Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama holds double digit leads over the top two GOP presidential candidates, according to a new national survey.
A Politico/George Washington University Battleground Poll released Monday indicates Obama topping former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 53% to 43% in a hypothetical general election matchup, with the president leading former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania 53% to 42%.
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Matched up against a generic GOP opponent in the general election (an unnamed candidate who has not suffered negative attacks during the primary process), Obama has a five-point advantage (50%-45%), up from a dead heat back in November. It's also telling that the president is at or above 50% in all three general election matchups.
A new national poll from USA Today/Gallup tells a different story. According to the survey, which was also released Monday, Obama and Romney are deadlocked at 47% in a hypothetical matchup, with Santorum holding a 49%-46% margin over the president.
The Battleground poll indicates that the debates, caucuses and primaries appear to be taking a toll on Romney, with 51% of independent voters holding a unfavorable opinion of him, compared to just 33% who see him in a positive light. Among independents, Romney trails the president by 22 points in the hypothetical general election matchup. Forty percent of independents have a favorable view of Santorum, with 32% saying they see him in a negative way.
Among Republicans only, the battle for the GOP nomination appears to be all tied up, with Santorum at 36% and Romney at 34%. Santorum's two-point margin is within the poll's sampling error. The survey is similar to the Gallup Daily Tracking Poll's numbers on the Republican horse race.
Four out of ten say that Romney has run the most negative campaign, followed by Gingrich at 33% and Santorum and Paul each at 4%, with nearly one in five unsure.
The Politico/George Washington University Battleground Poll was conduced between February 19 and February 22, with 1,000 likely voters nationwide questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
The USA Today/Gallup poll was conducted between February 20 and February 21, with 881 registered voters questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus four percentage points.
Of course he does. The GOP has become irrelevant and the people are tired of their obstruction. They should only expect 1% of the votes as it’s become clear that they only represent 1% of the population.
Romney and Gingrich attack the other candidates while Santorum attacks the general population. How does one choose between these gems? Obama 2012!
I was leaning to support Romeny but once I learned he is a tax cheat with offshore accounts in Caymon Island ans Swiss Bank, I am considering sitting this election out.
I take great pleasure in watching the right-wingers squirm over the realization that President Obama is a lock for four more years. Can't wait to watch them implode even more when Elizabeth Warren becomes the first female president (and of course she'll serve two terms as well). Have a "blessed" day, right-wingers!
The rise of Santorum is causing the death of the GOP. There aren't many rational, sane Americans who want to be ruled by Santorum's rigid, intolerant, 14th-century religious beliefs. Which is exactly what would happen if he became President. He admitted as much by emphatically re-stating his view on national television yesterday that there is NO separation of church and state. If he wins, he'll have a permanent office in the West Wing for Pope Benedict, so he can consult him 24/7 on matters of state as well as Americans' private lives.
Hey, but I hope he IS the nominee. It'll guarantee an Obama landslide!
lol! Obama holds a 5 point lead over an possible unknown Republican challenger, but holds double digit leads over all the known candidates.
Republicans are buffoons.
Hence the suddend rise in gas prices. Republican backing oil speculators are so predictable.
^^^^LOL at the guy above me.
TO ANYONE UNDER 35-There won't be an America, a USA, in 10 years , if Obama wins this election again.....He will sell the USa and leave you in the dirt.
Fight Back American Kids.
Santorum, Romney, Newt, Ron Paul...The more Americans get to know these guys, the more they absolutely hate them.
I wonder what the deal with the huge difference between those polls is.
Obama really needs the +50% of folks who dont pay federal taxes to begin paying federal taxes. That's the only way we can pay for all of these cool new programs. After he's re-elected that's his next step...
CNN doesn't tell you that this poll is a senior citizen poll... landlines only.
That these polls show that Obama-quite possibly the worst thing that has happened to America since Jimmy Carter- is going to be re-elected, shows the absolute ignorance of the average member of the US electorate.
If you love this country DO NOT VOTE FOR SOCIALST OBAMA. This is a warning,
Why would they not state a reason for the difference in poll results?
Pardon for noting the obvious, but two different polls with "highly accurate" results showing dramatically different results doesn't make sense. That is to say, one or both of them are wrong.
Fered – have you been living in a cave? Have ever listened to him? It's like you are a zombie. – and you can vote!
Wake up sheeple. Baarraack is the wolf underneath his clothing.
The more a person gets to see a fool and realizes they are only a simple minded fool the more they look elsewhere for leadership and this is why Americans are turning back to Obama once more over the Republicans because each and every republican candidate has come forward and shown the whole world that the republicans do not have one candidate who is not a complete and total fool.
Sadly, I have accepted Obama will win re-election! He has enough money and lies to buy the election, all I can hope for is that the American people will elect a Republican Congress to keep the 'checks and balance' in place. That has been our problem, we have one party controlling for at least 2 yrs (enough time to damage,, from either party!). Obama and dems still have NO budget, yet they blame it on the Republicans. People its the DEMOCRATS who still have control on Congress! Obama will lay blame on everything and everyone else, the media will protect him and enforce his lies during the campaign and Obama and his thugs will get ugly with lies! The liberal democrats are mean self centered people who only want to 'control' you and me!
Another fake poll by the Obama campaign media outlet. What a "shock" that the poll has Obama way ahead...I certainly hope the American people aren't stupid enough to be fooled by Obama's lies again.
I agree that the GOPers are dumb as rocks and basically blew a slam dunk by being idiots – but anyone who doesn't think Obama would sell "HIS' soul for votes is even more naive. Obama is the most corrupt dictator in his history – and anyone who votes for him- votes for socialsim. I know 100s of women who will vote against the Kenyan dictator- regardless of the brain dead GOPer going against him.
I guess the USA today poll was taken at the Vatican.
What's wrong with that ?--- Romney has two cars for every house,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Only two cars ????????