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.
The really scary thing about these poll results is that 42% of theUS population would support Rick Santorum. The man is so manifestly unfit to be the president that he should not be polling anywhere near this high. His view of the role of government enforcing religious dictates on non-believers or those who believe differenly is incompatible with the US Constitution and the very principles this country was founded on.
This is news why? The republicans obviously wanted to lose this election, I mean look at who they give us, 3 stooges...
Mitt..he who while at Bain ran Damon Labs into the ground, walked away with 500k while allowing Medicare Fraud under his watch..Bain paid 119 million in fines and Santorum...who is pandering to the religious right and saying all sorts of great things like...politics is a team sport sometimes you have to vote your parties way just because....is the reason why Obama leads. Mittens and SAINTorum are simply bad for this country.
wow, it seems that every time either of the republican candidates opens his mouth, he puts his foot in it. Romney has two cars for every house... Santourm wants to turn the country into a catholic theocracy... I can't wait to see what crazy stuff they say next. Vote Obama 2012!!
How does a polling organization engage in sound telephone polling practices when less people have land-line phones?
this is just more kool-aide
Obama has not been in the 40% yet this year.
infact Greenberg told Obama is failing to reach the people
like he did in 2008 and needed to change the way he is going now.WHY
Greenberg said nobody believes what you and the media are saying.
I am not saying its over, but I can't see Santorum getting less crazy and I can't see Mitt getting less corporate evil. Still, a long way to go for Obama to win this thing and the GOP to finally shot themselves in the foot with letting these primaries go the distance.
Of course Obama has the advantage. The GOP nomination process reminded Americans of a circus clowns falling out of a Volkswagon.
Normal people are tired of republicans trying to take over the U.S.
We know they´re trying to create some type of Sick "feudal System"
where they are the masters . Both Romney and Santorum says They´ll
do away with Unions and cut education . This is Exactly what we Don´t
need . These republican candidates are nothing but CLOWNS .
Are you nuts this one term wonder is about to get booted out of office. $5.00 gasoline will only drive that home. Worst President EVER !
Not at all surprising. This should be a message to the Repubs. that the US citizens prefer Pres. Obama's policies over their policies. But, then they do not care if this country moves forward; they seem to only care about keeping their pockets lined.
See you in 2016, GOP.
That is if you're still around.
.
I'm not a fan of Obama, but when all the GOP can offer is nutjobs and clowns, I guess I'll have to vote for him.
While republicans tear down each other, President Obama wins without even campaigning.
God help this country if this man is re elected.
I'm not a fan of Obama, but since all the GOP has to offer is religious fanatics and clueless dimwits, I guess I'll have to vote for him.
No way!
Its nothing but a big joke.everyone knows they r nothing but crooks anyway.but is the american people gonna let it happen? there isent anyone running that is decent.so pick one of the lesser evils....right? what has happened to us r we just hoping for the best.? no one takes pride that we r americans and stand up for what we believe in.so we just give up? well im sorry...im not from that catagorey'....but we have to join together....do u not love your freedom?
Not a big fan of anybody in this race, but rather him than Romney or, god forbid, santorum.
Finally, some sanity in the election process!
polls dont mean squat till september....
A Politico/George Washington University Battleground Poll? Don't you think you should quote a more reputiple poll than a left leaning news and university organization???
No one is happy with BHO's performance, unless you are one of the folks who believes it's time to take down the United States a peg or two...Introduce European solecism, and give more power to a failed federal government. How can CNN even think this poll is fair minded. Polling minorities in the inner city across the nation is not a true measurement of the American people, and or it's sentiment on how the President is doing against the GOP...
You mean America has not fallen in love with the guy whose wife has two Cadillac SUVs or the other guy who thinks he is running for Pope? Wow. Surprised.
Romney is for the top 1% wall street banking vultures and Santorum is for the evangelical american taliban wackos. Both are weak candidates. Obama is a mediocre president who has changed nothing. game over for now.
I bet some republican will cry cnn is bias, and wants the presidents numbers to look better.