US election: Mitt Romney's make-or-break chance to lead America

Mitt Romney will tonight deliver a make-or-break speech to America, putting himself forward as the man who can revive the world’s largest economy even as a new poll showed him to be the least popular Presidential candidate in decades.

Up to 40 million Americans are expected to tune in to the prime-time speech at Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, which offers Mr Romney by far his biggest chance yet to convince voters that he can create jobs and boost shrinking wage packets.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll found Mr Romney’s favourability ranking had shrunk to just 35 per cent, with more than half (51pc) of the US electorate having an unfavourable opinion of the 65-year-old.

Mr Romney’s favourability is far behind both his opponent, Barack Obama, on 50 per cent, and a long list of previous candidates. They include Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis, George H.W. Bush in 1992 and Bob Dole, none of whom were below 47 per cent at this stage in the campaign,

As Mr Romney put the finishing touches to a speech that Republican delegates hope will deliver momentum to the coming campaign, aides hinted that he would focus on his ability to revive the economy rather than an unwinnable popularity contest with Mr Obama.

29/08/12