The Pew Research Center released new data Thursday that showed President Barack Obama locked with former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney in a national matchup and with a four point lead on Texas Gov. Rick Perry. In both cases, independent voters are leaning toward the Republican candidates, with Romney taking more of a share than Perry does against Obama.
Obama and Romney are tied at 48 percent a piece in a trial heat, and Obama leads Perry 50 to 46. Independent voters split to Romney by 13 points in a matchup with the President, 54 – 41. Perry also wins with indies, but by a smaller margin of 48 – 45.
Pew pointed out that support or opposition against Obama is driving voters at the moment. “Against both GOP candidates, most of Obama’s supporters view their vote as a vote for the president, while most of those who plan to vote for Romney or Perry see their vote as a vote against Obama,” Pew wrote.
Read the report here.