U.S. registered voters say they are more likely to vote for the Republican presidential candidate than for President Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election, according to a new poll

Gallup said on Friday that registered voters preferred the GOP candidate by a 46 percent to 38 percent margin over the incumbent.

Even when taking into account the leanings of undecided voters, a Republican candidate was learning 50 percent to 42 percent.

Obama does appear to be stronger when matched against a specific candidate. He was essentially tied with Mitt Romney and with Rick Perry in a poll published on September 20.

“Obama's stronger performance versus actual Republican candidates than on the generic ballot indicates the Republican candidates are perhaps underperforming, which may show a general lack of enthusiasm for the party's leading presidential contenders among the electorate,” Gallup said.