WHERE OBAMA STANDS – AT 9:55 A.M. ET:   Rasmussen's tracker, just out, shows a race that's dead even, basically duplicating Gallup's tracker yesterday.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows President Obama and Mitt Romney each attracting support from 46% of voters nationwide. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and five percent (5%) are undecided. See daily tracking history.

When “leaners” are included, it’s Obama 48% and Romney 47%. Leaners are those who are initially uncommitted to the two leading candidates but lean towards one of them when asked a follow-up question.

And...

A president’s job approval rating is one of the best indicators for assessing his chances of reelection. Typically, the president’s job approval rating on Election Day will be close to the share of the vote he receives. Currently, 50% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's job performance. Forty-nine percent (49%) at least somewhat disapprove.

COMMENT:  On a national basis, this is an incredibly close race, with little movement in months.  What is distressing, though, is that Obama's approval rating has dramatically improved.  On the basis of what, I have no idea.  There hasn't been much good news lately, and Obama's handling of the Libya episode certainly comes through as inept and dishonest.

But Obama is benefiting from a summer's worth of heavy advertising and the kicking in of the full Obama mode by the mainstream media.  The Univision interview with the president a few days ago stands as the first full, serious interview he's had, and Univision should be commended for asking tough questions. 

The Gallup tracker will be out at one.

September 22,  2012