Poll: Obama ahead in battleground New Hampshire
(CNN) - A day ahead of Mitt Romney's return to New Hampshire, a poll showed the likely GOP nominee trailing President Barack Obama by a nine-point margin in the Granite State.
The survey, from WMUR and the University of New Hampshire, showed 51% of New Hampshire adults backing Obama and 42% supporting Romney. Five percent said they had not yet decided who to support in November's general election.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
Romney, who served as governor of neighboring Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and owns a vacation home on Lake Winnipesaukee, spent a considerable amount of time in New Hampshire ahead of the state's first-in-the-nation primary in January. He won the contest with 39% of the vote.
In WMUR/UNH surveys taken in the summer and fall of 2011, Romney led Obama by as much as eight points, but in February the trend began to shift, with Obama besting the Republican candidate for the first time in a year.
"The Republican nomination process has weakened Romney in his backyard," said Andrew Smith, director of the UNH Survey Center.. "He will have to consolidate support in New Hampshire and other battleground states if he hopes to defeat Obama in November."
Independents, traditionally a large and important bloc in the Granite State, broke for Obama in Monday's poll, with 40% supporting the incumbent Democrat compared to 35% for Romney.
On Tuesday, Romney will visit New Hampshire for an event his campaign is calling "A Better America Begins Tonight." Romney will be in the state as votes from five states - Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island - are counted and announced.
The Granite State was Romney's first victory this year after he lost the first contest, Iowa, by a slim margin to Rick Santorum.
In 2008, Obama won New Hampshire by a nine-point margin, beating Arizona Sen. John McCain 54% to 45%. The state, which was once considered to be solidly Republican territory, also went Democrat in 2004, voting for Sen. John Kerry by a narrow margin.
The WMUR/UNH poll was taken by telephone from 538 adults between April 9-20. The sampling error was plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
Also see:
Giuliani endorses Romney, downplays being running mate
From CNN Politics
- Biden calls for 'peace and calm' in the wake of Daunte Wright's fatal encounter with police in Minnesota April 13, 2021 02:55 am
- Standoff emerges between White House and Michigan governor as state's Covid situation deteriorates April 13, 2021 02:50 am
- Biden administration stands down on policing commission, focuses on legislative route instead April 13, 2021 02:17 am
- Nikki Haley says she'll support and not challenge Trump if he runs in 2024 April 13, 2021 02:07 am
- Biden starts infrastructure push by meeting bipartisan group of lawmakers who could help shape $2 trillion proposal April 13, 2021 01:49 am
- 10-year-old migrant boy seen in video had initially been expelled from US, CBP official says April 13, 2021 01:36 am
Poor willard. Still doesn't see that he will NEVER win the presidency. Republicans are going to nominate him just to get rid of him for the rest of eternity. This sap has been running for president ....since Perot stopped! GOP is giving him a hopeless chance in hopes that he'll fade away into the sunset when he gets his butt handed to him by the American people in Nov.
WOW! Alexithemic Mitt can't cut it in New Hampshire either and nobody but useful idiot Rubio-sito will travel around with him.
No one I've talked to trusts Mitt. Sounds like my friends and family are joined by a few million others in this country.
We don't whine and cry and threaten like the baggers - and we don't hate.
Mitt Romney actually laughed about firing thousands of American workers.
What kind of Christian man laughs about the plight of his fellow man?
a. A mormon
b. No Christian at all
c. No man at all
d. All of the above
The correct answer is D.
Just say NO to Romney2012!
God has a place for false prophets like Joseph Smith and their followers
Obama's work has been done for him by Romney's extreme rightward shift on social issues and House Speaker Obrien's mis-read of the last election results as a mandate to inflict extreme right wing national politics on a state that prefers government agenda's to reflect local concerns and sensibilities. Can't wait to see the baggies swept out of Concord!
Thank you for Healthcare reform.
Thank you for killing Bin Laden.
Faux channel: Bin Laden was kiilled by Seal and not by Obama
Rebuttal: Agreed. But God forbid, had any of the Seal gotten killed, who would have gotten the blame?
Obama. That's why we credited Obama when things went right.
Thank you for killing Al warlaki.
Thank you for liberating Libyans without shedding a single drop of American blood.
Thank your for sending more boots to the border in 3 years than the last guy did in 8 years.
Thank you for Wal Street reform.
Thank you for Creditcard reform.
Thank you for equal pay for women.
Thank you for making sure the drones are armed, locked, and loaded.
Thank you for 3.875% mortgage interest for my 3500 sqft home in a 17200 sqft lot
in wine country.
What did I miss?
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Rmoney believes the American people made a MISTAKE in electing Obama into office.
He still does not understand that "WE THE PEOPLE" are fed up with "trickle down economics".
Time to bring Warren Jeffs and the FLDS back into the fold of the mainstream LDS
They have done nothing wrong.
A little polygamy never hurt nobody, huh?
Another four years!
Obama/Biden 2012
New Hampshire is one of the educated, logical and moderate states. The Republicans do best in the under-educated, right-wing radical red states. I believe President Obama will gain a huge number of independents in New Hampshire.
People in the Granite state know not to support a governor who ranked 47th in the nation in job creation
Just got home and im not sure i heard what i think i heard? Did Mitt Romney really go on live tv and agree with President Obama on school loans????? But didnt he fall marveously in love with Paul Ryans budget? the budget that chops the heck out of school loans? im confused.Does he not remember the lies that come out of his mouth??? this is starting to look real bad for the GOP, HELLO MITTENS, DONT FORGET THE DEBATES, do you not think we can remeber one lie from another?my father(GOD rest his soul) always said the truth never changes.
Obama will win every state in November or shame on us! romney and the rethug party have contributed nothing toward the economic recovery, in fact all they've done is block the recovery. if we want this country to recover, we need to get the rethugs out of the way and do what we know works.
Unless the President screws up big time between now and November I just don't see this flip flopper winning the election. He has been for everything now he is against everything.
Planned Parenthood (making donations), raised gun taxes in MA, pro choice, mini healthcare plan, the list goes on and on. He can't run from his past and if he thinks that Americans have short memories (and we do at times) wait until all these truths start coming out and it's right in front of people.
BTW – HGTV has a show about million dollar homes if you want to see what a car elevator inside a house looks like!! Very, very rich (pun intended).