Romney would defeat Obama if elections were held today: Poll

Washington, July 23 (ANI): US President Barack Obama could lose the presidency to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney if the election was held today, a poll has indicated.

A survey conducted by Public Policy Polling (PPP), covering 928 registered voters, showed Obama and Romney in a dead heat on 45 percent each.

It is the first time the President has lost his lead over a Republican rival.

Among independents, the Republican front-runner leads Obama by nine points, at 46-37, the poll showed.

Romney boasts more cross-party support, with 13 percent of Democrat supporters saying they would vote for him while just eight per cent of Republicans are behind Obama, the Daily Mail reports.

"There's a very good chance Barack Obama would lose if he had to stand for re-election today," the paper quoted Dean Debnam, president of PPP, as saying.

"This is his worst poll standing in a long time and he really needs the economy to start turning around," Debnam added.

Obama's up seven on Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann at 48-41, nine against former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty at 48-39, 12 versus Former CEO of Godfather"s Pizza Herman Cain at 48-36, the poll revealed.

The poll found that Obama has his largest lead in a match up with former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin at 53-37. (ANI)