Race Narrows as Campaign Enters Its Final Week

Source: New York Times

By JEFF ZELENY and MARJORIE CONNELLY
Published: October 30, 2012

COLUMBUS, Ohio — President Obama and Mitt Romney enter the closing week of the campaign in an exceedingly narrow race, according to the latest poll by The New York Times and CBS News, with more voters now viewing Mr. Romney as a stronger leader on the economy and Mr. Obama as a better guardian of the middle class.

The president is holding his coalition together with strong support from women and minority voters and is supported by 48 percent of likely voters nationwide, the poll found, while Mr. Romney holds a wide advantage among independents and men and is the choice of 47 percent.

The race for the White House, which has been interrupted by the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy’s deadly assault on the East Coast, is heading toward an uncertain conclusion. The president was set to stay off the campaign trail for a third straight day to tour storm damage on Wednesday with Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a Republican. Mr. Romney was set to resume a full schedule in Florida. snip

The poll was conducted in the days before Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast. The telephone interviews were conducted Thursday through Sunday, although they were originally intended to continue through Tuesday evening. Though the survey was cut short by the approaching storm, all numbers in the sample were attempted at least once.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/31/us/politics/race-narrows-as-campaign-enters-its-final-week.html?ref=politics

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Wondering how Sandy will effect the race now. Obama is touring storm damage with Chris Christie while R$ is begging for votes in toss up state FL. Chris Christie could be the wild card here, esp. if he keeps saying Obama is doing a great job. Would Christie actually endorse Obama and does he dare?