National polls keeping kicking Barack Obama in the gut.
One the two unveiled Monday reveals thatthe presidentwould be in for a close battle with most of the hopefuls for the Republican presidential nomination.
A Gallup poll found former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts beating Obama among registered voters, 48 percent to 46 percent. Obama was tied with Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, who announced earlier in the month that he was running, with both candidates taking 47 percent.
Obama did better against two congressmen -- but just barely. The president led U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas by only 2 percent, beating the libertarian Republican 47 percent to 45 percent. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who won the Iowa Republican straw poll earlier in the month, also came close to leading Obama. She took 44 percent, while Obama garnered 48 percent.
While he was doing well with Democrats, Obama was losing among independents to most of the Republican hopefuls. Romney and Paul both led Obama by 3 percent among independents while Perry beat out the president by 2 points with that key voter group. Obama did lead Bachmann among independent voters, topping the Minnesota congresswoman by 6 percent.
The Gallup poll of 879 registered voters was taken on Aug. 18 and 19 and had a margin of +/- 4 percent.
Another poll released on Monday had better news for Obama against known quantity Sarah Palin.
With speculation increasing that the formergovernor of Alaska will seek the presidency, a poll unveiled by Rasmussen Reports found that she would be routed by Obama if she won the Republican nomination -- but then, nopoll or political astuteis predicting she will win that nomination.
Palin has been increasing her activities in Iowa, home of the first caucus vote for the Republican nomination. The former Alaska governor, who was John McCains running mate in 2008, will be back in the Hawkeye State on Sept. 3 and the buzz is increasing that she intends to launch a a bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
The Rasmussen poll had Obama taking 50 percent while Palin trailed with 33 percent. In a poll released last month, Obama was leading Palin 47 percent to 38 percent. In this scenario, Obama carried independents by 21 percent, routing Palin 51 percent to 30 percent. The president also carried 88 percent of Democrats while only 62 percent of Republicans were behind Palin. Obama topped Palin among both genders, beating her by 6 percent with men and 27 percent among women.
The Rasmussen poll of 1,000 likely voters was taken on Aug. 11-12 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
