CNN Poll: Obama holds 7-point lead over Romney
Washington (CNN) - Mitt Romney's unfavorable rating is up, most Americans think the Republican presidential challenger favors the rich, and it appears the number of people who believe that the economy will not get better if Romney is elected has edged up slightly, according to a new national poll.
But a CNN/ORC International survey released Thursday also indicates that Romney's supporters are increasingly getting behind the presumptive GOP nominee.
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It all adds up to a seven point advantage for President Barack Obama over the former Massachusetts governor, with 52% of registered voters questioned in the survey saying that they'd vote to re-elect the president and 45% backing Romney.
"Among independent voters, the poll indicates President Obama has a 53%-42% lead," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "The president holds a nine point advantage among women voters and a smaller six point edge among men."
The good news for Romney: Four months after he wrapped up the race for the GOP nomination, 56% of Romney voters say they strongly support him, up from 47% in May. Sixty-one percent of Obama voters say they strongly support the president.
Since the start of the general election in April, the Obama campaign and Democratic groups have launched attacks on the presumptive Republican nominee, and the survey indicates that they appear to be working.
While Romney's favorable rating has remained steady (47% now compared to 48% in July), his unfavorable rating has jumped from 42% last month to 48% now. The president's 56%-42% favorable-unfavorable rating now is little changed from July.
Among independents, the poll indicates Romney's image has taken a beating. In May, only 40% of independents had an unfavorable view of Romney. Now, 52% of independents have a negative view of him.
Other findings: Sixty-four percent of all Americans, and 68% of independents, think Romney favors the rich over the middle class. And 63% of the public thinks Romney should release more tax returns than he has already made public, a figure which rises to 67% among independents.
"These are all signs that a summer of negative campaigning on the part of the Democrats seems to be taking its toll on the presumptive GOP nominee," says Holland.
Most significantly, it appears that Romney's image as a can-do guy on the economy may have also been hurt. In May, 50% of all Americans said that the economy would get better if Romney were elected. That's now down to 45%, two points below Obama's number. It's likely that all of this is the result of the Democrats' efforts to paint Romney in an unflattering light, but so far Obama has avoided any blowback from that strategy, as evidenced by no rise in his unfavorable rating.
Who do Americans think will win the election?
Regardless of which candidate they support, 63% think Obama will win re-election, with one third saying Romney will win.
"That may not translate directly into votes, but it is worth noting that in August of previous election years, the public accurately predicted the winner in 1996, 2000 and 2008, and in 2004 George W. Bush and John Kerry were tied," adds Holland.
Control of Congress is also up for grabs in November. According to the survey, 45% say the country would be better off if Congress were controlled by Democrats, with 39% saying things would be better if the GOP ran Capitol Hill.
The CNN poll was conducted by ORC International Tuesday and Wednesday (August 7-8), with 1,010 adults nationwide, including 911 registered voters, questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.
CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
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And that lead will continue to grow so long as Romney keeps hiding those returns.
Going by the number of Mr. Romney's supporters posting on this article, I do believe there appears to be a toch of panic regarding the poll's results.
I don't buy this pap for a second. As dismal a record as this runt has as president and you protect him. For what reason. He is the most dangerous president we have ever had.
President obama is taking the US to a wrong side,surporting gay marriage.i wonder if the true christians and muslim faithfuls will vote him again...GOD SAVE THE WORLD
Beverly from N.C. said it so well about Mitt Romney! I could not say it better! My true feelings too, Beverly! Mitt Ronney have no idea what the middle class is all about, none. Mitt Romney made a fool of himself in Europe even in Poland where they favor Republicans. He really blew that chance! Does he not know the whole world is looking at his every move now?
See, this was all a conspiracy by the Democratic party, to stick the Repubs with a non-viable candidate, someone who could not win because he cannot figure out what he is really all about. It dates back to when Obama was not born in Hawaii and his teenaged mother conspired with the newspapers to publish a birth announcement, because they all knew he would run for president 45 years later...
State run media? Do you live on another planet or do you see conspiracies everywhere? I don`t like either of them, but According to Romney`s own plan, my taxes are likely to go up, while his friend will pay 4.2% less. Is this someone that wants to help the middle class or just his friends? You are asking America to wake up, while not even considering taxes? Bravo!
Romney will win. End of story.
What is the skew on this poll? D+??? Or how many registered democrats, registered republicans, and registered independents were polled? Since this information isn't published in the poll I can only assume the skew, like most lib-media polls, are skewed significantly democratic.
People are actually starting to pay attention....the smart ones that is....the conservatives are too brainwashed to realize they have been had, but you would need intelligence to see that.
CNN Worst rating in history for exactly this kind of liberal bull.
It's well known that romney is many points ahead of Obama.
The majority of the people in this country are not stupid and they know a Robber Baron when they see one in Romney. A President isn't just a guy who sits in the Oval office, he has to reflect the values of the country. Americans work hard, harder than most people in the world, many working 2 or 3 jobs, and they don't see that in Romney, they see a selfish, self centered, unethical individual, who was pampered his whole life. A guy who created a Wall Street opportunistic business which involves paper pushing that gets someone rich fast using everyone else's money, little risk of their own Capital, and allows them to avoid paying taxes, either off-shoring it or paying only at the Capital Gains 15% rate, while Main Street pays full fare, and works their tails off, earning their keep.
President Obama isn't perfect, there are a number of things that I don't agree with, especially having all those "Professional Economists who get paid by Wall Street firms, and Wall Street Executives in his Cabinet and as Advisers", who represent more the interests of Wall Street than Main Street, but I keep hoping that will change. Its time the dog wagged the tail and not the other way around. But I do think Obama is a pragmatic man who believes in hard work, and is a good family man who has values and morals. Speaking of Wall Street, I read recently about an Engineer who asked, why should a Wall Street Finance guy make more than him, a professional that builds real things. And you know what, he's absolutely correct. The Engineer should make more.
hahahahahahaha loser Romney!!
If it takes the Democrat 6 years to fix the economy, then it takes the Republican 6 time 2 to climb out of this big hole.
CNN Poll.
Nuff said.
People are finally beginning to notice he's for the rich? When hasn't a republican been for the rich? Come on America..
Hey Robert – sounds like a threat of violence to me? Do you care to explain what you mean or will you be a coward and hide behind your thinly veiled innuendo? We live in America where every vote counts and we live by the rule of law – love it or crawl back under the slime you came from.
From: Robert
We will not tolerate another term for the commie Obama no matter what the american people say at the ballot box. Relecting Obama merely invalidates the whole process and we will step in and correct the situation.
Its interesting to watch the news media try to shape our lives. Everyone knows that Obama is going to be voted out of offices in a big way. You can try all you want to paint Romney in a negative light, but its not going to work. We need changes and this president is a socialist as they come.
“I believe in America”.
Is the above quote enough for a voter to side with the Author of the quote? And, who doesn’t believe in America? Oh, politics, politics, politics—it is truly a one-sided credence. It is up to the people who believe in words said by their prefer candidate(s) without asking hard questions. Good to be an independent voter...
We know both parties are a problem , but the republican party is the extreme problem !!!
Romney could help himself by releasing his tax returns for the last decade. Unless, that is, the tax returns show that he paid no taxes during that time. Regardless, the latter is what people will assume if Romney continues to refuse to release his tax returns. Therefore, if he has something to hide he is in a no-win situation.
Actually, Romney never has had much of a favorable rating with most people. The fact that his ratings are even close to those of the Obamanation is a pretty good measure of just how much people hate Obama – if Obama is re-elected it will be because of the success of the lies and smear campaign he has mounted – a campaign on which he has spent millions and millions of taxpayer dollars, traveling around the country in buses that the taxpayers paid $6 Million a piece for, and which will be used a total of about 10 times. The buses are actually FLOWN IN to the places where Obama is appearing. Each will have about 100 miles on them. Obama and his wife have spent more taxpayer money on luxury vacations and un-necessary items (like the buses) than ANY president EVER. Anyone who votes for Obama has been completely deluded about his real agenda – making America into a Socialist State in which only the politicians are allowed to amass wealth.
This was the problem and why the america is going down becuase this administration teach our next generation how to lie.
Actually, most of woke up in 2008 and still have our eyes open. Hence the polls demonstrating that no amount of delusion, rhetoric or outright lies are lulling us back to sleep.
These polls by CNN are so skewed, it's ridiculous. Happen to look at the numbers representing each party in the polls? Do you honestly think Obama has any incentive to do any good, let alone anything, if re-elected? Wake up. As for "Romney is rich, and only for the rich" do you realize how wealthy Obama, Reid, and Pelosi are...yet they're crying 'we're for the middle class'. You're an idiot for taking to the hypocrisy. Romney may not be the messiah, but he's been a successful business man, knows how to make money (which helps the economy), and has incentive to actually do something positive for the country in hopes of being re-elected, if he wins the presidency. Educate yourself people. Look around at more than just CNN postings and articles.