Obama takes lead in swing states, economy still weighs

Reuters: President Barack Obama is carving out a clear lead in swing states that are key to the November 6 presidential election, even as national polls show him neck-and-neck with Republican rival Mitt Romney.

Helped by the White House’s recent loosening of immigration rules, Obama leads Romney in Ohio,

Pennsylvania and Florida, according to a Quinnipiac University survey on Wednesday.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal national poll showed Obama ahead of his challenger by just 3 points: a lead of 47 per cent to 44 per cent which is within the margin of error.

However, the Democrat’s lead stretches to 8 points when the race is measured in 12 tightly contested states.

Voters are still deeply worried about the economy, and Obama’s campaign could suffer a heavy blow if the Supreme Court rules against his healthcare overhaul on Thursday.

But on paper, Obama seems to have an easier path than Romney to winning 270 electoral college votes, and thus the election, if he can hold on to some of the big swing states he won in 2008.

Among the most contested battleground states today, Obama won Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida in 2008.