(CNSNews.com) - If the presidential election were held today and either Rep. Ron Paul, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Gov. Rick Perry or former Gov. Mitt Romney was the Republican nominee, the Gallup poll would have the race to close to call because support for each of these candidates would be within the polling margin of error of the support for President Obama, according to a new Gallup poll.

From Aug-17-18, Gallup asked 879 registered voters: “Suppose the presidential election were held today. If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party’s candidate and __________ were the Republican Party’s candidate who would you vote for?” In the blank space shown here, Gallup rotated through the names of Paul, Bachmann, Perry and Romney.

The poll had a margin of error of +/-4 points...