RICHMOND, VA (WTVR) -President Obama holds a narrow lead over opponent Mitt Romney among Virginia voters, according to a new Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times survey.
With 48 days to go in the campaign, the president is polling at 50 percent in the Commonwealth, while Mitt Romney is trailing at 46 percent.
Meanwhile in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race, Democrat Tim Kaine leads Republican George Allen 51 – 44 percent. While Independent voters split 46 – 46 percent.
Meanwhile, Governor Bob McDonnell's approval rating remain high at 54 – 27 percent.
[BONUS: Click Here to Read the Entire Poll]
Results show the president has gained ground in his handling of the economy, with 49 percent of Virginians polled saying he'd do a better job, compared to Romney's 47 percent.
Amid the protests and violence in the Middle East, 51 percent of likely voters see the president as the candidate who would best handle an international crisis, compared to Romney's 44 percent.
Meanwhile a large gender gap continues among Virginia voters. Romney leads among men by six points, at 51-45 percent.
Religious groups also remain starkly divided.
“Racial polarization in the presidential election nationally is on display in Virginia where blacks back the president 93 – 5 percent and whites go for Romney 57 – 39 percent,” Brown said.
“Looking at the subgroup of evangelical Christians who share similar religious beliefs, the president leads 93 – 6 percent among black evangelicals , while Romney leads among white evangelicals 78 – 17 percent.”
The president continues to hold a double-digit lead among women in Virginia, 54-42 percent.
Virginia voters paid close attention to the part conventions, with 3 out of 4 saying they watched some portion of them.
The President has a favorable rating of 53 percent, compared to Romney who has a favorability rating of 45%.
The poll was conducted of 1,474 Virginia voters, between Sept. 11 and Sept. 17. It as a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
The poll also included results from two other critical swing states: Colorado in Wisconsin.
In Wisconsin, Obama edges Romney out, 51 to 45 percent. The Colorado race remains too close to call, With President Obama ahead 49 to 47 percent, within the margin of error.
