather have Obama – a Democratic president who has pledged to raise taxes on the wealthy – handling the tax system than Romney. Voters choose Obama over Romney on foreign policy by 9 points and pick him on “standing up for the middle class” by a 19-point margin.
As James writes, Romney’s only issue advantage is on spending, where he leads Obama by 5 points. There’s no question that the budget is a major issue in this campaign, but it may not be enough on its own to offset Obama’s lead on the broad category of “standing up for the middle class,” if Romney can’t also take back his lead on jobs.
Read more about: Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Battleground Poll, 2012 Elections
