New polls suggest positive signs for Romney

Updated: 4:38 p.m. ET

On the heels of his victory in last week's presidential debate, three new polls show some good news for Mitt Romney, though the lasting impact of his performance last week has yet to be determined.

A new poll from the Pew Research Center shows a big boost for Romney, who now leads Mr. Obama 49 percent to 45 percent among likely voters in that survey. Last month, Romney trailed the president by eight points among likely voters in the same survey.

Among registered voters, the poll shows Romney now even with Obama, with 46 percent for each candidate, despite tailing the president by 9 percent last month.

According to a recent Gallup's tracking poll, Romney scored a decisive - and historic - win over President Obama in the duo's one-on-one debate, with 72 percent of viewers ranking Romney as the victor and only 20 percent saying the same of Mr. Obama. Gallup says that 52-point disparity is the largest the survey has ever measured on that question.

Even Democratic viewers were seemingly reluctant to rank the president as the debate's winner: 49 percent said Romney won the debate, and 39 percent said Mr. Obama did. Republicans and independents overwhelmingly selected Romney as the winner.

Perhaps in part thanks to his victory, Romney saw a five-point bump in the Gallup survey matching up the two presidential candidates. Before the debate, from September 30-October 2, the president led Romney 50 percent to 45 percent; after the debate, from October 4-6, the two were even with 47 percent support.

But the more recent Gallup tracking poll -- which surveyed voters between October 5-7 -- showed the president up by five points once again, suggesting that Romney's post-debate bump might have been short-lived. 

A new battleground tracking poll from Politico/George Washington University, meanwhile, suggests that Democrats have to worry about a recent enthusiasm dip.

According to the survey, conducted last week, 73 percent of people who support Mr. Obama call themselves "extremely likely" to vote, while 86 percent of people who support Romney say the same thing.

Similarly, 76 percent of Democrats say they're extremely likely to vote, and 84 percent of Republicans say that.

Among extremely likely voters, Romney's support has climbed since last week, when the president led him 50 percent to 47 percent. The Politico/GWU survey released Monday showed Romney up 52 percent to 46 percent. And 82 percent of white voters, who break for Romney, say they're "extremely likely" to vote, while among Latinos and African-Americans, who overwhelmingly support Mr. Obama, only 70 and 71 percent respectively classify themselves as extremely likely to vote.

Concerns about Democratic enthusiasm have been at play for months, but Mr. Obama had seen a boost in that enthusiasm following the Democratic National Convention. 

The same Politico poll shows the two candidates neck-and-neck nationally, with Mr. Obama and Romney statistically tied: 49 percent for Obama versus Romney's 48 percent. According to Politico, that's a point closer than it was last week.

[jordan2002941]

Vote for Romney! He has a proven business track record and would be better for the economy. Romney has already stated he will okay the Keysone XL deal that would create thousand of jobs. Pres. Obama has nixed that deal.......losing thousands of American jobs if he is elected again!!

Besides, we need more business people in politics, instead of lawyers like Obama. Lawyers are like snakes!!

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Here's the difference President Obama believes your government should help you. Romney & Ryan believes your government should be used to help corporations, big oil, big pharma and the super rich leaving ordinary Americans to fend for themselves.

[JV1970]

That's not exactly true because the corporations, big oil, big pharma and the super rich are the employers of those "ordinary" Americans! Helping the employers is helping the ordinary Americans because if the employers don't get the help they need they "downsize" which means layoffs and a higher unemployment rate and that helps NOBODY!

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Here's the difference {resident Obama believes your government should help you. Romney & Ryan believes your government should be used to help corporations, big oil, big pharma and the super rich leaving ordinary Americans to fend for themselves.

[wethepeople58]

Your Government can't help you if the people who pay the Taxes go out of business and can't continue their businesses. Big Pharma and Big Agra are helping Obama...ever hear of Obamacare? Ever hear of George Soros who backs and supports Obama and has been buying up Farmland like there is no tomorrow, thus keeping it so they can use food against the masses (Do it our way or you don't eat). Government isn't the answer to the problem, Government is the problem. I paid 4 times as much Taxes to the Federal Government in my tiny, teeny business than the State, and the State takes care of me. State also takes a hunk for property taxes, BUT that big Old Federal Government is eating me alive! I say, shrink the size of Government, give money back to the people, and that means everyone, and see the economy grow, because the more money you have in your pocket, the more money you can spend. Take from the Government, and you're on a hope and change without a future (ask anyone from a Socialist Country).

[nonpolitico]

In 1979, the press were all dissing Reagan as the present media are Romney.
Reagan won with a landslide, in the last weeks of his campaign older generations realised that he understood them as he had been born and raised in 1930s Mid West. Reagan KNEW about the poor.
Since his much maligned presidency gets criticised by the media, anyone ever thought WHY?
In my opinion reading his life story and his rise from movie star to WH, Reagan mad NO SECRET that he Loved his Wife, that he Loved his country, that he Hated Communist and what it stands for.
No suprise then, after HE realigned USA`s attitude to the aggressive USSR, which thanks to REAGAN now does not exist.
You can see that Romney also loved his wife.
Perhaps if he expounde as Reagan did about Country and Constitution there would be another landslide, and another Republican would defeat another Democrat!
Presidents have gotta be more than POLITICIANS or the USA is doomed!!
Especially with the dishonest and dumb press we have in 2012!

[greylag44]

I cannot understand the urgency of people who want to continue to go deeper into a socialistic society. You have obviously never lived in one. Go to Europe, pay your 50 per cent taxes, enjoy the 'benefits' of government health care, and see how quickly you long for the 'good old days' !

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Talk to someone with a pre-existing condition. Or better yet, someone with a child with a pre-existing condition.

You might then understand the "urgency".

[JustOne-View]

Let me explain it too you. This is about the my, me, mind voter. This selfish, self-centered, self-inflated, and self-important voter is willing to keep eyes closed as this guy, that hates America, is leading us over the cliff into bankrupty and weakness. Obama is playing on the selfish emotions of that 47% of voters. I spoke with one of those voters just yesterday and he said to hell with the country as long as I get mine! Obama has lied to and promised these voters whatever they want or need. Romney and Ryan are trying to put REALITY into the debate. Obama could NOT deal with reality because he can not reveal his reality. He is only a slick speech reader. And he is a good leader it is just that he can not and will not reveal the truth of where is his leading America. We saw the real Obama naked without his speeches in the debate. So, what does he do...next day....he makes his laughty speeches about that not being the real Romney. Sorry that was the REAL Romney and that was the REAL Obama. He is a fake that makes speeches. Romney can explain and defend his views because he need not hide them. Wake up folks. Obama ain't the guy you see.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

"ALANROBISCH replies:
He is also willing to compromise which is a dirty word to ideologues like myself and many on the site."

then...

"ALANROBISCH replies:
I agree compromise is necessary."

----------

Err - consistency isn't quite your strong point, is it?

[alanrobisch]

famous statement by ralph waldo emerson consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds

[infantryman1968]

New polls suggest positive signs for Romney
LOL!
Obama lost the lead he never had.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

I know we have a lot of Vietnam Veterans here. This is certainly worth reading - I've just copied the beginning here...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-pressler/larry-pressler-obama_b_1948415.html

As a combat veteran of two tours in Vietnam with twenty-two years of service as a Republican member of the U.S. House and Senate, I endorse President Barack Obama for a second term as our Commander-in-Chief. Candidates publicly praise our service members, veterans and their families, but President Obama supports them in word and deed, anywhere and every time.

As a Vietnam vet, one of the reasons I support President Obama is because he has consistently shown he understands that our commitment to our servicemen and women may begin when they put on their uniform, but that it must never end........

[1ATL1]

Interesting, last weeks polls reflected the opinion of more democrats than republicans. This weeks polls have reversed that ratio and now it's a tie. Imagine that. Skew the polls to the left and it's a crime, skew the polls to the right and it's about time?

[Aaron12424]

President Obama promised "change." He provided change: Iran, the country freed by President Carter, another Democrat with limited abilities almost has a atomic bomb and Obama is using the same method President Carter used in dealing with Iran, he is wringing his hands. The Middle East: The Obama administration decided to with draw (change) security forces at the Libyan Embassy--when the Embassy complained about the lack of forces--leading to the death of four Americans including our Ambassador. In addition, President Obama decided to visit Egypt and apologize for our former policies. We now have the Muslim Brotherhood in charge of Egypt. Israel: President Obama has placed Israel at risk by inserting conditions for settling the Palestinian/Israel conflict (imposing impossible borders and telling Israel where it can build homes in Jerusalem). In addition, he created an initial platform that said Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel. Investments in Alternative Energy: The President has decided the U.S. should give money to his supporters for multi-million dollar failing ventures. The Auto Industry: Rather than allow the automobile manufactures to go through bankruptcy and reorganize, he gave government money to the car-manufactures to protect union jobs. Attitude toward People who invest their money: What has made America successful as a country is our free-enterprise system. President Obama has change the script and says that the "rich" should pay more than 70% of the taxes they pay. Bi-Partisanship: Mr. Obama passed Obamacare without the support of the Republicans, plunging the Country into greater debt. Debt: Mr. Obama took the country from 10 trillion dollars to 15 trillions in debt and act as if this change will not hurt the country. Change we got. Who needs change like this.

[JV1970]

Aaron you are right! I didn't believe him, and didn't vote for him, but four years ago Americans were promised change. They forgot that there's two kinds of change. There's change for the better and change for the worse. We definitely got change for the worse!

There's an old saying that says: "Be careful what you ask for because you might get it." Four years ago Americans wanted change and they got it! But it isn't the kind of change that they thought they were getting!