Obama’s rating slips below Romney’s as US petrol prices soar

Republican candidates battled hard ahead of today’s key deep South votes as a poll said front-runner Mitt Romney would beat Democrat President Barack Obama if elections were held right now.

A national poll by ABC News and The Washington Post for the first time gave the former Massachusetts governor the edge against Obama, hurt by anger over rising petrol prices.

If elections were held today, Romney would beat Obama 49% to 47%, the poll revealed, adding thatObama’s approval rating has plunged below 50% as he bids for a second term in the November vote.