President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are locked in a tie, according to the inaugural tracking poll from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) on Thursday.
The automated poll, conducted Oct. 15-17 on behalf of the progressive group Americans United for Change, shows Obama and Romney each earning the support of 48 percent of likely voters nationwide. Half of voters surveyed disapprove of the job Obama is doing as president, while 46 percent approve.
Obama does not claim an edge over Romney in the area of personal popularity — a departure from a trend that has spanned the majority of the campaign. Thursday’s poll shows 47 percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of the president, compared with 49 percent who have an unfavorable opinion. But opinion of Romney is also divided: 47 percent view the Republican nominee favorably, while another 47 percent have an unfavorable view.
