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Download Polls suggest US President Barack Obama holds only a small, perhaps meaningless lead over Republican Mitt Romney in the race for the White House as he awaits a new jobs report on Friday. With unemployment remaining high, Romney and Obama are running neck and neck with no sign that either can break away, as the race enters a final summer lull before the sprint to election day in November. Both candidates are taking a break this week, which includes the Fourth of July holiday, with Romney at his lakeside compound in New Hampshire and Obama at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. "When it's a 2- or 3-point race, that's not good for an incumbent president," said Republican strategist Rich Galen. Galen believes that Obama's political career is dependent on Angela Merkel holding the eurozone together, referring to the German chancellor and Europe's financial woes, which could further hurt the US economy. An eventful June began badly for Obama. Poor job creation numbers followed news that Romney's campaign was raising more money than his. Things got worse when Obama told reporters, "The private sector is doing fine," a line now featured in countless Republican attack ads. Obama was trying to contrast the private sector, which has seen steady but modest job growth, with the public sector, where budget cuts have led to layoffs of teachers, police officers and other government employees. The month ended better for the Democratic president. | 
