New Gallup Poll Shows Mitt Romney Leading By Six Percentage Points

Mitt Romney took a six-point lead over President Barack Obama, according to the latest Gallup poll. The statistics in the latest national poll is the Republican presidential candidate’s first lead outside the margin of error. The seven-day tracking poll of American voters has Romney at 51 percent and Obama at 45 percent. Wednesday’s results show the GOP nominee up from 50 percent on Tuesday.

The president was at 46 percent before the town hall debate, according to the Gallup figures. On Monday, likely voters had the candidates in a virtual dead heat, with Romney edging Obama out by two percentage points, well within the margin of error. Romney has experienced steady gains in the polls during recent weeks, according to the Washington Post. Last week the renowned national polling agency shifted its survey format from likely voters to registered voters. The poll also indicated that the GOP candidate opened up similar leads in 12 of the most competitive states, according to the Washington Post.

A Florida poll conducted by Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9/ Miami Herald had Mitt Romney up by seven points in the swing state. The poll of likely voters found that 51 percent of likely voters supported the Republican candidate and 44 percent the president. A prior survey had Obama leading Romney 48 to 47 percent.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Monday had the Republican nominee at 46 percent and the Democratic incumbent at 49 percent; considering the poll margin of error, that poll also showed a virtual tie. A Politico-George Washington University poll had President Obama at 49 percent but had Romney at 48 percent, yet again, a neck-and-neck race considering the polling margin of error.