Poll: Romney edges Obama in swing-state North Carolina

Mitt Romney holds a small lead over President Obama in the critical battleground state of North Carolina, according to a survey released Tuesday from left-leaning Public Policy Polling.

Romney took 48 percent to Obama’s 46. That’s a 7-point swing from the same poll in April that showed Obama leading 49 to 44 percent.

{mosads}That’s in line with the Real Clear Politics average of polls, which shows Romney with a 2.5 percent lead.

Romney’s favorability rating in North Carolina has improved drastically. In April he was at 29 percent favorable and 58 unfavorable, but sits at 41 percent positive and 46 negative in the current poll.

Romney has also made big gains among independents in the state, edging Obama by 1 point after trailing by 13 earlier in the year.

North Carolina is one of 12 key swing states the president won in 2008 that the GOP is looking to reclaim. Democrats will hold their national convention there in September.



Obama defeated Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the Tar Heel State by less than 1 percent in 2008, the first time North Carolina had voted for the Democratic presidential candidate since 1976.