Obama Regains 5-Point Lead Over Romney

By Yukio Strachan, Digital Journal

09 October 12

resident Barack Obama has regained his top position over Mitt Romney in Gallup's daily tracking poll, after the GOP presidential nominee's initial post debate sugar high surge.

Released Monday afternoon, the new poll shows Obama leading his GOP rival 50% to 45%, MarketWatch reports.

The new data is welcome news for Obama, who just Monday morning was even with Romney (47% to 47%) in three days of post-debate polling released by the same organization. In the three days leading up to the candidates' first debate, Obama was ahead by 5 points, 50% to 45%.

The economic news released Friday, showing the unemployment rate dipping to 7.8%, appears to have helped Obama, USA Today reported.

"Romney definitely improved in Friday and Saturday polling among registered voters, but Obama did better Saturday and Sunday nights," says Jeffrey Jones of Gallup.

In polling conducted for two nights after the Denver debate on Oct. 3, Romney was able to pull even with Obama among registered voters. But Obama did better over the weekend, after the jobless rate dipped below 8% for the first time since January 2009, USA Today says.

The 7-day average suggests that Romney's post-debate bounce is dissipating - though as one observer cautions, Gallup is polling registered, not likely, voters.

Obama's outlook for reelection has changed little since this morning on Intrade, with his chances at about 65%.

The next presidential debate is Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. CNN's Candy Crowley will moderate the town hall-style debate.