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(VOVworld) – The US Presidential Election which will take place four months from now is shaping up as a very close race between incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his Republican rival, former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney. Neither of them has been able to gain a clear advantage. VOV editor Ánh Huyền looks at the campaign.

Thirteen recent polls have shown virtually the same result no presidential candidate has yet made a breakthrough. According to last Tuesday’s poll by the Washington Post/ABC News, Obama and Romney are tied with 47% of the voters. A Quinnipiac Poll last Wednesday gave Obama a three point lead over Romney - 43 to 40%. Gallup and HuffPost showed that Obama leading 47 to 45% and 45.9 to 44.1% respectively. Political experts forecast that the fight for undecided voters between now and the election will be fierce.

In attack on his rival, Obama’s campaign speech in Virginia last Saturday accused Romney of firing workers without compassion and sending their jobs overseas. Obama also said Romney hasn’t outlined any plan for US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan. Romney’s net worth of 250 million USD becoming a hot issue with Obama’s campaign team trying to paint the Republican candidate as out of touch with the public. The President wants Congress to let the tax exemption for the rich initiated by former President George W. Bush expire this year, while extending the tax exemption for those whose income is under 250,000 USD per year. Obama is hoping Virginia voters will back him as they did in 2008. His campaigns trip will continue in the key states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Iowa.

Romney, meanwhile wants Obama to take the blame for automatic military budget cuts which will take effect early next year if Congress is unable to reach a consensus on a new plan to reduce the federal budget deficit. The Obama administration’s failure to restore the economy has been an advantage for the Republican Party. Last Wednesday, Romney delivered a speech at the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Houston. The NAACP is the biggest civil rights association in the US. Romney’s supporters praised him on Twitter for bravely expressing his political views to a group staunchly in favor of Obama. The former Massachusetts Governor said that although Obama’s presidency has been of historical importance, Obama hasn’t done enough to help Americans escape poverty and has made many black families lose ground economically. Romney said he hopes to receive the backing of black voters who are not satisfied with Obama’s leadership as US unemployment rates have remained above 8% for 41 consecutive months. The rate among black Americans stands at 14.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Obama was strongly supported by the black community. Obama has said he regrets not doing a better job of boosting national solidarity, and optimism in his first term. It’s an obvious liability this year for the Democratic Party.

Anh Huyen