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Scott Rasmussen of Rasmussen Reports breaks down the latest polling data ahead of the November elections.
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Regardless of high unemployment and a you'd clearly slowing economy.
Most polls still suggest a very tight race in November's presidential election.
Scott Rasmussen from Rasmussen Reports joined now from New Jersey what's your latest tracking poll show you Scott.
Store our latest numbers this morning show Mitt Romney had 46%.
Barack Obama at 44%.
Got to tell you though the entire time that you were gone -- look back over the last twenty days in fact.
The candidates and stay within three points of each other every day Obama has been between 44 and 46 every day Romney between 44 and forty.
-- you know for the last four or five weeks it's been unremittingly bad news for President Obama on a variety of fronts especially the economy.
And yes it's neck and neck how do you explain that.
Well there's a couple things here -- -- does have a little bit of an edge on economic matters but is very small.
32%.
Think the economy will get better if Mitt rift Barack Obama is reelected.
Only 36%.
Thank you will get better if Mitt Romney wins.
What the voters are telling us is that expecting a politician to fix the economy is like hiring a plumber to picture electrical system -- don't think it's the right person for the job.
They think the government's role is to create a healthy environment and then what the private sector do the work is it.
Possible.
That's come November.
Even -- 8% unemployment and a very weak declining economy Barack Obama could win a second term.
It is certainly possible.
The most important number at this time is the president's job approval rating right now he's 47%.
That suggest -- get 47%.
Of the vote.
If there is any good news to move those numbers up if there's any good news about the economy the president can win.
But I gotta tell you if the economy gets any weaker than it looks very promising for Mitt Romney governor Romney is a slight favorite at the moment.
In this race.
But it's all about the economy the politicians who were looking at the campaign commercials and everything else yes that's -- side story it may have a marginal effect.
But the economy will drive the election results.
You had a poll I think this year what 16%.
Back -- -- in what everyone is success on the that's that -- that's a very small number of people who -- the economy is what good or excellent its outlook.
That's right and by the way 52% of investors think the economy is getting worse that's a much more pessimistic view than earlier in the year.
The big number that we keep focusing on though is how people rate their own personal finances.
And right now that number is just about exactly the same as it was on the day Barack Obama took office it's way down from the fall campaign of 2008.
Am I right in saying that back in 1980.
A -- of Reagan was slightly behind.
Then president -- at this stage of the election in 1980 and the same was true.
But George Bush -- yeah against Bill Clinton in 92.
Is that correct.
And that's correct and also if you -- back to 1980 there was a report may be July August -- camera which one.
Where inflation was reported at zero the president got a good economic report -- over time.
The numbers kept getting worse -- of course Jimmy Carter was also hurt by having the hostage situation just dragged down his credibility.
Now we're gonna -- your tracking poll every single morning because it's a daily poll and will be giving the results every single day.
But I know Europe professional pulse of -- what are the numbers really stop to account when -- they really tell a story about how the elections gonna time out.
They -- to give us a sense of that right after -- George Bush.
Came out -- -- John Kerry became the challenger to George Bush bush was ahead by three.
And he won by two and a half right after Obama wrapped up the nomination he was ahead of McCain by five he won by seven so we already have a sense of how this is gonna play out.
But after Labor Day is when you really begin to say okay those undecided voters are beginning to tune in.
Scott Rasmussen always a pleasure will quote -- numbers every single day thanks so much got good thanks thanks.
