The generic Republican candidate wouldn’t beat President Obama in 2012 — 39 percent to 45 percent according to the Gallup poll from early August — but a new Gallup poll shows that one specific GOP candidate could beat Obama, while another would tie.
Among registered voters, Mitt Romney would edge out Obama narrowly, 48 percent to 46 percent. Rick Perry would tie with Obama at 47 percent. Obama would currently beat Ron Paul, 47 percent to 45 percent, and Michele Bachmann, 48 percent to 44 percent.
Among independent voters, Romney and Paul lead Obama by 3 points and Perry by 2 points. Bachmann lags behind Obama by six points.