Gallup: Obama Tied nationally with Romney

[briann]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150554/Obama-Romney-Tied-Nationally-Swing-States.aspx

Obama, Romney Tied Nationally and in Swing States
Romney fares better vs. Obama than Perry, Cain
by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ -- Registered voters nationally and in 12 key swing states are evenly divided in their preferences for president in the 2012 election between President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney. Romney is at least somewhat more competitive versus Obama than either Rick Perry or Herman Cain, in polling conducted before the recent allegations of sexual harassment against Cain surfaced.

2012 General Election Trial Heats, Nationally and in Swing States, October 2011

The "swing state" results are from the initial USA Today/Gallup Swing States poll, based on Oct. 20-27 Gallup Daily tracking in 12 states that will be among the most crucial to winning the 2012 presidential election. The states include Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. USA Today and Gallup will report on voters' preferences in this group of states at least monthly leading up to the 2012 election.

The comparison national presidential trial-heat results reported above are based on Gallup Daily tracking Oct. 26-27. These are similar to what Gallup measured nationally earlier this year. Romney and Obama were essentially tied in Gallup's September presidential trial heat update, with Obama having a slight edge versus Perry. This is Gallup's first measurement of Obama versus Cain. In general, these trial heats are more favorable to Obama than Gallup's measure of Obama versus a generic Republican, which generally shows Obama trailing.

Voting Enthusiasm Higher Among Republicans in Swing States

Although swing states historically receive the most attention from the presidential campaigns, registered voters in these 12 states at this point are no more likely to be enthusiastic about voting in the 2012 election than are voters nationally. Currently, 47% of swing-state registered voters and 48% of all U.S. registered voters say they are extremely or very enthusiastic about voting.

Republican voters are more likely to express enthusiasm about voting, both nationally and in the swing states. On the national level, 56% of Republican registered voters and 48% of Democratic voters are extremely or very enthusiastic about voting. In the 12 swing states, the Republican advantage in enthusiasm is 59% to 48%.

There is a wider partisan gap in favor of the Republican Party among the most enthusiastic voters -- those who say they are extremely enthusiastic -- in the swing states and among the broader U.S. voting population.