A plurality of independent voters now supports a generic Republican over President Barack Obama for the 2012 election, according to a new poll from the
Pew Research Center. The survey also shows that Obama has dropped to a neck-and-neck position with a stock Republican among voters over all.
As for independents, 39 percent now favor a generic Republican, compared to 31 percent for Obama. That’s a reversal from May, when 42 percent of independents supported Obama, compared to 35 percent for a GOP candidate.
Independent voters played a crucial role in Obama’s 2008 victory, and he will need them again to prevail next year.
As for voters over all, 41 percent now favor Obama, compared to 40 percent for a generic Republican. That represents a sharp change from May, when Obama led 48 to 37 percent.