CNN Poll Showing Tight Race Going Into Debates...

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

While Obama is leading in a CNN poll two days before the presidential debates there remains opportunity for Romney to close the gap. Obama's lead is within the margin of error.

Understanding polls are at best statistical indicators of public sentiment, and they can be manipulated through the process of weighting, I do not place an abundance of faith in polls. I decided to post these results mostly as a realistic reminder to the euphoria the left seems to be enjoying at the present moment.

Polls by ABC News/Washington Post, Politico/George Washington University, and American Research Group indicate a tight race as well. CNN has averaged the results of all four polls as well as a Fox News poll of last week and the results show Obama at 49% and Romney at 46%, again within the margin of error.

It is clear Romney still has a window of opportunity if, 1) he handle himself well in the presidential debates and provides positive and definitive answers as to his vision and plans for how to get the American economy on track and reduce our national debt and balance the budget , and 2) he remains gaffe free.

Given Obama's vulnerability on recent events in Benghazi and his administration's early attempt to cover up the truth, combined with his vulnerability on the economy and stubborn unemployment stats, really offers Romney a very real window of opportunity. It remains to be seen if he is up to the task of turning public opinion to his favor.

Washinton CNN - Two days before the first presidential debate, a new national survey indicates a very close contest between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the race for the White House.

And according to a CNN/ORC International poll, neither candidate appears to have an edge on the economy, which remains the top issue on the minds of Americans and which may dominate Wednesday night's debate on domestic issues in Denver.

Fifty-percent of likely voters questioned in the CNN survey, which was released Monday, say that if the election were held today, they would vote for the president, with 47% saying they would support Romney, the former Massachusetts governor. The president's three point margin is within the poll's sampling error.

Three other national polls of likely voters released in the past 24 hours also indicate a tight race. The other surveys are from ABC News/Washington Post, Politico/George Washington University, and American Research Group. A CNN Poll of Polls which averages all four surveys plus a Fox News poll released late last week puts Obama at 49% and Romney at 46% among likely voters.

In the CNN/ORC poll, the national horse race stands pretty much where it was just before the two back-to-back party conventions in late August and early September.

"That's a strong suggestion that whatever bounce President Obama received from his convention has, as expected, faded away," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "That's why they call them 'bounces'."

When it comes to issues, the survey indicates that Obama and Romney are effectively tied when likely voters are asked which candidate would best handle the economy. Romney, however, appears to have an edge on the top two economic issues: unemployment and the budget deficit. Obama, by contrast, has the advantage on a variety of non-economic domestic issues such as education, Medicare and health care, and also polls strongly on taxes, traditionally a GOP issue. All of these issues will most likely be debated by the candidates Wednesday night.

The president has a 52%-45% advantage over Romney on foreign policy, which will be the focus of the third and final showdown between the two candidates on October 22.

But debates are not just about issues; voters judge the candidates' personal qualities as well. Among likely voters, Obama's personal favorability rating is 52%, with 48% saying they view the president in an unfavorable way. The president's numbers are basically unchanged since mid August, before the conventions.

The public is divided on Romney, with 49% holding a favorable impression of him and 50% seeing him in a negative light. Romney's favorable rating was at 50% and his unfavorable at 46% in mid-August.

When the dust settles after the debates, it will all come down to turnout and getting out the vote, and the poll suggests when it comes enthusiasm, neither campaign seems to have the upper hand. {Read More}

Indeed the race remains tight. Either candidate can win the race. But for Romney the task is decidedly a bit tougher. For him to pull it off will require stellar performance in all three debates, he must remain gaffe free, he must give America reasons to vote FOR him rather than against Obama, and then hope his efforts will excite enough of the electorate to get out and vote for him.

Editor's Note: I'll be voting for the alternative, Gary Johnson. So should all liberty minded people who want to see real POSITIVE change in America.

Via: Memeorandum