CNN CALLS IT A DEAD HEAT...BUT – AT 7:22 A.M. ET:  A new CNN poll has Obama slightly ahead, but Romney so close that it's effectively a dead heat...except: 

Washington (CNN) - The race for the White House remains very close, according to a new national poll, partly because neither President Barack Obama nor Republican challenger Mitt Romney have a clear advantage on issue number one - the economy.

A CNN/ORC International survey released Friday also indicates that Obama supporters are more energized right now than those backing Romney.

According to the poll, 49% of registered voters say that if the November election were held today, they would vote for Obama, while 46% say they would cast a ballot for Romney, the unofficial GOP presidential nominee. The president's three point margin is within the survey's sampling error. Obama had a nine point advantage in CNN's last national poll, which was conducted in early April.

COMMENT:  First, the gain for Romney is dramatic.  Cutting a nine-point deficit to three points cannot be ignored.  Second, the poll was taken among registered voters.  All polls taken among likely voters show increases for Republicans, as Republicans are a bit more conscientious about voting.  So, the race may well be dead even, but it's possible for Romney to also be ahead at this point.  Indeed, Rasmussen's poll of likelies has Romney at 46, Obama at 45. 

These polls were taken before the devastating jobs report, issued yesterday.  It will take three or more days to measure the effect of the latest numbers on the polls.  It is hard to believe that independents will hold for Obama in the face of horrible economic news.  And it's hard to believe that the undecideds, who may amount to five or six percent at this point, will go for Obama if the economy continues to head for the nearest ditch.

June 2, 2012