Poll: Race tightens; Obama ahead by three

President Obama has a three-point advantage over Mitt Romney, according to a CNN-ORC poll released on Monday.

Obama takes 50 percent support over Romney’s 47 percent, among likely voters. That’s down from the same poll in early September, which showed Obama ahead 52 to 46 percent.

{mosads}It’s the latest poll to show the national race tightening. An ABC News/Washington Post poll released Monday showed Obama up 49 to 47 percent on Romney.

Obama’s approval rating has dipped over the last few weeks from 51 percent approval and 44 percent disapproval to 49 approval percent and 48 percent disapproval, according to the CNN poll.

Romney, meanwhile, has dipped back into negative territory on his favorability rating, after three consecutive CNN-ORC polls showed him moving into positive territory. Forty-nine percent of likely voters said they had a positive view of Romney, compared to 50 percent who said negative.

Voters gave Obama a slight edge on the economy, favoring the president 49 to 48 percent over Romney.

Obama’s lead on foreign policy is down from 12 points in the previous CNN-ORC poll, to 7 points presently, at 52 to 45 percent.

Republicans in recent weeks have seized on the unrest in the Middle East to hammer Obama over his foreign policy, a strength for the president. Obama consistently polls higher than his Republican challenger on the issue.

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Romney leads Obama on who would be better to tackle the deficit, 51 to 43 percent.

The CNN-ORC poll of 1,013 adults was conducted between Sept. 28 and Sept. 30 and has a 3 percent margin of error. The poll sample was made up of 37 percent Democrats, 34 independents and 29 Republicans.