Poll: Obama breaks 50 percent against Romney, Santorum

Washington, Mar.29 (ANI): A new CNN/ORC international survey indicates that President Barack Obama's approval rating has inched over the 50 percent mark for the first time since last May.

The number of Americans who say the American economy's in good shape has jumped 13 points since January, though the survey shows a majority still think it is in poor shape.

According to Politico, if a general election were held today instead of in early November, 54 percent of the registered voters say they would back Obama, with 43 percent supporting former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the front-runner in the GOP nomination battle.

That's up from a five-point 51 percent-46 percent advantage the president held over Romney in February.

Obama would also have a 55 percent-42 percent lead over Santorum, the former senator from Pennsylvania who's Romney's main rival right now for the nomination.

The president led Santorum by a seven-point 52 percent-45 percent margin last month.

The poll also shows that the GOP primary is taking its toll on favorability ratings for both Romney and Santorum:

The poll indicates that Obama is also the only presidential candidate with a personal popularity rating over 50 percent, with 56 percent of the public having a favorable view of Obama as a person and 42 percent seeing him in an unfavorable light. (ANI)