Today’s NBC News/Marist poll has President Obama and Mitt Romney virtually tied in New Hampshire, North Carolina and — most troubling for the president — Michigan. With little more than four months to go, the close race in the key Rust Belt state is the latest sign of turmoil in Obama’s reelection strategy.
A new round of NBC News-Marist polls shows President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney running almost neck-and-neck in three key battleground states, with Obama holding a slight advantage in Michigan and North Carolina, and the two candidates tied in New Hampshire.
In Michigan, Obama is ahead by four percentage points among registered voters, including those who are undecided but are still leaning toward a candidate, 47 to 43 percent.
In North Carolina, the president gets 46 percent to Romney’s 44 percent, which is within the survey’s margin of error.
And in New Hampshire, the two men are tied at 45 percent each.
In New Hampshire, the race has narrowed in Romney’s favor since mid-May. In 2008, Obama won the state by 10 points, but it was expected to be in play this year. The president’s go-negative strategy may be less effective in New Hampshire, as voters there are familiar with Romney and many already hold an opinion about him. Romney’s favorability ratings are also higher in New Hampshire than in the two other states in the survey.
Democrats hoped to hold onto North Carolina by holding the convention there, but so far that has seemed to be a colossal misstep. Rather than helping Obama, the attention on the scandal-ridden state Democratic Party has mainly resulted in negative publicity. The president’s gay marriage decision, which appeared to be a direct rebuke of North Carolina voters, didn’t help either. Obama beat John McCain by just .4 percent there in 2008, so he has a steep hill to climb.
But Obama’s failure to open a lead in Michigan is by far the worst news for his campaign, and a sign he’ll have to fight just for a chance to hold onto the Rust Belt. Since the beginning of June, the race has been tightening in the state (as well as Pennsylvania and Ohio), likely in response to the gloomy jobs numbers and stagnant recovery. The last NBC/Marist poll in February showed Obama up by 18 points in Michigan, but that was back when the unemployment situation appeared to be improving. A lot has changed since then–much of it for the worst for the president.
Obama even with Romney in North Carolina? That must be some poll!
Quick — can anyone find even a SINGLE electoral college map out there predicting (based on empirical evidence) Obama is currently trailing Romney? There is RealClearPolitics.com, electoral-vote.com, Rove.com, Pollster.com, fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com … all basically showing the same result. For all the wishful talk on this website about Obama "imploding" because of this jobs report or that misstatement, he has pretty much maintained his lead in the polls. Heck — you have to cherry-pick Rasmussen state polls to devise a scenario where Romney is within striking distance. n nRomney has the same problem as John Kerry, eight years ago. He is a hollow, cautious candidate who really stands for nothing. With four months to go, I am more convinced than ever that he will only win if there is a complete collapse of the global economy. n nMARCU$
And guess what happened in 2004? Bush barely won- and the Republican party was still in the ascendant then! If Romney is now- in June- in the same position as kerry , then he is in good shape, because the fundamentals are in Romney's favor! nAnd, whether you like Romney or not- he spends his life in the private sector- and made his own money-unlike Kerry who marreid it!
@Marcus ; The Marist/NBC polls over sample democrats . Polls that show the incompetent fool Obama in the lead are of registered voters. Polls that consist of likely voters are generally in Romney's favor. Obama has been behind in states that are usually definite Democrat in majority of polls that consist of likely voters. Also the undecided historically vote against the incumbent. The average are also distorted due to absurd polls like Bloomberg which have Obama ahead by 13% .The RCP averages, if they didn't place every absurd polls like NBC which gives us the the ultra ultra left wing MSNBC or the Daily Kos or PPP which identifies itself as a democrat, would have not a distorted pro Obama picture . You obviously know nothing about polling since you criticize Rasmussen but it is the only poll company that consistently uses likely voters which always is more accurate. Gallup and Ramussen are the 2 most reliable polls and have not had Obama in the lead for several weeks.
ILLEGAL ALIENS WILL BE ARRIVING HERE IN THE MILLIONS FOR FREE HEALTH CARE. n nHERE is a summary of the Constitutional TEA PARTY ideology, which from its inception has advocated a halt to illegal immigration that Democrats, Liberals or Republicans pay lip service too. Since the 1986 fraudulent amnesty illegal immigrants and migrants has poured into America, through a border that still remains porous. The television broadcasts of CNN, ABC and other stations always show the huge steel reinforced fences between Mexico and the United States. This is misleading as further along the demarcation between two countries, there is nothing more than a few thin strands of rusty barbed wire. Go to ‘AMERICAN PATROL, to be enlightened about the true length of the border fence and other details. For every Democrat, Liberal or Republican incumbent in office, we need to replace with a honest fresh face TEA PARTY leadership. We must stop President Obama’s ‘Tax and spend” epidemic or Mitt Romney potential to press for better advantages for Wall Street and financial institutions. n nJust today with the stunning news the Supreme Court in supporting ObamaCare, could be yet another nail in America’s economic coffin. This is going to further encourage illegal alien absconders from poverty stricken countries, to bring their sick by international flight or through state borders ; people needing FREE treatment as an appendicitis to major surgeries, will arrive here and because of federal mandates American taxpayers will be further raped to pay for these unfunded mandates. Millions will try to slip through our Borders or fly into America, because of the Democrats and it’s financially in our laps. n n IT is the Time of the PEOPLE’S PARTY. It is the time for the moderate TEA PARTY, not the far left or right. The TEA PARTY is complimented by man/women; African, White, Hispanic, Asian and other Americans of different nationalities. The TEA PARTY is a wealth of different religions, faiths, gay and ordinary people of every walk of life. Remember a large perpetual majority who votes for President Obama for a second term could are most liable none citizens or American citizens who spend their days watching TV, selling drugs, couch potatoes, collecting public assistance, food stamps and living off the rest of us as parasites. These are the people who want something for nothing. THE TEA PARTY BELIEVES IN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE, NOT RELYING ON GOVERNMENT FOR EVERYTHING. Illegal aliens don’t just come here for jobs but to pilfer state treasuries because elected officials have allowed this to happen. As an example of states in big trouble every month the Sanctuary State of California–as just naming one haven has a deficit of $15.7 Billion dollars, with over $1 billion dollars annually soaked up by illegal alien welfare and rising. n
The exception is the sick and true disabled human beings, so think of their dilemma that taxpayer money should be assisting citizens, instead of illegal aliens. If you are frustrated with feeding the rest of the world, unable to get a decent job then join the TEA PARTY. The controversial immigration debate and the problems it has brought; it is a theft of your taxes. Obama’s new the rules and regulations have been forced on American with its so called ‘Political Correctness’ along with its growing taint of a growing Socialism agenda impregnating young minds in the schools and universities. President Obama has placed obstacles to halt the extraction of valuable energy resources in a time of urgent need. This administration has squashed efforts to extract oil, natural gas and coal; that we could lower the expenditure from transportation and we could sell residual amounts to friendly foreign countries. The progressive’s zealots in the environmentalist world have stopped the laying of oil pipelines from Canada to Texas, when America could be self sufficient and not relying on Saudi Arabia, and other foreign potentates. Shouldn’t we become a creditor again, instead of a debtor to China and other investing countries? n nThis is the time when every American who believes in the ‘Rule of Law’ and steps forward to let their Senator or Congress person knows how you will vote. Bombard politician’s aide, that you insist the lawmaker sponsor E-Verify and the Birthright Citizenship bill (H.R.140). NEITHER PARTY DOESN’T SEEM TO CARE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS BEING OVERWHELMED BY THE POVERTY FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER, BUT ALSO A MAGNET TO MILLIONS OF PREGNANT WOMEN WHO ONCE ARRIVE HERE CAN STEAL THE WELFARE OF AMERICAN FAMILIES. ONCE SMUGGLED THROUGH THE BORDER OR STEP OF A PLANE, 400.000 ILLEGAL ALIEN MOTHERS ANNUALLY CAN REAP THE REWARDS OF CRIMINALLY ENTERING THE UNITED STATES. THIS PUBLIC HELP SHOULD BE GOING TO OUR OWN CITIZENS NOT TO EDUCATE FOREIGN CHILDREN ORE FREE MEDICAL CARE, THAT TAXPAYERS EVENTUALLY RECEIVE THE BILL. n nCitizen voters should phone Congress at the central Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Insist YOUR CONGRESSPERSON TO accomplish their obligation to the oath of office and stop rewarding the businesses that use cheap labor or the pro-illegal alien lawmakers that are desperate for votes, no matter illegal or legal. By only voting for those who favor the TEA PARTY ideology is the veil of corruption going to be lifted from American politics. Use the power of your VOTE to demand politicians sponsor good policies or we are destined to become like Europe, besieged by the poverty from other countries. n n