Poll: Obama leads Romney in North Carolina

President Obama leads Mitt Romney in North Carolina, one of 12 states that will be critical in determining the outcome of the 2012 election, according to a Public Policy Polling survey released on Wednesday.

Obama leads Romney 49 percent to 44, his largest lead in North Carolina to date, according to PPP.

The problem areas for Romney in the swing-state polls — a poor favorability rating and a massive gender gap — continue to dog the former Massachusetts governor in the Tar Heel State.

Romney’s favorability has dropped from 37 percent favorable and 39 unfavorable in February to 29 percent favorable and 58 unfavorable in April, while Obama’s approval rating in North Carolina is at 49 percent positive versus 48 negative.

The president also leads Romney among women 54 percent to 39, with independent voters 51 to 38, and with young voters 61 to 33.

Obama will need to win about half of the electoral votes provided by Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and New Hampshire if he is to secure a second term.

A PPP poll of Colorado released on Tuesday showed the president with a double-digit lead over Romney, 53 percent to 40.


A number of recent polls have also showed Obama opening up a healthy lead in the swing states, with a USA Today/Gallup poll earlier this month showing Obama up by 9 points.

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