Poll: Obama leads in swing-state Virginia

President Obama has a 5-point lead over Mitt Romney in the critical battleground state of Virginia, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.

Obama leads 47-42, down from 50-42 in the same poll from March.

That’s in line with the Real Clear Politics average of polls, although a survey from conservative polling outlet Rasmussen released this week showed the two candidates tied in Virginia.

Obama’s lead would still be 5 points even if Romney were to add Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to the ticket. McDonnell is frequently mentioned as a potential Republican vice presidential candidate.

While Romney has made inroads among female voters nationally, women continue to buoy Obama in Virginia, where he leads 51-35. Romney has a 5 percent lead among men in the state.

Obama also leads 45-37 among independents in Virginia. Independents have so far tended to favor Romney nationally.

In a Web video released on Monday, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina identified Virginia as one of eight toss-up states that will be critical in determining the outcome of the 2012 election.

 Virginia was a reliably Republican state in presidential elections until 2008, when Obama defeated Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) by 6 percent there. 

The president started off his campaign in Virginia in early May, and Romney received the endorsement of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) at a campaign stop there just prior, where he was joined by McDonnell.

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