Romney gaining over Obama: poll

WASHINGTON

President Obama is supported by 47 percent of registered voters, according to a recent survey. AFP photo

U.S. President Barack Obama’s lead over Mitt Romney has narrowed to 4 percentage points from 11 points a month ago, now that Romney has established himself as the probable Republican presidential nominee, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on April 16.

Obama was backed by 47 percent of registered voters in the telephone poll conducted from April 12-15, compared with 43 percent who supported Romney, Reuters reported. In the same poll conducted March 8-11, Obama led Romney by 52 percent to 41 percent.

 In what could be a problem for Obama in the Nov. 6 election, 53 percent of registered voters said jobs and the economy were the most important issue in the presidential election campaign, and slightly more, 45 percent, rated Romney higher in that area than the 43 percent who favored Obama. A CNN survey meanwhile showed Obama up nine points on Romney, 52 percent to 43 percent and found that Obama led Romney among women, shaping up as a vital voting bloc in November by 55 percent to 39 percent, Agence France-Presse reported. Romney’s last major rival for the Republican nomination to oppose Obama’s re-election, Rick Santorum, left the race on April 10 before the poll was conducted. Romney gained on Obama as he solidified his position as the likely nominee, Jackson said. Also Obama has not started his campaign yet.