WaPo/ABC News POLL: Obama 51 (+5), Romney 45 (-3). 50% say Obama deserves reelection. Economic gains
Obama Re-Election Prospects Improve
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds Mitt Romney has solidified his position for the Republican nomination and now leads Newt Gingrich by a substantial margin, 39% to 23% but he's lost ground in a general election match up with President Obama and now trails 51% to 45%.
"Two chief factors are at play. One is the economy's gradual but unmistakable improvement... The president's approval rating on handling the economy, while just 44 percent, is its best in 13 months... The other: questions focused on Romney's wealth, his low tax burden and, relatedly, his ability to connect with average Americans. Notably, 52% in this poll say the more they hear about Romney the less they like him -- double the number who like him more."
Key findings: 50% of Americans approve of Obama's job performance and 50% say he deserves re-election, better than Bill Clinton at the start of his re-election year and as good as George W. Bush a month before he won a second term.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/02/06/obama_re-election_prospects_improve.html