A new survey from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) shows President Obama with a 5-point lead over presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney, 49 percent to 44 percent. Obama’s lead is down from a 9-point advantage in PPP’s April poll of the state.
“This change comes in spite of relatively level support for the president among Independents at +9, compared to +11 from the April poll,” PPP pollsters wrote. “Instead the movement comes from a drop in the support he receives from within his own party. 21% of Democrats said that they preferred Romney in the presidential race, up from 12% in April.”
Choosing Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM) helps Romney in the numbers. Adding her to the ticket would bring the numbers to 48 percent for Obama-Biden and 47 percent for Romney-Martinez. “Barack Obama continues to lead in New Mexico,” said Dean Debnam, president of PPP in a release. “But the race is a lot closer than it’s been in our previous looks at the state and a surprise selection of Susana Martinez as his running mate could put in in the toss up column.”
The PollTracker Average of the presidential race in New Mexico stands at even 7-point lead for the president.
