In a new poll released by Quinnipiac University, the race between presumptive republican nominee Mitt Romney and President Obama is very close. Obama leads Romney 46% to 42%. The poll also claimed that Romney had the edge among voters on the issues of the economy, jobs, and the price of gas. So how is Obama leading? The poll says women favor Obama by 49% to 39%. Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, stated, “Romney seems to hold an edge on the economy — the top issue of the campaign — and holds his own against the incumbent on being a strong leader.”

Obama’s likeability is viewed as a plus for him; voters favored him over Romney 81% to 63% in terms of personal likeability. But the disapproval rate for Obama’s handling of the economy remains high, at 56%. Obama’s slight edge in the Quinnipiac poll is not echoed in the latest poll from Rasmussen, which shows Romney with a paper-thin edge of 46% to 45%. Rasmussen also shows that only 25% of voters strongly approve of Obama’s overall performance, and 40% strongly disapprove.

One question Rasmussen posed reveals the fundamental negativism of voters about the present economy: only 49% of homeowners think their home is worth more now than they paid for it. The latest Gallup 5-day rolling poll shows Romney with a wider lead, 48% to 43%.