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--- *\tCOLORADO: Romney 48 - Obama 47, compared to Obama 48 - Romney 47 Sept. 19 *\tVIRGINIA: Obama 51 - Romney 46, compared to Obama 50 - Romney 46 *\tWISCONSIN: Obama 50 - Romney 47, compared to Obama 51 - Romney 45 Likely voters in Colorado, Virginia and Wisconsin say 4-1 that President Barack Obama lost the presidential debate with Gov. Mitt Romney, but the impact is too small to measure, with too-close- to-call races in Colorado and Wisconsin, and Obama holding his lead in Virginia, according to a Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS News Swing State poll released today. Romney would do a better job on the economy, Colorado voters say 52 - 44 percent, while Virginia voters are split 48 - 48 percent and Wisconsin voters split 49- 47 percent. Compared to September, more, voters, especially in Colorado and Virginia, say Romney cares about their needs and problems, but Obama still leads on this measure. Romney is ahead on leadership. The Obama-Romney overall matchup in each of these states shows: *\tColorado: Romney on the right side of a 48 - 47 percent split, compared to Obama at 48 percent to Romney's 47 percent September 19; *\tVirginia: Obama up 51 - 46 percent, compared to Obama ahead 50 - 46 percent; *\tWisconsin: Obama on the top side of a 50 - 47 percent too-close-to-call race, compared to Obama over Romney 51 - 45 percent. \"Gov. Mitt Romney outfought President Barack Obama 4-1 in the first debate, according to likely voters in Colorado, Virginia and Wisconsin,\" said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. \"The shifts are too small to measure, but the races in Wisconsin and Colorado are now too close to call. The president holds his lead in Virginia.\" \"When likely voters are asked which candidate has strong leadership qualities, more cite Romney than the president in all three states,\" said Brown. \"During the spring and early summer Romney held a small lead on who can best handle the economy, an edge he lost to Obama in Quinnipiac University's September survey. Now, Romney leads on the economy in Colorado and the two men are tied in Virginia and Wisconsin. \"Perhaps the best news for Obama in this poll is that voters expect U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican vice presidential nominee, to win the running-mate debate over Vice President Joe Biden tonight. Before the first presidential debate, Romney was the expected loser and overcame those low expectations to impress the voting public.\" Colorado Colorado's independent likely voters back Romney 49 - 45 percent. Men back Romney 52 - 42 percent while women back Obama 51 - 45 percent. White voters go Republican 53 - 41 percent while Hispanic voters go Democratic 66 - 34 percent. The economy is the top election issue for 42 percent of voters, with health care at 14 percent, the budget deficit at 11 percent, national security at 9 percent and Medicare at 6 percent. Voters tie 48 - 47 percent on who would best handle health care and 47 - 46 percent on who would do a better job on Medicare. Obama would best help the middle class voters say 50 - 45 percent and Romney would do better on the budget deficit, voters say 54 - 40 percent. Romney has strong leadership qualities, Colorado voters say 67 - 29 percent, compared to 54 - 44 percent for Obama. Obama cares about their needs and problems, voters say 54 - 42 percent, compared to Romney's 48 - 48 percent split. Colorado voters say 72 - 16 percent that Romney won last week's debate and say 47 - 30 percent that Ryan will win tonight's debate with Biden. Voters are divided 45 - 46 percent on whether marijuana should be legal in the state. Voters 18 to 34 years old support legalization 65 - 28 percent, while voters 35 to 54 years old are mixed 47 - 44 percent and voters over 55 are opposed 57 - 34 percent. Colorado voters approve 59 - 21 percent of the job Gov. John Hickenlooper is doing. \"The key to Mitt Romney's strength in Colorado is independent voter support. This group makes up a significant portion of the likely electorate and Romney has a four-point lead with these voters, which keeps him even with President Obama, who does a bit better among Democrats than Mr. Romney does among Republicans,\" Brown said. Virginia Strong support among women and blacks keep Obama ahead in Virginia: women back him 56 - 40 percent while men back Romney 52 - 45 percent. Whites go Republican 59 - 38 percent while blacks go Democratic 93 - 3 percent. Independent likely voters split with 48 percent for Obama and 46 percent for Romney. The economy is the top election issue for 42 percent of voters, followed by health care at 16 percent, the budget deficit at 11 percent and Medicare at 9 percent. Voters say 54 - 42 percent that Obama would best handle health care; 55 - 40 percent that he would do a better job on Medicare and 55 - 42 percent that he would best help the middle class. Romney would do better on the budget deficit, voters say 51 - 43 percent. Romney has strong leadership qualities, Virginia voters say 64 - 30 percent, compared to 62 - 37 percent for Obama. Obama cares about their needs and problems, voters say 63 - 34 percent, compared to Romney's slightly negative 46 - 49 percent. Romney won last week's debate voters say 70 - 17 percent and Ryan will win tonight's debate with Biden, Virginia voters say 41 - 36 percent. In Virginia's U.S. Senate race, Democrat Tim Kaine leads Republican George Allen 51 - 44 percent. Independent voters back the Democrat 51 - 42 percent. Virginia voters approve 52 - 29 percent of the job Gov. Bob McDonnell is doing. A total of 84 percent of voters say the federal government is \"very important\" or somewhat important in creating jobs in Virginia. \"One reason why the president is doing better in Virginia than some other swing states could be that Virginians feel a little better about the economy than voters in other states,\" Brown said. \"It is more difficult for Mitt Romney to go into Virginia with its sub 6 percent unemployment rate than in many other states and convince voters they should fire Barrack Obama for not doing enough to fix the economy.\" Wisconsin A 15-point gender gap marks the presidential race in Wisconsin as women back the president 53 - 43 percent, while men back Romney 51 - 46 percent. Independent voters are divided with 48 percent for Romney and 46 percent for Obama. The economy is the top election issue for 44 percent of voters, followed by health care at 16 percent, the budget deficit at 11 percent and Medicare at 9 percent. Voters say 51 - 44 percent that Obama would best handle health care; 51 - 44 percent that he would do a better job on Medicare and 53 - 43 percent that he would best help the middle class. Romney would do better on the budget deficit, voters say 53 - 41 percent. Romney has strong leadership qualities, Wisconsin voters say 65 - 31 percent, compared to 59 - 39 percent for Obama. Obama cares about their needs and problems, voters say 61 - 36 percent, compared to Romney's negative 46 - 50 percent. Romney won last week's debate, voters say 65 - 17 percent. Native son Paul Ryan will win tonight's debate with Biden, Wisconsin voters say 49 - 32 percent. Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race is too close to call with 48 percent for Democrat Tammy Baldwin and 46 percent for former Gov. Tommy Thompson. Independent are divided 46 - 46 percent. Men go Republican 50 - 45 percent while women go Democratic 51 - 42 percent. Wisconsin voters approve 52 - 44 percent of the job Gov. Scott Walker is doing. Voters are divided 40 - 41 percent on whether they have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of labor unions. \"Wisconsin votes are predisposed toward native son Paul Ryan on a variety of measures, Brown said. \"Compared to the other states, Ryan has a better favorable/unfavorable ratio; is seen as better prepared to assume the presidency, and by a wide margin voters expect him to win tonight's vice presidential debate.\" From October 4 - 9, Quinnipiac University, in cooperation with The New York Times and CBS News, surveyed: *\t1,254 Colorado likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent; *\t1,288 Virginia likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percent; *\t1,327 Wisconsin likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percent. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. For individual statewide crosstabs and trends visit - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml or call (203) 582-5201. For individual statewide crosstabs call (203) 582-5201 or click: Crosstabs by State "}
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Debate Changes Little In Colorado, Virginia, Wisconsin,
Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS News
Swing State Poll Finds