USA: With the presidential election just over a month away, President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney are working to solidify support of U.S. voters in several key battleground states

Record ID: 347813

  • Title: USA: With the presidential election just over a month away, President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney are working to solidify support of U.S. voters in several key battleground states
  • Date: 6th October 2012
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 4, 2012) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARK R. KENNEDY, PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF POLITICAL MANAGEMENT AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SAYING: "Have a definitive plan that's convincing for growing jobs for the economy. If either one of them could come with a plan that is simple, explainable, understandable
  • Embargoed: 21st October 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAOQL8Y676V08WUDOZ9MA96UF
  • Story Text: With the November 6 election a month away, the race for the White House between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney has tightened after Romney's strong performance in the first debate.
    Romney is now viewed positively by 51 percent of voters, the first time he has enjoyed a net positive in the U.S. presidential race, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll taken after their prime-time face-off.
    The poll found that Obama's 7 percentage point advantage over Romney had narrowed to a lead of 5 percentage points, 48 percent to 43 percent.
    Mark Kennedy, the Director of the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University told Reuters the race is far from over.
    "I think there's enough time for the lead to change two or three times before election day, because each debate could go differently, and right know it's closer than a lot of people are thinking," he said.
    Obama and Romney will debate two more times before the election: October 16 and October 22. And while debates are among the most memorable events of any presidential campaign, there is little evidence that they can change the outcome of an election.
    The candidates will be making several campaign stops in delegate-rich states of Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, Florida, and Pennsylvania in the next 30 days in an effort to capture undecided voters and maintain support among their base.
    Some voters are concerned that neither candidate is providing enough detail.
    "I would like to see them talk a bit more about how they plan to balance the budget. I've seen them talk about it, but not in any great details on how they are going to accomplish these goals," Gloria Minot told Reuters.
    Basel Musharbash said he would like to see the candidates address issues affecting America's poor.
    "One in six Americans are in poverty today, one in five children are in poverty, and so I think I'd like to hear a bit more substance on what the candidates would do in the first 100 days to address that issue," he said.
    Kennedy said both candidates need to have a clear, understandable plan on managing the economy.
    "Have a definitive plan that's convincing for growing jobs for the economy. If either one of them could come with a plan that is simple, explainable, understandable by the average person on the street economic plan, he can win," Kennedy advised.
    Romney has trailed Obama in opinion polls since early September and had faced rising criticism from within his own party after a series of campaign missteps, but Romney's post debate boost has moved him ahead of the president on several core issues.
    Voters now see Romney as a better bet to boost the economy, spur job creation and manage the budget deficit, a recent poll found. He narrowed Obama's advantage on taxes, the Social Security retirement program and the Medicare health insurance program for the elderly and disabled.
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