THE LATEST NBC NEWS - WALL STREET JOURNAL POLL SHOW GROWTH IN OBAMA'S LEAD............

Whereas last week's CBS News - New York Times Poll showed Mitt Romney leading President Obama for the first time, 47% - 46%; the NBC News - Wall Street Journal released yesterday shows a two percentage point increase in Obama's lead over Romney from last month, now at 49% - 43%.  In all catergories surveyed by the NBC-WSJ July Poll, except for the Economy, Romney trails the President in respondents views as to who would best handle the issues.  43% of the registeredvoters surveyed said Romney would best provide ideas to improve the Economy, versus 36% who said Obama will do so.  In response to Who Would Best Look Out for the Middle Class, the poll finds it President Obama 49%;  Governor Romney 33%;  on being Knowledgeable and Experienced Enough to Handle the Presidency, Obama 48%;  Romney 32%; and in Foreign Policy the preference is for Obama over Romney by ten percentage points, with approval of President Obama's oversight of Foreign Policy rated 53% Positive; 41% Negative.  Foreign Policy is normally a Republican candidate's strength, yet it is one of President Obama's real strengths opposed to Governor Romney in these findings.  According to Democratic pollster Peter Hart, who with Republican pollster Peter McInturff conducts the NBC - WSJ Poll, notes that President Obama's standing in regards to his handling of Foreign Policy is the strongest of any Democratic Presidential candidate in his lifetime.  This poll underscores Governor Romney's continuing need to convince voters he can change the the political atmosphere in Washington; while President Obama is still struggling to make progress  in gaining the support of the working class.  Independents lean in the President's favor as the best watchman for the middle class, as do most income groups, white working class partisans give the edge to the Governor.  With fifteen weeks to go in the General Election campaign both candidates still need to shore up support in order to win the White House on November 6th. The July NBC News - Wall Street Journal Poll, is a barometer that the race remains competitive with President Obama still slightly favored to win............Fr.  Troy