Gallup: Obama leads on all personal characterists & 5 of 7 issues, BIG GAINS on healthcare, taxes

Gallup's own headline singled out only one of two issue areas in which Romney polled better than President Obama -- in the five other issue areas, and all "personal characteristics" areas, Obama is polling better.

Obama Still Wins on Likability; Romney, on the Economy
Obama gains on healthcare and taxes since July

http://www.gallup.com/poll/156857/obama-wins-likability-romney-economy.aspx

PRINCETON, NJ -- As the two-week period of back-to-back presidential nominating conventions gets underway next Monday, an Aug. 20-22 USA Today/Gallup poll underscores the strengths and weaknesses of each of the two candidates at this point in the campaign. Barack Obama retains a significant edge over Mitt Romney on personal dimensions, particularly in terms of his "likability," while Americans still believe Romney is better able to handle the economy.

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Americans are more likely to say that each of seven personal characteristics or qualities applies more to Obama than to Romney, by margins stretching from one percentage point for "can manage the government effectively to 23 points for being "likable."

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Americans have widely differing views of the two candidates across the seven issue dimensions tested. Romney beats Obama on two economic issues, the federal budget deficit and the economy, while Obama wins by at least nine points on each of the other five -- including 12- to 14-point advantages on foreign affairs, energy, and Medicare.

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Gallup tested five of these issue dimensions in July, and since then Obama has gained significantly in his positioning versus Romney on taxes and on healthcare. Romney had a four-point advantage over Obama on taxes in July; now Obama is preferred on that dimension by nine points. Similarly, Obama has moved from a tie on healthcare in July to his current nine-point advantage.

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The personal characteristics polling, and Obama's lead over Romney for each question:

Is likable +23
Cares about the needs of people like you +16
Would stand up to special interests, including those aligned with his own party +12
Is a strong and decisive leader +5
Would work well with both parties to get things done in Washington +5
Can manage government effectively +1



The issues polling -- how the candidates compare on their ability to handle each issue -- and Obama's polling compared to Romney's:

Foreign affairs +14
Energy +13
Medicare +12
Taxes +9
Healthcare +9
The economy -9
The federal budget deficit -15