Poll: Obama, Romney head to debate deadlocked

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will head to the stage for their first debate Wednesday night tied among likely voters, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection poll.

However, voters remain hesitant to hand off full control of the federal government to either political party.

The new survey emphasizes how close the presidential race has been so far, although most other recent polls have Obama with a narrow lead.

President Obama and Romney each garnered 47 percent support in the survey, conducted Sept. 27-30. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

The former Massachusetts governor held a lead among Independents, 49 percent to 41 percent. He also lead among wealthier voters with an income of $75,000 or more (57 percent to 37 percent), and had an edge over Obama among white voters (55 percent to 38 percent) and men (50 percent to 42 percent).

President Obama had slightly more favor among women (51 percent to 44 percent) and an even great lead among those making $30,000 or less a year (61 percent to 33 percent).

• Five weeks out: Clock ticks on Romney and Obama
• Biden "buried middle class" gaffe under fire
• Obama debate prep details? Mum's the word

The category with the biggest gap, however, was among black voters: 98 percent of those who identified themselves as black said they'd vote for Obama, while none said they'd pick Romney. Other polls have had similar gaps.

Over 90 percent of Republicans and Democrats said they would vote for the candidate in their party.

The survey also showed the public's general uneasiness with both the Democratic and Republican parties. The majority of voters (55 percent) said that if Obama is reelected, they'd rather have Republicans keep at least one chamber of Congress. And more than six in 10 voters said that if Romney wins, they hope Democrats could keep at least one chamber, according to the National Journal.

[churchstate]

When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) - The Mormons, drastically downsized The Deseret News (the Utah church owned newspaper) the top LDS church officials dispersed many of the writers (and other LDS faithful) to go worldwide to function in the capacity of contributing writers to the media (radio, tv, magazines, book authors, and newspapers - let's not forget the LDS church historians working the internet and public opinion polls). Their contributions to the media and internet have been most apparent during this 2012 Presidential Election with alot of the earlier pro Romney and pro LDS/Mormon media coverage. What about the millions of dollars spent by the LDS church for their prime time "I'm a Mormon" television campaign under the guise of religious freedom. I cannot help but wonder if all the new polls are LDS church historians or LDS faithful professionals again making contributions to the media to manipulate public perception of the presidential election in Romney's favor.

[FAYLINE28]

The Only Reason We Had Misery In 2008 Is Because Obama Had To Clean Up The Mess George Bush Jr. Made For 2 terms and That Takes Time. Yes Romney Had A Good Performance But Not Enough Detail. IF Romney Becomes President Who Knows What Is Going To Happen!? Not Us Because He Didn't Tell Us Anything In That First Debate. Be Smart People!

[unclebernies]

Lets stop the illusions with the race getting tighter. The only thing that matters is that Obama is well ahead in the electoral college and that's what gets you elected. Romney knows it and will be throwing haymakers tonight.

[JV1970]

LAST WEEK Obama was ahead. This week it's a different story.

Also very few actual votes have been cast. Obama hasn't won anything yet, not even electoral votes.

The electoral votes won't be counted until after the popular votes are counted. IF Obama wins the popular votes in the key battleground states, then and only then will he have the electoral votes to be elected. He doesn't actually have them yet!

[MidRoadAlone]

Wow - this article got yanked off the front page fast - they put back last weeks poll data. Someone is going to be fired at CBS for letting bad news for Obama on the front page.

[infantryman1968]

President Obama Job Approval

Poll Date Sample Approve Disapprove Spread

RCP Average 9/24 - 10/1 -- 48.8 48.5 +0.3

NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl 9/26 - 9/30 1000 RV 49 48 +1
Gallup 9/29 - 10/1 1500 A 48 45 +3
Rasmussen Reports 9/29 - 10/1 1500 LV 48 51 -3
CNN/Opinion Research 9/28 - 9/30 883 RV 50 49 +1
Quinnipiac 9/25 - 9/30 1912 LV 48 49 -1
ABC News/Wash Post 9/26 - 9/29 929 RV 49 49 Tie
Politico/GWU/Battleground 9/24 - 9/27 1000 LV 49 49 Tie
FOX News 9/24 - 9/26 1092 LV 49 48 +1

[MidRoadAlone]

This poll should start Obama supporters worrying just a little. This poll is still using the 2008 enhanced model of "D+7", which is very unlikely to happen. Obama should be leading 7 points assumming an independent split.
Time to stop juicing the polls and try to reflect the real voter turnout in November. Flawed polls can work for or against the candidate the media is supporting.

[johntate777]

The republican editor must be in charge of the website this morning. The big photo on the front page puts Obama off in the background behind what's-his-name. Then this story claims the two are tied, based on one poll by a group that has never been mentioned in any other news story about the standings. I shall avoid this site for a while, now!

[busterdawgggy]

Gallup Poll, that most respected and non-partisan of polls, has Obama with a six point advantage, 50 percent to Romney's 44 percent. I am more inclined to believe these numbers.

[johntate777]

Where did CBS dig up this poll? Note the photo on the main page right now. Obama has been placed small and in the background behind what's-his-name.

[sharkboy234]

Obama wins 3 debates and he in it to win Ohio Florida Colorado Nevada Iowa
Wisconsin Obama has nothing to lose! Obama is in it to win it all!

[johnlockesghost]

"The survey also showed the public's general uneasiness with both the Democratic and Republican parties. The majority of voters (55 percent) said that if Obama is reelected, they'd rather have Republicans keep at least one chamber of Congress. And more than six in 10 voters said that if Romney wins, they hope Democrats could keep at least one chamber, according to the National Journal."---This says it all. The majority of voters do not trust their government, nor should they. Now, if that could only be translated into creating a political party that represents the majority of voters (there not being one at present) the country might be saved.