President Barack Obama is holding a lead over GOP challenger Mitt Romney in Michigan and Colorado.
New surveys of likely voters by Public Policy Polling show Obama ahead in Michigan 51 to 44 percent and by a margin of 49 to 46 percent in Colorado.
The Michigan poll found that despite Romney’s ties to the state, voters have not warmed to him. Just 45 percent have a favorable opinion of Romney and only 34 percent consider him a Native Son compared to 57 percent who do not.
Romney was born and raised in the state and his father was an auto executive who later served as governor. Romney is also hurt in the state by his opposition to the auto bailout.
Some 53 percent of voters think Obama has been better for the auto industry compared with 31 percent for Romney. Some 52 percent of those polled also think Romney should release 12 years of his tax returns compared to 42 percent who do not. The breakdown is larger among independents, with 59 percent to 36 percent favor release of the returns.
The 3 percent lead Obama holds in Colorado is the narrowest PPP has found in polling in the state this year. Last month Obama was ahead by a 49 to 43 percent margin. However, Obama’s lead with independents, now at 48 to 41 percent, has been consistent.
As in other states, Obama had strong support among women, non-whites and the young while Romney is ahead among men, whites and the elderly. Romney’s lead among whites in Colorado is just two points and among men, three, and PPP noted that “if Obama can continue to keep the race close to break-even with whites and men his prospects in Colorado are going to be pretty darn good.”
The poll also found that in Colorado 51 percent think Romney should release 12 years of tax returns compared to 40 who do not. Among independents, the spread was 54 to 36 percent to release the returns.
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