U.S. President Barack Obama is extending his lead over Republican Mitt Romney in the race for the White House.<br/> <br />Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Tuesday that independent voters and some optimism over the economy helped Obama extend his lead by seven points.<br/> <br />With six months to go before election day, Obama is backed by 49 percent of registered voters compared with 42 percent over his likely rival in November's presidential election.<br/> <br />Obama's overall approval rating also edged up to 50 percent, but some 47 percent of the people polled disapprove of how Obama handles his presidency.<br/> <br />At a campaign stop in Michigan, Romney targeted Obama's record.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE MITT ROMNEY SAYING :<br/> <br />"The lessons of the last four years teach us a great deal about the next four years. If we continue in the same direction with the same President. We must not. It's time to bring America back."<br/> <br />Although Romney has effectively clinched the Republican nomination, voters in Indiana, North Carolina and West Virginia went to the polls for their scheduled primaries.<br/> <br />Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
