2012 Begins in Dead Heat

Americans are closely divided on the direction they wish to send the country in the next four years.

Gallup’s final 2011 polls show that Republicans two top candidates, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, are within the margin of error in their challenge to President Barack Obama.

·         Obama wins by two points.  That is probably the smart money play.

·         Dislike of Obama is main motivation of vote.  Voters, including many Republicans, still don’t know or particularly like the Republican frontrunners.

·         Obama wins close races.  Four years ago in June 2008, Obama was barely ahead of Hillary Clinton among Democrats and only four points ahead of John McCain in match ups.

·         Obama and Democrats lost 2010, but they made a recovery in 2011.  Obama ends year at five-month approval high.

See Gallup polls:

Both Romney and Gingrich tie Obama on 2012 ballot

Clinton’s vs. Obama’s strengths in the general election

Obama, Democrats have edge on payroll tax, unemployment