Why don't people like me?

Romney’s favorability ratings stall

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Jon Cohen, WashPost, Published: August 7

Mitt Romney’s favorability ratings have stalled over the course of his campaign’s bumpy summer months, with his earlier improvements as he was wrapping up the Republican nomination in the spring appearing to flat-line, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

While 40 percent of voters now say they hold a favorable opinion of the former Massachusetts governor--virtually unchanged from May--those holding negative views of Romney ticked higher in the new poll, from 45 percent to 49 percent.

Meanwhile, President Obama remained in positive territory on that measure, with 53 percent of voters reporting they hold favorable opinions of the incumbent. Only 43 percent say they feel unfavorably towards him.

Polls have generally shown a tight contest despite Obama’s consistent edge on the question of personal popularity.

But a Post poll concluded just as Romney was clinching the nomination showed Romney appearing to gain ground on the president. His favorability ranking rose to a career best 41 percent, while for the first time he matched Obama among detractors, with 45 percent viewing each man unfavorably.

(More here.)