The latest survey from the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling shows President Barack Obama holding a 10-point advantage over presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney in Iowa.
In the statewide survey of Iowa voters, Obama claims the support of 51 percent, while Romney trails with 41 percent. Romney appears to be hamstrung by his personal appeal, a problem that has vexed him throughout the campaign. According to the PPP survey, only 34 percent of Iowa voters have a favorable opinion of the former Massachusetts governor, compared with 56 percent who view him unfavorably.
The poll should give succor to the president’s re-election hopes. Obama’s victory in the Iowa caucuses four years ago helped vault him to his party’s nomination, and the Hawkeye State eventually handed him a comfortable win over Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the 2008 general election. But four years later, the state is thought to be less friendly to the president. The TPM Poll Average currently shows Obama with a comparable lead over Romney in Iowa.
