Islam Times - US tracking poll shows Romney leading Obama 50-47

Islam Times - US Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney has taken a slight lead over President Barack Obama in a recent national tracking poll, winning the support of 50 percent of ‘likely voters’ for the first time in the political race.

The results of the Washington Post-ABC News tracking survey on Friday showed Obama gaining only 47 percent, his lowest tally so far in Post-ABC public polls since the national conventions of the two dominant political parties.

The three-point edge boosts Romney with his first apparent advantage over Obama in the national popular vote, although it is not viewed as statistically significant.

The initial results of the tracking poll were first released Monday evening, indicating a minor lead for Obama, at about 49 percent over Romney’s 48 percent. On Tuesday and Wednesday, however, the results were reversed, with Romney at 49 and the US president at 48.

According to the survey, both White House contenders also stand about evenly on handling “international affairs,” reflecting a slight difference compared to where they stood just prior to Monday’s debate on foreign policy.

The Post-ABC tracking survey is a series of repeated one-night “waves” of interviews reported as a rolling, multi-night average. The new results are from interviews conducted during October 21-24, among a random sample of 1,386 likely voters. Two of the four nights reflected in this report include interviews conducted after Monday’s presidential debate.