President Obama Falls Farther Behind Mitt Romney in Florida; Ties With Rick Perry

Barack Obama continues to fade in Florida, with a new poll showing Mitt Romney holding a 51-43 lead over the president and Obama in a dead heat with Rick Perry.

Unlike 2008, if the election were held today, President Obama would face a stiffer headwind to hold on to Florida and its 29 electoral votes against a top-tier Republican challenger -- and that could cost him re-election, said Sachs Communications president Ron Sachs, citing the Sachs/Mason-Dixon Poll taken Aug. 18-22.

The survey of 625 registered Florida voters also found 56 percent of respondents disapproving of Obamas job performance vs. 41 percent approving.

While Romney held an 8-point lead over Obama in the sampling, Perry had a 45-44 edge over the president. Obama led Rep. Michele Bachmann 46-44.

Romney led all Republican hopefuls with 28 precent, with Perry garnering 21 percent, Bachmann 13 percent, Herman Cain 7 percent, Newt Gingrich 5 percent and Ron Paul 4 percent.

In April, a Sachs/Mason-Dixon poll found 51 percent of Floridians disapproving of Obamas job performance.In that poll, Romney led the president 48-43.