USA Today/Gallup poll shows Obama leading Romney in key swing states

President Obama and Mitt Romney

/ AP Photo

(CBS News) -- President Obama has overtaken Republican candidate Mitt Romney for the first time of the 2012 campaign in a dozen key states that swing back and forth between the parties in presidential elections, according to a poll released Monday by USA Today and Gallup.

Mr. Obama garnered 51 percent support, compared to 42 percent for Romney in the hypothetical match-up in battleground states, a sharp shift from just a month ago when the former Massachusetts governor was leading the president, 48 percent to 46 percent.

Among registered voters nationally, Mr. Obama's lead is smaller, 49 percent to 45 percent, but still the largest lead he has held over Romney. The two men were tied at 47 percent a month ago. Since August 2011, the two men have each bested the other, but neither has had more than a 2 percentage point advantage.

Mr. Obama's gains stemmed largely from women under 50, who back the president two to one over Romney. More than 60 percent of those voters support the president, compared to just 30 percent for Romney. That compares to fewer than 50 percent support for Mr. Obama and about 44 percent for Romney in mid-February.

The president has an even larger lead over Rick Santorum, who is still fighting to become the Republican nominee even as it becomes increasingly likely Romney will win the nomination. Mr. Obama leads Santorum 51 percent to 43 percent among U.S. registered voters.

The poll showed support among self-described Democrats and Republicans is solid for both candidates, with independents the only ones who have not yet decided which candidate they will back in November. Mr. Obama has 87 percent support among Democrats and Romney has 84 percent support among Republicans. Just two percent of Democrats and three percent of Republicans are undecided.

Among independents, however, the race is much closer. The president took 48 percent of those voters, compared to 40 percent for Romney. About 12 percent of independents said they had not yet made up their mind.

Enthusiasm among voters is down for both candidates. About 42 percent of registered voters told the pollsters they are "extremely" or "very" enthusiastic about voting for Mr. Obama, ten points lower than in January.

About the same level said they were "extremely" or "very" enthusiastic in their support of Romney, 13 percentage points lower than January. In late 2011, Romney supporters' enthusiasm eclipsed Mr. Obama's supporters' enthusiasm.

The telephone survey of 901 registered voters living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia was conducted March 25-26 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The telephone survey of 933 registered voters living in the battleground states of Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin was conducted March 20 through 26 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

31 Photos

GOP candidates on the trail

[tjs723]

From the way things are shaping up, it would not shock me if this election turns out WORSE for the GOP than 2008! To really save this country and address the multiple disasters left to us by the GOP over 30 years, this version of the GOP needs to be totally repudiated!!!

[TimeToEvolve]

I think the vast majority of Americans know that the Republicon Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon and Koch Industries. Their entire existence centers around benefiting the Top 1%, specifically rich white men. At the expense of the rest of America.

[Zann-Zel]

Amen!

[royalstar05]

Word has it that Romney isnt always wearing the undergarments that he is supposed be wearing and the leaders of the Mormon church are getting mad at him. We'll have to wait and see if the leaders of the church make a big deal out of it. Could bring alot of harm to his campaign.

[occupy_cbs]

GeorgeVeritas: "Intelligent voters can easily see from the preliminaries that Romney is a sure bet to continue changing the USA further into an oligopoly controlled by wealthy Republicans like himself."



Absolutely....intelligent voters see willard ROBme for exactly what he is -- an ultra-wealthy cultist bent on transferring more wealth to the top 1% at the expense of the other 99%.

Sorry republicans, but your plan has been exposed, and Americans will not sit idly by as you destroy our country for the wealthy!

[occupy_cbs]

"Mr. Obama's gains stemmed largely from women under 50, who back the president two to one over Romney. More than 60 percent of those voters support the president, compared to just 30 percent for Romney. That compares to fewer than 50 percent support for Mr. Obama and about 44 percent for Romney in mid-February."




After all the republican state governments have continuously waged their WAR on women and women's health care, willard has been losing huge support from women -- from 44% in Feb. down to a mere 30% today!

That's a 2:1 advantage for President Obama; 60% for Obama and only 30% for willard ROBme, something that republicans fail to see!

[RobAla]

What matters is the thinking of American voters come November 2012. There haven't even been any debates between President Obama and the Republican nominee. In fact, there isn't even a Republican nominee yet. Those national debates will show the comparison between the two candidates.

[occupy_cbs]

Yes robbie, when the debates finally occur, Americans will clearly see the attack on women and minorities by the republicans and their clown candidate.

[occupy_cbs]

DJ332013: "What does Bush or Cheney have to do with anything"




You're either just playing dumb or entirely too partisan, still worshiping at the feet of bush/cheney.

Are you still looking for those imaginary WMD?

[occupy_cbs]

"Among independents, however, the race is much closer. The president took 48 percent of those voters, compared to 40 percent for Romney."


This keeps looking worse and worse for the republican party and wilalrd ROBme, as the GOP WAR on women, minorities and the middle class continues!

[BigBlivefromny]

Obama is going to whip Romney just like some of the rich-wimp boys i used to pound out on the school yard. Romney is a talking suit that they are now trying to humanize for us w/ the dumb pranks, and now his wife, "mitt is soooo funny!, wait till you see him with his mask off" Puhleeeze, SPARE US! We are not THAT stupid LOL!!!! Go 'BAMA!

[GeorgeVeritas]

Big Blive . . . I don't approve of your bragging on pounding people, but I do think that the majority of voters in USA is not stupid and that Romney will certainly lose against Obama. Therefore, I hope the Greedy Old Party will put him in the nominee's seat. Intelligent voters can easily see from the preliminaries that Romney is a sure bet to continue changing the USA further into an oligopoly controlled by wealthy Republicans like himself. And his being a Mormon just adds insult to injury. That organization is by definition a cult with crazy ideas to most Americans ... like their female controls, baptizing dead people and outright warping of long-standing genuine Christian principles and ideas to fit their private FALSE CHRISTIAN ideology and material goals. Go Obama!

[Anybody77]

Let's ask 8 to 9 percent more Democrats than Republicans if they prefer the Democrat to the Republican and then put into the media that Obama is winning by a large margin! This is unthinkable but true. PLease look at the demographics of every poll. What a joke! And the media makes NO mention of it! And at a time when voter identity to the Democrat party is at its lowest in many many years! And Republicans are up.

[TimeToEvolve]

Obama has an 18 point lead over Governor Etch a Sketch among women voters. I can't even imagine anyone who makes less than $250,000 voting for Robmee. Or any minorities at all.