Latest Washington Post/ABC News poll: Obama, Romney tied

The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll shows former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney leading all GOP contenders for the nomination in 2012. Romney is in a dead heat with President Obama with each showing 47%. Those surveyed in the poll gave President Obama low marks for his handling of the economy and the deficit. Boston University professor Graham Wilson is chair of BU’s political science department and the author of “Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective.” He offers the following comment on the latest poll numbers:

“Romney is the most serious challenger to Obama because he is not extreme. But note that the headline ‘Romney leads’ is based on support among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. That still leaves Romney the problem of getting past primaries and caucuses in which independents may not participate, depending on state rules.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu