Mitt Romney was rated more favorably than President Barack Obamain a new CNN/ORC poll released Tuesday, which wipes out a distinct advantage for the president as he battles for re-election.
But in the latest CNN poll, likely voters give Romney a 53 percent favorability rating, compared with 51 percent for Obama. Romney's unfavorable rating — 43 percent — is also five points lower than Obama's.
It's the first time Romney has edged Obama's favorability ratings in the CNN poll. In fact, the favorability ratings proved to be the one unsinkable trait for Obama through much of the campaign season. He has hovered in the mid-50s — a surprising number for an incumbent battling a weak economy — since March.
Romney, meanwhile, has gained 17 points of popularity since February. In that poll, only 36 percent of respondents viewed him favorably.
