Poll: Obama Turns It Around Against Generic Republican

Updated: November 10, 2011 | 3:23 p.m.
November 10, 2011 | 7:43 a.m.

President Barack Obama arrives in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, to talk about the American Jobs Act. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Obama is statistically tied with the Republican candidate next November, according to a new Gallup poll of registered voters released early Thursday, a significant improvement over previous Gallup surveys this fall.

Obama leads, 48 percent to 45 percent, with 2 percent saying they are likely to vote for another candidate, and 5 percent of voters undecided.

Obama's lead is within the margin of error—and, thus, a statistical tie—but it represents a turnaround from last month, when a generic Republican led Obama, 50 percent to 42 percent. In September, the generic Republican held a whopping 12-point lead over Obama.

Independents are fueling Obama's gains, according to the poll. Those voters who do not identify with either party are split evenly between Obama and the GOP candidate, with 38 percent of voters preferring each. Last month, the GOP held a 13-point advantage among independents, and in September, that lead was 21 points.

The Gallup poll was conducted Nov. 3-6, surveying 889 registered voters. The margin of error is +/- 3.3 percent.

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