Polls

Poll finds Romney up 6 in swing-state Florida

by Meghashyam Mali - 11/04/12 2:18 PM ET

GOP nominee Mitt Romney holds a strong 6-point lead in the southern battleground of Florida, according to a new poll released Saturday.

The latest Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9/Miami Herald poll shows Romney with 51 percent support from likely voters to President Obama’s 45.

Romney’s numbers are down one from the same poll last month, but the survey shows him in commanding position with two days until the election.

{mosads}Florida voters trust Romney better on the economy and say that he will look out more for the middle class by 50 to 48 for Obama. Romney also holds a 2-point advantage on which candidate would better manage foreign policy.

Romney is viewed more positively by voters in the state. Obama has a 42 percent favorable rating to 49 unfavorable, while Romney has a 53 favorable and 34 unfavorable split.

Romney’s advantage in Florida is thanks to Obama’s slipping numbers with female voters. The president holds a 2-point lead among women, down from his 14-point edge in July.

Among independent voters, Romney is ahead 49 to 43, with 8 percent saying they are still undecided.

The poll also finds that Romney leads on Medicare, with 52 percent saying Obama’s policies would do more harm to the program long-term and 44 saying Romney’s proposals would.

Romney will return to Orlando on Monday to make one final pitch for the state’s votes.

Other polls in the state have shown a tighter race with, NBC/WSJ/Marist putting Obama up 2 at 49-47 while Gravis Marketing finds Romney up 3 and CNN/Opinion Research puts the GOP candidate up 1.