Democratic President Barack Obama holds a narrow lead over Republican Mitt Romney in North Carolina, according to a new poll.
Obama has a 49-46 percent lead over Romney, according to a survey by Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-leaning firm based in Raleigh. The lead is within the margin of error.
With both sides pounding each other over the airwaves, the PPP survey found that Obama had picked up two points his approval rating while Romney's favorability rating had dropped five points. It also found that Obama had picked up 12 points among independent voters in the last month, although Romney still holds a 48-44 percent edge.
The poll also found a huge difference between new and old-time North Carolina residents. Obama leads among those who have lived in the state for 10 years or less by 39 points. Romney leads among those who have lived in North Carolina by 40 years or more by 14 points.
The spin: “North Carolina continues to be one of the closest states in the country,” said Dean Debnam, president of PPP. “Month after month we find Barack Obama and Mitt Romeny polling within three points of each other.''
PPP surveyed 813 likely North Carolina voters from August 2-5. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent.
Other recent polls by Rasmussen Reports have shown Romney up 49-44, Civitas Institute has shown Romney up 49-48, PPP, has shown Obama up 47-46, and Project New American has shown Romney up 49-48.