Poll: Romney holds 2-point lead in NC

By Meghashyam Mali - 10/15/12 07:18 AM ET

A new poll finds GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney with a slight lead in battleground state North Carolina.

Romney now leads President Obama 49 to 47 percent in the state, according to the latest survey from Democratic-affiliated firm Public Policy Polling. The 2-point edge represents a slight bounce for the GOP nominee from the same poll two weeks ago, which found the candidates tied with 48 percent support each.

The poll comes after the first presidential debate, on Oct. 3 in Denver, a contest Romney was widely viewed as having won, and an Oct. 11 debate between Vice President Biden and Romney running mate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

North Carolina voters said Biden won his debate, by 46 to 42 percent. But voters hold a better opinion of Ryan, who is at 48 percent favorability to 45 percent unfavorable, than Biden, at 47-47 percent.

A slew of polls after the first Romney-Obama debate showed the GOP challenger closing the gap in key swing states and vaulting to the lead in many national polls, including Gallup’s daily tracking survey of likely voters.

The debate performance has helped Romney boost his likeability to net positive territory in North Carolina. Forty-nine percent now have a favorable opinion of him, to 46 percent unfavorable. The last poll showed Romney underwater at 46 percent favorable to 49 percent unfavorable.

The president’s approval numbers, though, are still underwater, with 48 percent approval and 50 disapproval.

The poll attributes Romney’s overall edge in the state to strong numbers with white voters, who back the former Massachusetts governor 63-33 percent and among independents, who now break for Romney 54 to 40 percent over the president.

In North Carolina, as nationally, Obama leads with women 50 to 46 percent, but Romney holds the edge with male voters, 53-43 percent.

Obama wins voters under 65 by a 49 to 47 percent margin, but Romney holds a commanding 58 to 40 percent lead among those over the age of 65.

The poll was conducted from Oct. 12 to 14 and has a 3-point margin of error.