Poll: Obama's Pa. Lead Drops from 9 to 4 Points

The October 2012 Franklin & Marshall College Poll of Pennsylvania voters finds President Barack Obama with a 4 point lead among likely voters compared to a 9 point lead in the September poll over Gov. Mitt Romney. 

Complete results, including detailed methodology, can be found at http://politics.fandm.edu. 

• Obama leads Romney, 49% to 45%, with 4% undecided among likely voters while in September he led 52% to 43%, with 3% undecided.
• Bob Casey leads Tom Smith, 46% to 36%, with 13% undecided in the US senate race. In September Casey led, 48% to 38%, with 8% undecided.
• Obama is seen as better able to handle foreign policy issues, 56% to 37%, better able to understand the concerns of ordinary Americans, 54% to 39%, better able to handle the job as military chief, 51% to 42%, closest to voters' views on abortion and gay marriage, 47% to 40%, but Romney is now seen as more prepared to fix our economic problems, 47% to 42%.
• Obama is viewed favorably by 50% of respondents similar to September but Romney is viewed favorably by 43% compared to 34% in September. 
• President Obama's job performance rating is more negative (46%) than positive (53%).
• Voters are less interested in the election this year, 67% (very interested) when compared to 2008, 73%, (very interested).

.This survey reflect interviews with 849 Pennsylvania voters conducted by the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College from October 23-28, 2012 (sample error of +/- 3.4 percentage points). The survey includes 547 interviews with likely voters (sample error of  +/- 4.2 percentage points). The Franklin & Marshall College Poll is produced in conjunction with the Philadelphia Daily News, WGAL-TV (South Central PA), Pittsburgh Tribune Review, WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh), WPVI-TV6/ABC (Philadelphia), Times-Shamrock Newspapers, Harrisburg Patriot-News, and Lancaster Newspapers. It may be used in whole or in part, provided any use is attributed to Franklin & Marshall College.