An improving economy and a vicious, prolonged Republican primary have opened the door for President Obama to take a slight lead in the important battleground state of Virginia.
Obama topped former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in a Quinnipiac Poll of likely voters for the first time Wednesday, edging out the Republican frontrunner 47 percent to 43 percent. Polls in September, October and December showed a tighter race with Romney leading by a percentage point or two.
In all four polls, Romney drew between 43 percent and 45 percent support.
In surveying 1,544 registered voters, pollsters also found Obama has a commanding 51 percent to 37 percent advantage over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. He led former Sen. Rick Santorum 49 percent to 41 percent and Texas Rep. Ron Paul 47 percent to 40 percent.
Romney’s favorability rating among Virginia voters hit 43 percent, the highest of Quinnipiac’s polls this election cycle. But a growing number of Virginians (39 percent) have an unfavorable view of the Republican contender, up from 27 percent in December.
Previous polls had more than 30 percent of the electorate undecided about Romney. That dropped to 15 percent, but the majority of those making up their minds have an unfavorable view of Romney, likely the result of an increase in attacks from other candidates and a number of slipups from Romney as he looks to appease the conservative voters he has yet to win over.
At the same time, Obama has seen his favorability rating improve to 50 percent for the first time in months. The improving view of Obama in Virginia comes as the president opens campaign offices and steps up his visits to the state.
Virginia is critical to Obama’s reelection bid and he investing heavily in the state in hopes of repeating his historic 2008 victory there.
Gingrich’s unfavorable rating has increased from 45 percent in December to 56 percent. Voters still haven’t heard enough about Santorum to make a decision, with 38 percent reserving judgment and the rest of the electorate largely split. That could change after Santorum’s sweep of Tuesday’s nominating contests in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri.
The poll also asked about Virginia’s open U.S. Senate race, which remains too close to call at 45 percent for Democrat Tim Kaine and 44 percent for presumptive Republican nominee George Allen. However, Kaine does have a better favorability rating, 46 percent, than Allen at 42 percent.
More independents chose Kaine over Allen, which could be a difference maker in a tight race.
