A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows the race in Ohio very tight, with President Obama holding a 1-point lead over former Massachusetts Gov. and likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, 45 percent to 44 percent. The electorate is heaviliy divided in the poll, showing voters almost evenly split on the favorability ratings of the two candidates, and the president’s job approval rating is locked at 48 percent approve and 47 disapprove.
Additionally, Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) doesn’t bring much help to Romney should he be selected at the GOP vice presidential nominee. From Quinnipiac:
The presidential race in Ohio remains too close to call as President Barack Obama gets 45 percent to 44 percent for Republican Mitt Romney, with a 45 – 45 percent dead heat if the GOP adds home-state Sen. Rob Portman as Romney’s running mate, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today…
The Romney-Portman v. Obama-Biden matchup compares to a February 15 survey in which Obama had 46 percent to Romney’s 44 percent without running mates, moving to Obama- Biden at 47 percent to Romney-Portman at 43 percent.
“Adding Sen. Rob Portman to the Romney ticket produces no measurable change, despite speculation about Portman’s potential for helping Romney carry the key state of Ohio,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling institute.
The TPM Poll Average shows President Obama with a 3.3 percent lead in Ohio based on all public polling.
