Poll: Obama and Romney tied in presidential race

GlobalPost

President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney are tied, according to a new Rasmussen poll. Both Obama and Romney each have 42 percent of votes from likely US voters.

"Mitt Romney remains the most competitive Republican presidential contender as far as President Obama is concerned," the poll reported. 

Rasmussen surveyed 1,000 likely voters from across the United States over the phone on Jan. 3 and 4. According to a poll from last month, Romney was beating Obama 45 percent to 39 percent.

More from GlobalPost: Swing states poll: Romney, Gingrich lead Obama

Romney, the GOP frontrunner, is expected to be a target for the other Republican candidates at this weekend's upcoming debates in New Hampshire, Politico reported. The two debates, one sponsored by ABC News on Saturday night, and an NBC News-sponsored discussion on Sunday morning, will be a test for Romney. 

“He will be a political pinata, no question about it," a veteran GOP strategist told Politico. "The question is, how does he handle it?”

More from GlobalPost: DNC Mitt Romney ad portrays candidate as a flip-flopper (VIDEO)

Romney is still leading in the New Hampshire polls ahead of the state's primary on Jan. 10. A Zogby poll showed Romney garnering 38 percent of votes in the state, with Ron Paul in second at 24 percent, The Guardian reported

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