Obama takes polling lead; Georgia critical to Romney
According to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll, President Obama is leading Mitt Romney 51-45 percent among registered voters. The margin over Newt Gingrich is significantly larger, 54-43 percent. (By the way, Rasmussen’s most recent polling also has Obama winning in a head-to-head over Romney, 47-43.)
Here’s an issue-by-issue breakdown:
Source: Washington Post/ABC News
Also, Georgia Republicans will be going to the polls March 6, one month from today, to cast their votes in the presidential primary. And unlike previous campaigns, when Georgia was more or less an afterthought, there’s good reason to believe that we’re about to be treated to the full-on blast of GOP presidential politics.
With Virginia off the table because Gingrich failed to qualify there, Georgia will be the largest state contested on Super Tuesday. And Gingrich is telling everyone who will listen that he intends to fight for the nomination all the way to the convention in Tampa in late August, no matter what.
If you’re Mitt Romney, that’s trouble. His inability to finish off even a badly flawed contender such as Gingrich would dog him through late spring and early summer, when he needs to be seen as the unchallenged GOP champion. He needs to kick aside the snarling Gingrich as quickly as possible, and Georgia may prove to be the place to do it.
According to a SurveyUSA poll last week, Gingrich leads Romney by 45-32 percent in Georgia, but that 13-point lead is considerably smaller than reported by previous polls. Romney’s strategists have to see that as a great opportunity.
In Iowa and Florida, they overcame even larger polling deficits by launching a blitz of negative advertising against the former speaker. If they can do the same in Georgia and defeat Gingrich in his former home state, among a conservative electorate in a large Southern state, a Gingrich rationale for continuing the battle becomes much less plausible.
Georgia is Romney’s best chance to end this thing early.
– Jay Bookman
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241 comments Add your comment
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 6th, 2012
8:03 am
Mitts only wins 2 of the questions? He sure didn’t improve Massachusetts’ economy.
Georgia - Southside, ATL
February 6th, 2012
8:05 am
The road “always” leads back to Georgia…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kH_EZF0XqM
Normal
February 6th, 2012
8:07 am
The November election is going to be a disaster for the GOP. The House may even slide back to the Democrats…
USinUK
February 6th, 2012
8:08 am
now, THAT’S a nice way to start the week
Finn McCool (Class Warfare = Stopping Rich People from TAKING MORE of OUR MONEY)
February 6th, 2012
8:10 am
On another note, can we just buy Greece? All that history! All those black sand beaches! It’s like Florida with columns instead of trailers.
We can quash the corruption over time.
philosopher
February 6th, 2012
8:10 am
I think I’d really enjoy seeing Gingrich (though he makes my stomach roil) nip at Romney’s heels all the way ’til August. He does a good job of showing Romney for who he really is.
TaxPayer
February 6th, 2012
8:13 am
Darn that improving economy. It could really ruin the Republican’s scorched earth policy if the earth does not stay scorched. How can Republicans hope to beat Obama if things keep getting better. The horror. This is terrible for them. I wonder if the Koch crooks realize that the $100 million that they scraped together to fight Obama’s re-election will actually help strengthen the economy and make Obama look better.
Granny Godzilla
February 6th, 2012
8:14 am
I really think we should do everything we can to see that Georgia’s
home grown Newt Gingrich wins the GOP primary.
“In-person advance voting for the 2012 presidential preference primary will begin Monday, February 13, 2012.”
Whatever
February 6th, 2012
8:14 am
While we wallow in our ingratitude the rest of the world is getting interesting.
“The Iranian government, through a website proxy, has laid out the legal and religious justification for the destruction of Israel and the slaughter of its people,” reports Reza Kahlili, a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officer who became a double agent for the U.S. and is now a consultant to American intelligence agencies. “The doctrine includes wiping out Israeli assets and Jewish people worldwide. Calling Israel a danger to Islam, the conservative website Alef, with ties to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the opportunity must not be lost to remove ‘this corrupting material. It is a ‘jurisprudential justification’ to kill all the Jews and annihilate Israel, and in that, the Islamic government of Iran must take the helm.’
USinUK
February 6th, 2012
8:15 am
“On another note, can we just buy Greece? All that history! All those black sand beaches! It’s like Florida with columns instead of trailers”
maybe we can persuade the Israelis that all those hundreds of islands are the promised land, instead … it would help Greece AND it would solve the middle east problem!!
USinUK
February 6th, 2012
8:16 am
“that Georgia’s home grown Newt Gingrich wins the GOP primary.”
NO!!!
he’s from Pennsylvania, dammit … no effing WAY am I claiming him.
stands for decibels
February 6th, 2012
8:19 am
Mitt’s better at “handling the federal budget deficit?” ha ha ha ha ha.
Oh that’s a good one.
Yep, America, sprinkling Tax Cut Fairy dust and saying “ala-kazamm” has worked wonders so far.
Power 92.7 – WPIQ We Power your I.Q. » Poll: Obama tops 50 vs. Romney – Politico
February 6th, 2012
8:20 am
[...] PostPoll: Obama a Clear Leader in One-on-One Matchups with GOP FrontrunnersMyFox PhoenixAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Hill (blog) -Ithaca College The Ithacanall 174 news [...]
USinUK
February 6th, 2012
8:20 am
“I think I’d really enjoy seeing Gingrich (though he makes my stomach roil) nip at Romney’s heels all the way ’til August. He does a good job of showing Romney for who he really is.”
PLUS, there’s the bonus of all that money wasted on infighting …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKUOB8MN4Kc
Junk Guard – The latest news, top videos, games, and more! » Poll: Obama tops 50 vs. Romney – Politico
February 6th, 2012
8:20 am
[...] PostPoll: Obama a Clear Leader in One-on-One Matchups with GOP FrontrunnersMyFox PhoenixAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Hill (blog) -Ithaca College The Ithacanall 174 news [...]
Granny Godzilla
February 6th, 2012
8:23 am
USinUK
Ok…corrected to GA raised…..
stands for decibels
February 6th, 2012
8:23 am
Anyone else here thinking seriously of voting for Serial Adulterer on Super Tuesday, just to be a noodge?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 6th, 2012
8:26 am
USinUK….. it could be worse, he could have been your congressman…..
Oh the shame, however will I hold my head up…oh that’s right. I didn’t vote for the buffoon.
ragnar danneskjold
February 6th, 2012
8:28 am
I think there is little chance anyone can stop Romney now. Call him “President.” Probably take all of the battleground states, except maybe Michigan, Not my first choice, but certainly relief from my last choice, Chauncey.
JohnnyReb
February 6th, 2012
8:28 am
So the legacy meida is not biased, huh? Even the poll questions play Obama’s tune – “protecting the middle class.” Ridiculous.
Finn – you get the “misguided handle award” for today.
carlosgvv
February 6th, 2012
8:29 am
It is true that “Georgia is Romney’s best chance to end this thing early”. However, Georgia Republican voters aren’t exactly known for their intelligence.(see Gov. Nathan Deal) It’s far more likely the electorate will do what SC did since they see him as the best chance to get rid of that Black African Muslim Marxist Socialist non-American currently in the White House.
Sean Smith
February 6th, 2012
8:29 am
So by voting for NEWT you Georgia conservatives are giving up on that whole families values sanctimonious moral stuff and will quit telling us gays how to live our lives.
Or are you voting for the serial adulterer multiple divorcee to uphold the sanctity of marriage????
USinUK
February 6th, 2012
8:31 am
“Ok…corrected to GA raised…..”
after all, if a cat had kittens in the oven, you wouldn’t call them biscuits!
stands for decibels
February 6th, 2012
8:32 am
oy. Guess it helps to read the comments before commenting.
Had I a do-over, I mighta said “a lot of merit to what philosopher @ 8.10 and GG @ 8.14 have to say. I’m thinking of voting for Newt in the primary here in GA, anyone else?”
Normal
February 6th, 2012
8:32 am
Whatever,
In a sense, I’d like to see Iran take on Israel…I think they would find out they took the helm of an Islamic Titanic and Israel would be the ice berg…
Granny Godzilla
February 6th, 2012
8:33 am
From Wiki:
Operation Chaos” (An effort promoted by Limbaugh to cause chaos in the Democratic Party primaries by encouraging Republican voters to either cross over or change parties in order to vote for whichever candidate is trailing, thus prolonging the primary process);[
Let’s Goose The Gander!
JTGSocial.Com – Welcome To Our Blog - Poll: Obama tops 50 vs. Romney – Politico
February 6th, 2012
8:33 am
[...] PostPoll: Obama a Clear Leader in One-on-One Matchups with GOP FrontrunnersMyFox PhoenixAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Hill (blog) -Ithaca College The Ithacanall 182 news [...]
Granny Godzilla
February 6th, 2012
8:35 am
Can a newt even be goosed?
barking frog
February 6th, 2012
8:35 am
The President better get those bottom 3 on his side
of the balance sheet or he will be unemployed after
November.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 6th, 2012
8:35 am
For those who may have missed it, it seems SNL has selected the Moon President
Poll: Obama tops 50 vs. Romney – Politico | urbandestruction.com
February 6th, 2012
8:39 am
[...] PostPoll: Obama a Clear Leader in One-on-One Matchups with GOP FrontrunnersMyFox PhoenixAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Hill (blog) -Ithaca College The Ithacanall 182 news articles » This [...]
Poll: Obama tops 50 vs. Romney – Politico
February 6th, 2012
8:39 am
[...] BoostABC NewsObama holds edge over Romney in general election matchup, poll findsWashington PostObama takes polling lead; Georgia critical to RomneyAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)The Hill (blog) -MyFox Phoenix -Ithaca College The [...]
RF
February 6th, 2012
8:43 am
Newt’s only chance of saving his campaign is here in good ‘ol Gawgia. He’ll get some good old boy votes, but I think his past is going to catch up with him. Too many of us remember his shenanigans and see right through his sanctimonious BS. You can teach a pig to oink something that sounds like Bible verses…right after you get him to hold still for the lipstick.
stands for decibels
February 6th, 2012
8:44 am
Even the poll questions play Obama’s tune – “protecting the middle class.”
JReb, do I really need to go google every time the GOP candidates have claimed to be protecting the interests of the middle class? Have you forgotten why Mitt stepped in it with his “not concerned about the very poor” business, what followed that?
“I’m concerned about the very heart of the America, the 90 percent, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling.”
stands for decibels
February 6th, 2012
8:46 am
Can a newt even be goosed?
GG, if you’re friendly with some chubby-chasers intent upon finding out, do let us know.
anyway, gotta produce. Outa here for awhile…
Obama holds edge over Romney in general election matchup, poll finds – Washington Post
February 6th, 2012
8:46 am
[...] Washington …Poll: Obama tops 50 vs. RomneyPoliticoQuestions on Romney Give Obama BoostABC NewsObama takes polling lead; Georgia critical to RomneyAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Sydney Morning Herald -The Hill (blog) -MyFox [...]
Peadawg
February 6th, 2012
8:46 am
http://nation.foxnews.com/snl/2012/02/05/snl-spoofs-newt-s-moon-colony
Hilarious!
TaxPayer
February 6th, 2012
8:49 am
Based on his roughly 14 percent tax rate on 2010 income of about $22 million, the public by a broad 66-30 percent says Romney is not paying his fair share of taxes; even nearly half of Republicans say so, as do half of very conservative Americans.
Ouch! You Republicans are not getting your “wealth envy” message out to your base. Better work on that.
mm
February 6th, 2012
8:51 am
Now that’s the stupid American voter for you. They think a republican would be better for the economy and deficit. I guess lying constantly really does help the GOP.
Peter
February 6th, 2012
8:52 am
The Republican Lemmings will vote for Romney in this state, as they get poorer.
Obama holds edge over Romney in general election matchup, poll finds – Washington Post « Alcohol-ISM
February 6th, 2012
8:56 am
[...] on Romney Give Obama BoostABC NewsAn Open Letter To Newt GingrichHuffington PostAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Sydney Morning Herald -The Hill (blog)all 186 news articles » [...]
kayaker 71
February 6th, 2012
8:57 am
The economy….. all the rest of that list of BS is window dressing. It’s unemployment, home values in the tank, America out of work…. nothing else matters. And this clown in the WH just hasn’t produced. He and his gang massage the numbers to make it look like he is succeeding with our jobless. But he isn’t. America knows it, liberals who pray for good news know it….. We might not like Romney so much but he is so much better than the alternative….. most anything is better than the alternative. So, before you write Romney off, Bookman, concentrate on the real issues. Bozo’s famous statement about getting the economy turned around in his first term will come back to haunt him….. “If the economy isn’t fixed during my first term, I deserve to be a one term president”. Are you listening, liberals?
larry
February 6th, 2012
8:57 am
I bet ole Nathan will find a way to arm twist a few people into voting for Gingrich. The same way him and Cagle tag teamed the former revenue commissioner, Bart Graham, about keeping Deal’s sweet state contract in force.
JohnnyReb
February 6th, 2012
8:58 am
stands – I am very aware Mitt speaks of helping the middle class. I am also very aware his comments on not being concerned of the poor being taken out of context and will be used against him until he wins in November. What you should be concerend of is Obama having thrown the white middle class overboard. When he speaks of helping the poor and middle class, he is not talking to white voters.
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/the-future-of-the-obama-coalition/
Poll: Obama tops 50 vs. Romney – Politico | NBA News Daily
February 6th, 2012
9:00 am
[...] PostQuestions on Romney Give Obama BoostABC NewsAn Open Letter To Newt GingrichHuffington PostAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Sydney Morning Herald -The Hill (blog)all 186 news [...]
larry
February 6th, 2012
9:01 am
He and his gang massage the numbers to make it look like he is succeeding with our jobless
I guess Bush and his boys did the same thing.
Along with those fake terror threats. You know those terror threats that the adminstration came out with right up to the election 2004. You know we havent had one since Halloween 2004. Talk about messaging .
larry
February 6th, 2012
9:03 am
When he speaks of helping the poor and middle class, he is not talking to white voters.
Hmmm…… but aren’t most people on food stamps and other government assistance white ?
Nice throw of the race card though.
TaxPayer
February 6th, 2012
9:05 am
Sixty-eight percent think the tax code favors the wealthy in this country; 56 percent feel that way strongly. Seventy-two percent favor raising taxes on millionaires; 59 percent say so strongly. Both include majorities of Republicans.
How’s that “tax cuts for the job creators” message holding up. I think the majority of the GOP base are suffering from wealth envy.
SoGaVet
February 6th, 2012
9:05 am
As a conservative, independent-leaning voter who thinks the President deserves 4 more, I’m voting for Gingrich in the primary.
JohnnyReb
February 6th, 2012
9:06 am
Most who post here likely do not know of Abbott and Costello, but regardless you might just understand the following. Credit goes to Barry Levinson. Yes, that Barry Levinson, the Hollywood guy.
COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America .
ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It’s 9%.
COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?
ABBOTT: No, that’s 16%.
COSTELLO: You just said 9%.
ABBOTT: 9% Unemployed.
COSTELLO: Right 9% out of work.
ABBOTT: No, that’s 16%.
COSTELLO: Okay, so it’s 16% unemployed.
ABBOTT: No, that’s 9%…
COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 9% or 16%?
ABBOTT: 9% are unemployed. 16% are out of work.
COSTELLO: IF you are out of work you are unemployed.
ABBOTT: No, you can’t count the “Out of Work” as the unemployed. You have to look for work to be unemployed.
COSTELLO: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK!!!
ABBOTT: No, you miss my point.
COSTELLO: What point?
ABBOTT: Someone who doesn’t look for work, can’t be counted with those who look for work. It wouldn’t be fair.
COSTELLO: To who?
ABBOTT: The unemployed.
COSTELLO: But they are ALL out of work.
ABBOTT: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work…
Those who are out of work stopped looking.
They gave up. And, if you give up, you are no longer in the ranks of the unemployed.
COSTELLO: So if you’re off the unemployment roles, that would count as less unemployment?
ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!
COSTELLO: The unemployment just goes down because you don’t look for work?
ABBOTT: Absolutely it goes down. That’s how you get to 9%. Otherwise it would be 16%. You don’t want to read about 16% unemployment do ya?
COSTELLO: That would be frightening.
ABBOTT: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question for you. That means they’re two ways to bring down the unemployment number?
ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.
COSTELLO: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?
ABBOTT: Correct.
COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for a job?
ABBOTT: Bingo.
COSTELLO: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier of the two is to just stop looking for work.
ABBOTT: Now you’re thinking like an economist.
COSTELLO: I don’t even know what the hell I just said!
Now you know why Obama’s unemployment figures are improving, and you should now understand the State of the Union .