Romney maintaining favorability levels

PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Americans favor GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney a bit more than they did in July but his rating hasn't changed much during the campaign, Gallup said.

In a report released Thursday, Gallup said 48 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Romney and 46 percent have an unfavorable view. As recently as mid-July, more Americans viewed him unfavorably than favorably, results of the latest USA Today-Gallup daily tracking poll indicated.

Romney's favorability rating is still lower than that of President Barack Obama, who has a 53 percent-to-48 percent edge over Romney, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said. The latest polling is down from his 54-39 advantage in July.

Obama's favorability edge reached double digits several times during the past 12 months.

Americans said they found Obama more likable than Romney, 54 percent to 31 percent, Gallup reported.

Gallup said Obama leads Romney on a number of personal characteristics. Results indicate Romney did no better than tie Obama on the question of which candidate Americans say can more effectively manage the government. Romney supporters consider management a strength for the Republican candidate because of his business and gubernatorial background.

Romney fared better than Obama on two economic issues, Gallup said. Americans said they consider Romney the better candidate on the economy and handling the federal budget deficit.

Obama led Romney on foreign affairs, energy, and Medicare, taxes and healthcare.

Gallup said it conducts national telephone surveys with an average of 1,000 adults daily, as well as additional surveys. In most cases, the maximum margin of sampling error is 2 percentage points to 4 percentage points.