President Obama has dropped into a tie with likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney, and he even trails longshot Ron Paul in a general election matchup, according to a new poll.

"In a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup, President Obama and Mitt Romney are tied at 45 percent," according to a Rasmussen Reports survey of national likely voters. Rasmussen polls showed Romney trailing Obama by four points through February. Rasmussen also notes that 40 percent of voters strongly disapprove of Obama's job performance, compared to 27 percent who approve.

"Texas Congressman Ron Paul holds a one-point edge over the president, 44 percent to 43 percent," Rasmussen added.