(CNN) - President Barack Obama has a narrow advantage over Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in Ohio according to a new poll released Thursday which also found the race for the White House locked up in Florida and Virginia.
The NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist polls came out hours after another survey of likely voters, conducted by the American Research Group, found Ohio to be statistically tied.
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But the numbers could be evidence of a post-convention bump for the incumbent president. A CNN/ORC International poll of likely voters nationwide released Monday found Obama six points ahead of Romney, although the results were within the survey's sampling error.
In Thursday's polls, Ohio likely voters split 50% for Obama, 43% Romney, according NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, with 83% strongly supporting their candidate of choice.
Voters in both Florida and Virginia split 49% for Obama and 44% for Romney, a five point difference within the poll's sampling error of 3.1.
The polls were conducted between Sunday, September 9 and Tuesday, September 11, following the close of the Democratic National Convention.
In the three states, Obama's approval rating was at or just below the 50% mark and his favorability ratings were just above 50%. Meanwhile, more voters in each of the three states thought the country was on the wrong track than thought it was on the right track. The survey conductors noted this number was improving and between 42% and 45% in all three states.
On the question of who would best handle the economy, likely voters' opinions were mixed.
Florida voters picked Romney over Obama, 47% to 46%; Ohio voters went for Obama over Romney; 48% to 44%; and in Virginia, voters were evenly divided.
The NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist polls in the three battleground states came on the same day the ARG poll released results showing races in Ohio and Colorado separated by less than two points. Thursday morning, an EPIC/MRA survey of likely voters found 47% supporting Obama and 37% supporting Romney, with 16% unsure who they would support.
Florida, Ohio, and Virginia are among the nine toss up states on the CNN Electoral Map. Florida is also the largest toss up prize on the map with 29 electoral votes, while Ohio is the second largest with 18 and Virginia has 13.
From CNN Politics
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Obama / Biden 2012! I am better off now than I was four years ago.
It is a wonderful thing to see the President overcoming the billion dollar attack machine of the tea bagger right wing. The President inherited a disaster and has done an impressive job, despite tea bagger control of the House. His vision for our country is the right one.
Very dishonest article. The data clearly shows Obama outside the margin of error in Ohio, Florida, and Virginia. This makes Obama the front-runner: THE FRONT-RUNNER. Say it. Get used to it.
Robme will never be a president, not in this world not in the other. America can't have another president it needs to stop with bush. Long live Obama.
This is great news for Obama. I hope the numbers stick and go higher. Obama is good for all Americans and health care will be protected for at least four years. I see Obama trying to balance things for all and not just for the top 1%. I can trust Obama to handle foreign affairs in a dignifying manner. I can trust that he will not take on another war if not necessary. I see Romney and the neocon Republicans anxious to tackle another war and that is not what America needs.
A 5 point difference (FL and VA) with a MOE of 3.1 is not labelled as "wihin the margin of error". When you are reporting, please don't opine. Instead please state the facts as they are.
Just for the record, In order for the poll to be labelled as to be "within the margin of error" Obama's lead should be 3% or lower. But this poll determines that the lead was 5%.
President Obama a solid leader and he continues to prove it time and time again. That's why people choosing him more often.
Four more years for president obama
When the Margin of Error is 3.1 and Obama has 49% when Romney has 44%, that is NOT within the margin ... did you fail math?
Obama has a 5 point lead. 5 is greater than 3.1, thus it is NOT a statistical tie.
Learn Stats before you write such nonsense
Nice to see you confirming you're in the tank for the Republican Party. I've seen the statistics, and all three of the states are well outside the margin of error trending for the President. I'm not sure who you're trying to make happy with this type of reporting, but it certainly isn't me.
i don.t no it a littleearly for me to commit but thing are going the i antisipated think jt covington
2008 McCain only carried white people over 55.
This election Romney and Ryan endorse budgets getting rid of medicare and medicaid and replacing them with 401 style investments and vouchers.
You listening over 55 crowd?
Yes finally the sheep are actually maybe thinking and researching for themselves!!
Sarah Romney, and Mittens Palin need to vanish. Maybe they can fly of the handle together in a one way flight over the Bermuda Triangle in the "Hair Force Once" mega jet.
I strongly believe Obama will win the race.
A 6 point margin of error? You guys need better pollsters.
how can anyone vote for this POS, Mitt. He has told us nothing about anything, flip flopped on everything (lies about position), hides his money off shore, spins only the questions he wants to answer, picked a pathological liar as running mate?
Nah. FL is not tied. Obama 49 Rommey 44 – WSJ/NBC/Marist Poll.
Obama is an asset to the world. He is cool headed and calculative. If given another chance the world politics would fair better without rancour and accrimony. The present US politics is an attestation to this.
If this were not true it would be funny! The majority of Americans are ignorant and undereducated. No matter what this failure does or says doesn't matter. Not only is the economy in a horrible place and getting WORSE-The federal reserve decided to print more money- proof that Obama's policies have failed, doesn't matter to the simpletons. Do you think if the economy was improving and growing we'd be printing more money? Now we have a global crisis on our hands and the community organizer is in Vegas campaigning. Our embassy's are on fire, 4 Americans killed, anti-American protests across the middle east and he doesn't have time to meet with Israel! But what does CNN and all the other crap liberal media cover- romneys comment. Which Romney was RIGHT-even the government agreed because they backed away from the statement. How about asking obama why he won't meet with israel, why he apologizes to other countries, why wasn't there tighter security at our embassys on the anniversary of sept. 11? How about informing Obama who our ally's are. LOL At least bush kept us safe for 7 years after 9/11- there hasn't been a US embassy killing since 1979!!! We need a STRONG leader and someone who can turn this economy around. Obama has proven he can't- he's making jimmy carter look like the best president! Anyone who votes for Obama at this point deserves America to fail.
Watch those hanging chads in Florida..The Republicans will do anything to get elected.. Oh my and even cheat. I thought that they were the "cornerstone" of integrity . Believe that and please buy that swamp i ha
ve for sale in Florida.
Hey Blacks, how can you vote for Obama again??? After 4 years of Obaminomics your unemployment rate Sucks at 14% which doesn't even include those no longer looking or those with temporary low paying jobs......
Hispanics?? Your unemployment rate is 11%
Hey Jews, how can you vote for Obama again???
Jerusalem: Pro-Israel Language Removed from party platform
Hey people of ALL faiths and those of conscience, how can you vote for Obama again???
Dems Drop 'God' From Party Platform...
Endorse taxpayer-funded abortions...
Hey ALL Americans who believe in America as the LAND OF OPPORTUNITY and your ability to make your dreams come true without the bondage of a Bigassssssss Government, how can you vote for Obama again???
DNC Video: 'The Government Is The Only Thing We All Belong To'...
The Democrat's Greek Columns are gone this time but they are still attempting to take America to Greece.....
"Voters in both Florida and Virginia split 49% for Obama and 44% for Romney, a five point difference within the poll's sampling error of 3.1."
How's that a tie?
Romney is disgusting. They will give him intel briefings starting next week. So? bachmann has been on intelligence committee for 4 years and she's still stupid. He can't get enough intelligence in the next 24 days to make me change my mind. He's all for himself and his wealthy buddies.
24 days til early voting in my state.
Obama/Biden 2012-2016 for a calm, intelligent, steady hand going forward.
Willard Mitt Romney just leaves me fealing empty inside every time I hear his speech. I get the same feeling from the movie Exorcist and have related feelings for Romney. There is just something wrong with Mitt Romney and his campaign seems to have no content like an empty feeling. most of my republican friends are giving up on romney and have decided to vote for obama again.