Obama opens double-digit lead in Michigan

President Obama has opened a double-digit lead in Michigan, according to a new poll, indicating that the president continues to enjoy a post-convention bump — and dampening hopes that Republicans could expand the electoral map in November.

The Democratic incumbent led Republican challenger Mitt Romney 47-37 percent in a poll released Wednesday by EPIC-MRA, a 7-point improvement from a similar poll conducted shortly before the Republican convention.

Obama posts a 9-point lead among independents, a 16-point lead among women, and even a 2-point lead among men in the state. 

Democrats made the recovery of the auto industry a central selling point at the Democratic convention, repeatedly praising the president for the auto bailout.  

“When the whole theme for the Democrats is Osama bin Laden is dead and GM is alive … that’s got to help in Michigan and Ohio and a couple other states as well,” said EPIC-MRA pollster Bernie Porn in a statement.

The poll is a troubling sign for the Romney campaign, which had hoped to bring Michigan — the state where the Republican presidential nominee grew up — into play. The addition of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to the ticket was also aimed at boosting Republican prospects in the Upper Midwest.

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