In Colorado, nobody as good as Obama

Washington, Feb.6 (ANI): In the swing state of Colorado, President Barack Obama has disappointed many independents, but they are even less happy with Republican candidates.

As the economy improves, President Obama's job approval ratings are edging higher among independents-who at the same time are more skeptical about the potential Republican challengers.

Independents, the dominant political force in Colorado and other swing states, have been warming to Obama in recent weeks while souring on the Republican Party's top potential challengers, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, polls show.

Though disappointment in Obama was widespread, so were negative opinions of Romney and Gingrich as their nasty scuffle drew more attention in advance of Tuesday's caucuses.

Obama still faces a difficult path to a second term, particularly if the nation fails to sustain its modest job gains since unemployment peaked at 10 percent in 2009.

But as the Republican contest has unfolded in recent months, Obama's popularity has been climbing from the low point of his presidency.

Polls show voters almost evenly split now between those who approve of Obama's job performance and those who disapprove.

Obama also holds a narrow edge over Romney in head-to-head match-ups and a wider lead over Gingrich.

Much can change in the nine months left before the election, but the trend for the Republican candidates has been especially troubling among independents expected to dictate the outcome in key states.

A late January poll by NBC and the Wall Street Journal found that 42 percent of independents had negative feelings toward Romney, up from 22 percent in November. (ANI)