Poll: Romney's 5-point NC advantage largest in more than a month

Mitt Romney has edged ahead to a five-point lead in North Carolina, his best poll numbers in the pivotal swing state in more than a month.

The Republican challenger holds a 49-44 percent advantage over the president, according to a poll released Thursday from conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports. Three percent of voters prefer a third-party candidate, while 4 percent are undecided.

Romney is buoyed mostly by economic dissatisfaction in the Tar Heel State. The poll found that the majority of North Carolina voters say the economy is "poor," while barely over one in 10 rank the economy as "good" or "excellent." While just under a quarter describe economic conditions as improving, nearly half say things are getting worse.

In a question playing off Romney's recent criticism of the president's "you didn't build that" remark, over half of respondents said entrepreneurs who start small businesses do the most to create jobs and spark economic growth, versus 22 percent who give large businesses credit, and 13 percent who point to government as the primary economic stimulator.

Nearly three-quarters say small businesses are primarily responsible for the success or failure of their own businesses, and eight in 10 say small-business owners work harder than the typical voter.

Romney also shows a positive favorability rating in the state, a divergence from many national polls. Half of North Carolina voters have a favorable view of the presumptive Republican nominee, while 47 percent view him unfavorably.

President Obama, meanwhile, remains under water with his job performance. While 47 percent of voters in the state approve of the job he's done as president, 51 percent disapprove.

The Rasmussen poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percent.

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