POLITICO/GWU Tracking Poll - TIE (Obama 48, Romney 48)

11/4/12 7:14 AM EST

DENVER— With just two days to go until Election Day, Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama are tied in the race for president.

A new POLITICO/George Washington University Battleground Tracking Poll of 1,000 likely voters — taken Monday through Thursday of this past week — shows the two presidential candidates tied at 48 percent.

It’s a fitting end to a presidential contest that has teetered on parity in recent months — Obama was ahead by one point in the Battleground poll last week, while Romney edged the president by two points the week before.

History shows that most of the three percent of remaining undecided voters probably won’t go to the polls on Tuesday, so the winner will be determined by which candidate can turnout more of their supporters in the 10 or so competitive states.

Obama continues to be perceived as the frontrunner. Regardless of who they’re supporting, 53 percent of voters say they believe the nation’s first African-American president will win a second term. Historically, this question offers a good predictor of who winds up the victor.

SNIP

Independents are now split evenly, with Obama up 44 to 43 percent. A week ago, Romney had a 10-point advantage among this key demographic. The ranks of independents shrunk partly because more right-leaning voters now supporting Romney identified with the Republican Party.

SNIP

An identical number approve the president’s job performance, 49 percent, as disapprove.

Romney and Obama are now at parity on likability: 51 percent view Obama favorably while 50 percent view Romney favorably. Meanwhile, 45 percent of respondents view Obama unfavorably and 44 percent view Romney unfavorably.

Democrats continue to have an advantage on early voting, but Republicans closed the gap somewhat over the past week.

A full 27 percent of those surveyed said they’ve already cast their ballot. Of them, Obama leads 50 to 48 percent.

----

More:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83275.html