Republicans Urged To Shift Focus To President Obama [AUDIO]

If the Republican candidates for President want to make any headway, they need to shift their focus off of each other and toward Barack Obama.

That's according to Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind Poll Director Peter Woolley after the latest poll shows the country's "right direction" number is up 12 points since December, to 32 percent. Meanwhile, the "wrong track" number declined by 11 points, to 59 percent from 70 percent.

"The Republicans really need to make a coherent argument against the President," said Woolley. "In this primary, it's somewhat chaotic. Everybody has their own critique not only of the President, but of each other. So, what the public is really hearing is fewer arguments against what the President is doing and much more about the shortcomings of the other Republican candidates. They need to talk more about the direction of the country and the President and a little less about each other."

According to the poll, President Obama consistently attracts better than four of five Democrats and lean Democrats. "He really has his party behind him. No matter what measure of dissatisfaction Democrats have, they are going to vote for Obama," said Woolley. "When it comes to the Republicans, we're seeing them engaging more with one another than with the President and front-runner Mitt Romney just can't seal the deal."

Both Santorum and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney are tied at 33 percent among Republican preferences for their parties nomination according to the poll. Newt Gingrich, once the front runner, is fading with just 15 percent, while Ron Paul trails with seven percent.

"Santorum not only ties Romney, but he's the preferred second choice for Republicans, getting 29 percent more than any of his colleagues," said Woolley. "The bad news for Romney is when you ask people their second choice and Romney wasn't their first, he's not their second either. That really suggests a big problem for Romney heading into Super Tuesday."

"The good news is that he's not Republican voters least favorite either," said Woolley. "That goes to Ron Paul with 48 percent naming him their least favorite. Interestingly enough, Ron Paul is the only Republican to best the president among independent voters. But, one in five Republicans aren't sure they'd vote for him."