A new Quinnipiac University Poll of swing states in the 2012 presidential election shows President Obama leading his Republican challenger, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, in the key states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida. But Obama still fails to get over 50 percent of the support in those three states.
The poll found Obama up on Romney 45-39 percent in Pennsylvania, 47-38 percent in Ohio and 45-41 percent in Florida. Obama fell by two points in Pennsylvania, compared to a May 3 Quinnipiac Poll but gained ground in Florida in Ohio. The May poll had those states too close to call.
Obama has held a consistent lead in Pennsylvania. But that doesn't mean voters here are thrilled with his first term in the White House. His job approval rating is still in the negative, 45–49 percent. And 45 percent of voters say Obama deserves reelection while 47 percent say he does not.
"President Barack Obama has decent margins over Gov. Mitt Romney in Ohio and Pennsylvania and a smaller advantage in Florida. If he can keep those leads in all three of these key swing states through election day he would be virtually assured of re-election," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
The Associated Press reported this morning that Obama will launch a two-day campaign bus tour next week through Pennsylvania and Ohio.