Nationally and in swing states, Obama, Romney still neck-and-neck

In the final days before Election Day, polls continue to show the presidential race is about as close as it can get, with Mitt Romney and President Obama in a statistical tie nationally in a new Washington Post-ABC News tracking poll.

The GOP nominee's 49-48 percent edge, in a poll taken among likely voters from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, is an exact flip-flop from one day earlier, when the president held the one-point advantage. Perhaps most telling, independent support for Romney jumped two percentage points between surveys, with 51 percent of the critical voting bloc favoring him over Mr. Obama in the most recent poll.

On the issue many voters cite as the most important this election, likely voters trust Romney to handle the economy over Mr. Obama, 50 percent to 46 percent. But asked which candidate they think better understands the economic problems Americans are facing, voters favored the president over Romney, 50 percent to 45 percent.

Meanwhile, in Ohio - one of the most contested battleground states where the two candidates have spent much of their final days campaigning - a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll shows President Obama leading by six points, 51 to 45 percent, among likely voters, and seven points, 51 to 44 percent, among registered voters. In both groups, only one percent of voters say they still may change their minds.

A CNN/Opinion Research Center International poll also has Mr. Obama up in the Buckeye State, but only by three points - 50 percent to 47 percent - which is within the survey's margin of error.

In Florida, another key swing state, polls indicate an even tighter race. A new Mason-Dixon poll puts Romney at a relatively comfortable six-point lead in the state which the president won in 2008 and which the Tampa Bay Times calls "essential to [Romney's] hopes of defeating" Mr. Obama. But the NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll shows President Obama up by two points among likely voters, 49 percent to 47 percent, and three points among registered voters, 49 percent to 46 percent.

[Mary-Troy]

OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA

[cjauregui10]

If the election results are substantially different than what the alphabet national networks have been telling us, then we know Obama has promised change and delivered to us a socialist-totalitarian police state where the media and journalists are under the complete control and financing of the White House. We'll know this one way or the other on Tuesday. It's one of the most important "dots" for us to connect.

[TimeToEvolve]

Listening to Rachel Maddow right now on MSNBC talking about the Republicon election fraud in Florida. People are waiting 8 houra to vote. The federa government should immediately investigate the state Republicons in these swing states and frog march some of them to prison.

If I was in a line like that I would be telling people that I would hold their places on line while they went home and got the pitchforks and torches.

[mmurphy58]

I will be really surprised if in the end it's even close.

I read a post from a guy that made a lot of sense to me; This polling data has a real margin of error of about +50 for the president, so if it's close it's not close at all. Most of the polling data is still being gathered by land line telephones. When you contact people by landline telephones, you are reaching old white republicans primarily. If this is true, and it seems to make sense, that means the polling data is ignoring the young vote, it is probably ignoring masses of minority votes, and it goes without saying the Latin vote isn't even being tapped into.

[jackbrooklynny]

TRUST ME: BARACK OBAMA DOES NOT GIVE A CRAP ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES! Obama is 100% Politician. Obama knows that N.Y and N.J. will always Vote Democrat... so... Obama took a few Photos on the Jersey Shore, had a helicopter ride and OBAMA FLEW TO LAS VEGAS ON THE SAME DAY! During the last 2 years Obama had done nothing but campaign for re-election.

NY and NJ have NO GAS, NO WATER, NO HEAT, NO FOOD...and Obama went to a $2,500 Fund Raising Dinner with Beyonce and JayZ...In case you were wondering Obama slept very well in the Presidential Suite at the Ritz- Carlton... While you are waiting 8 hours for a few gallons of gas...Obama burnt 32,0000 Gallons of Fuel in Air Force One.. MEANWHILE....NEW YORKERS WILL DRINK SEWER WATER AND EAT OUT OF DUMPSTERS

FLASH! The National Media is NOT airing any of the despair or misery that is happening . Obama Transparency? There is a TOTAL MEDIA BLACKOUT The National Media does not want to show anything that will hurt Obama's chances for re-election.

There is widespread looting, shooting and stabbings in all five boroughs of NYC. People are freezing, drinking contaminated water and scavenging from dumpsters. I guarantee you will not see what is really happening. FEMA says "everything is great". Truth: Government response is poor, ridiculos delays, completely not prepared. We are suffering, Obama is smiling and saying he is responsible. Obama says vote for Revenge. I will, screw you Obama. Jack from Brooklyn, New York. Lifelong Democrat
TRUST ME: BARACK OBAMA DOES NOT GIVE A CRAP ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES! Obama is 100% Politician. Obama knows that N.Y and N.J. will always Vote Democrat... so... Obama took a few Photos on the Jersey Shore, had a helicopter ride and OBAMA FLEW TO LAS VEGAS ON THE SAME DAY! During the last 2 years Obama had done nothing but campaign for re-election.

NY and NJ have NO GAS, NO WATER, NO HEAT, NO FOOD...and Obama went to a $2,500 Fund Raising Dinner with Beyonce and JayZ...In case you were wondering Obama slept very well in the Presidential Suite at the Ritz- Carlton... While you are waiting 8 hours for a few gallons of gas...Obama burnt 32,0000 Gallons of Fuel in Air Force One.. MEANWHILE....NEW YORKERS WILL DRINK SEWER WATER AND EAT OUT OF DUMPSTERS

FLASH! The National Media is NOT airing any of the despair or misery that is happening . Obama Transparency? There is a TOTAL MEDIA BLACKOUT The National Media does not want to show anything that will hurt Obama's chances for re-election.

There is widespread looting, shooting and stabbings in all five boroughs of NYC. People are freezing, drinking contaminated water and scavenging from dumpsters. I guarantee you will not see what is really happening. FEMA says "everything is great". Truth: Government response is poor, ridiculos delays, completely not prepared. We are suffering, Obama is smiling and saying he is responsible. Obama says vote for Revenge. I will, screw you Obama. Jack from Brooklyn, New York. Lifelong Democrat

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Even GWB's "Brownie" stated that Obama was moving TOO fast to help.

Oh, the irony!

Perhaps you preferred Katrina's response?

[dj_chi]

TLTR

[WillowSunstar]

As a stats student, I want to know what the margin of error and confidence level is on these polls. Why does the media never report it?

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Go to http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/

Nate Silver, the statistician who authors the blog, has one of the best analyses I've ever seen. Read a few of his blog articles, and you'll see what I mean.

If you're a stats student, you'll flip at his level of analysis, and at his previous results as a statistician.

[hypnotoad72]

Or the fact that a poll comprised of x,000 people can somehow accurately represent y,000,000,000 - especially without the context as to why which person believes the way(s) they do... :)

[wfw3536]

Great news for Romney, one poll out today has Romney up by 1 in Michigan and tie in PA. Obama's safe states are beginning to fall apart. Folks are beginning to realize that all Obama has offered is a negative campaign and has offered nothing but his failed ideas that haven't worked the last 4 years.

[Solarrays247]

I disagree. I can't believe that my fellow Americans are so corrupt that they would allow themselves to be led to vote for one of the most dishonest presidential candidates this country has ever experienced.

If Romney wins this election, it will have to be by stealing it. There is no other way that he could possibly win.

[realtimecoffee]

I can't believe that my fellow Americans are so corrupt that they would allow themselves to be led to vote for one of the most dishonest presidential candidates this country has ever experienced.
---
And yet a vote for either dominant candidate does exactly that.

[ForestWalk]

We are divided but we will alwasys come together. We are Americans. We can do whatever we set our minds to. We should all thank those men and women who leave family and friends to maintain our freedoms. And we should thank them by voting.
And if you are in the military or a veteran (like me) (Vietnam) ('71-'73) the following comments are for you.
Please do not believe that the Republicans are the party that support the military.
Back in the 60's and '70s it true that the Press and the Dems made it clear that they hated the military. But that was 40 and 50 years ago. AND - if you read the list of boys on the Wall in Washington you will see lots of Detroit's and Chicago's and other big cities that were in the Dems column so it's not the boys we are talking about here. It's the Parties - Dem vs. Rep.
Since the Rep's are making a big deal out of how they love the military - let's take a look. Here is a list of the Rep leadership and their service. These are the guys that are calling the shots in the Republican party.
Karl Rove - chose not to serve
Newt Gingrich - chose not to serve
Jon Kyl - chose not to serve
Rush Limbaugh - chose not to serve
Eric Cantor - chose not to serve
Kevin McCarthy - chose not to serve
Sean Hannity - chose not to serve
Mitt Romney - chose not to serve
Paul Ryan - chose not to serve
And of course we need to discuss those sons of privilege (Ann's five boys) - well Romney did not teach his own sons that service to the country is important - and now he wants you to think that he values it? Don't believe it.

And then there is Sequestration (see http://www.auburn.edu/~johnspm/gloss/sequestration) which the Reps would have you think is all because of the White house. It is by Congress - not the president. The Republican house is the group that put the Defense budget in danger of being sharply reduced.
And this is a good article too - http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/oct/24/barack-obama/obama-says-congress-owns-sequestration-cuts/

Believe me there is blame to be shared by both the Republicans in Congress and the White House.
But in the long run all of this means that the Republicans are not supporting the military than anyone else.
On Tuesday please do not blindly pull the Rep handle because you think they support the military because they don't!
Vote for who you believe has the character to lead us forward. May God continue to bless America.

[tb91006]

And Obama wants to cut not only the military spending but also your benefits. He wants to shift the seniors into an inferrior unfunded medicaid health program where you will be lucky to be approved for needed procedures. Your argument makes you look uninformed.

[ber-ber24]

TO ALL POTENTIAL VOTERS!!! PLEASE SEE THE TRUTH BEFORE YOU VOTE!!!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/03/inhofe-obama-wont-release-regulator-agenda-because-terrible-impact-as-job/

THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN OUT FOR AT LEAST 6 WEEKS, BUT YOU WON'T HEAR IT HERE. ALSO CHECK THIS OUT. KNOW THE TRUTH BEFORE YOU VOTE!!!

http://www.infowars.com/obama-fema-corp-recruits-conjure-up-memories-of-the-hitler-youth-of-1930s-germany/

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

You aren't changing anyone's mind at this point, no matter what.

[qyeteye]

Truth and Fox News?
They of blue-sky video edit to show large crowds of an event that had clouds that day?

Credibility lost.
Digital vote editing and rerouting real.

Extract from...
Will E-Voting Machines Owned by His Buddies Give Mitt Romney the White House?

The widespread use of electronic voting machines from ES&S, and of Diebold software maintained by Triad, allowed Blackwell to electronically flip a 4% Kerry lead to a 2% Bush victory in the dead of election night. ES&S, Diebold and Triad were all owned or operated by Republican partisans. The shift of more than 300,000 votes after 12:20 am election night was a virtual statistical impossibility. It was engineered by Michael Connell, an IT specialist long affiliated with the Bush Family. Blackwell gave Connell's Ohio-based GovTech the contract to count Ohio's votes, which was done on servers housed in the Old Pioneer Bank Building in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Thus the Ohio vote tally was done on servers that also carried the e-mail for Karl Rove and the national Republican Party. Connell died in a mysterious plane crash in December, 2008, after being subpoenaed in the King-Lincoln-Bronzeville federal lawsuit focused on how the 2004 election was decided (disclosure: we were attorney and plaintiff in that suit).

[qyeteye]

Will E-Voting Machines Owned by His Buddies Give Mitt Romney the White House?
http://www.pdacommunity.org/component/content/article/156-cfte-articles/2292-will-e-voting-machines-owned-by-his-buddies-give-mitt-romney-the-white-house