GOP challenger Mitt Romney is closing the gap on President Barack Obama in the dozen battleground states likely to determine the 2012 election. Romney, who trailed Obama by 9 points in March in those states, is now behind just two points, 47 to 45 percent in a new
USA Today/Gallup Swing State Poll.
While closing the gap overall, Romney is losing the enthusiasm battle. Democrats are now more enthusiastic about voting than Republicans, in a shift from late last year. The drop is due to a shift among moderate or liberal Republicans, who make up a third of the party. Of that group, only seven percent say they are extremely enthusiastic about voting, down from 24 percent in January.
Obama was described as more likeable by 27 points over Romney. USA Today noted that the candidate viewed as more likable has won every presidential election since 1980. Obama leads Romney by 10 points when voters are asked who is more likely to care about the needs of people like themselves.
Obama also maintains a strong lead among women. Women support the president 52 percent to 40 percent in the poll taken April 26 through May 2. Men support Romney 50 percent to 42 percent.
Frank Newport, Gallup's editor in chief told USA Today that voters view Romney as a manger able to handle the economy. "He's less interested in feeling your pain than telling you how to fix your pain by . . . doing something about it," he told the paper.
The swing states surveyed are Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
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