President Barack Obama hits the magic 50 percent mark against Gov. Mitt Romney among likely voters in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, with wide support for his plan to hike federal income taxes on upper-income voters, according to a Quinnipiac University/ CBS News/New York Times Swing State Poll released today.
"If today were November 6, President Barack Obama would sweep the key swing states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania and - if history is any guide - into a second term in the Oval Office," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"The president is running better in the key swing states than he is nationally. Part of the reason may be that the unemployment rate in Ohio is well below the national average. In Florida it has been dropping over the past year, while nationally that has not been the case."
In Ohio:
Women Ohio likely voters back Obama 58 - 37 percent, while men back Romney 52 - 42 percent. Independent voters go 47 percent for Obama and 44 percent for Romney.
Among Obama voters, 60 percent strongly favor him while 31 percent like him with reservations and 9 percent say their vote is against Romney.
Among Romney voters, 42 percent strongly favor him while 35 percent like him with reservations and 22 percent say they are voting against Obama.
Obama has a 51 - 45 percent favorability rating. Romney gets a 40 percent favorable rating and a 43 percent unfavorable score.
The economy is the most important issue in the election for 48 percent of Ohio voters, with 20 percent who pick health care and 12 percent who cite the budget deficit.
Obama would do a better job on the economy, 46 percent of Ohio likely voters say, while 45 percent pick Romney. Obama is better on health care, voters say 48 - 42 percent.
Obama's financial policies would hurt rather than help them personally, Ohio voters say 38 - 26 percent, while 34 percent see no difference. Romney would hurt rather than help, voters say 37 - 26 percent, while 34 percent see no difference.
Presidential candidates should release several years of tax returns, 51 percent of voters say; 18 percent want to see one or two years of returns and 28 percent say don't release returns.
In Ohio's U.S. Senate race, Democratic incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown leads State Treasurer Josh Mandel, the Republican challenger 51 - 39 percent, with a 49 - 38 percent lead among independent voters.
