President Barack Obama holds an 8-point lead over Republican nominee Mitt Romney in Pennsylvania, according to the results of a new poll announced Wednesday evening.
The latest Philadelphia Inquirer poll shows Obama earning the support of 50 percent of likely voters in the state, while Romney trails with 42 percent. That amounts to a small uptick for Romney since the previous Inquirer poll in September that showed Obama up, 50 percent to 39 percent.
Romney’s personal popularity has improved only marginally, even in the wake of a triumphant performance in the first presidential debate. While 65 percent of debate watchers in the state declared Romney the winner of the debate in Denver, only 47 percent of Pennsylvania voters have a favorable view of the former Massachusetts governor — a modest 2-point bump since the September poll.
Obama’s favorability rating has also changed little: 55 percent of voters said they view the president favorably, down only a point from a month ago.
The PollTracker Average currently shows Obama with a 5-point edge in Pennsylvania.
