A new poll of twelve swing states (Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin) from Purple Strategies shows President Obama with an four point lead on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 48 – 44, while the President leads former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum by eight, 50 – 42. The pollsters point out that Obama has rejuvinated his standing with independent voters, and now leads Romney among that group 48 – 40 in their newest numbers.
From Purple Strategies’ analysis:
These improvements appear to be fueled by a slowly improving political climate for the incumbent. President Obama’s approval rating continues to improve, and is now close to even at 46% approve to 50% disapprove. This represents a 5-point improvement over the last six months, compared to a 3-point decline in disapproval.
Additionally, a plurality (39%) now believes that the economy is improving, while 35% say it’s getting worse, and nearly a quarter say it’s staying the same.
At the same time, a majority of voters in swing states still believe the nation is seriously off on the wrong track (57%), including 59% of independents. While this measure tends to be a “lagging indicator” of an improving political environment, it remains quite low for a Presidential incumbent seeking re-election.
Additionally the poll finds that the gap among women voters, who typically favor Democrats in presidential elections anyway, remains a major concern for the GOP candidates as the debate over contraception enraptured Washington DC in the first part of 2012. “Against Romney, President Obama performs a net 10 points better among women (50% to 41%) than men (46% to 47%). In a head-to-head against Rick Santorum, the same 11-point net gap exists (52% to 39% among women, 47% to 45% among men),” the pollsters wrote.
