U.S. President Barack Obama (R) speaks during his debate with Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (L), who greets the audience at the conclusion in Denver, Colorado, on October 3, 2012. (STF/AFP/GettyImages)
(USA Today) -- President Obama holds a 5-point lead over Mitt Romney in Ohio, and the two candidates remain very close in Virginia and Florida, according to a new Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times poll of likely voters.
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Obama leads by 50%-45% in Ohio, the state many analysts believe will decide the election; that's the same margin he had in the same poll on Oct. 22.
The president once had a nine-point lead over Romney in Florida, but that has now shrunk to a single point, 48%-47%, well within the margin of error.
In Virginia, the poll gave Obama a 49%-47% in Virginia, also within the margin of error.
Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute:
"After being subjected to what seems like a zillion dollars' worth of television ads and personal attention from the two candidates reminiscent of a high-school crush, the key swing states of Florida and Virginia are too close to call with the election only days away.
"President Barack Obama clings to a 5-point lead in Ohio, but Gov. Mitt Romney has narrowed the president's lead that existed in Florida and Virginia before the first debate."