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\f0\fs24 \cf2 (Image source: {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "https://secure.assets.bostatic.com/POTUS%20wave.jpg"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 BarackObama.com}})\
\f1 \uc0\u8232 \f0\b BY DANNY MATTESON
\b0 \ \pard\pardeftab720\sa240\ql\qnatural
\i \cf2 With contributions from Greg Marks \i0 \
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\b \cf2 ANCHOR CANDICE AVILES \b0 \
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\f1 \cf2 \uc0\u8232 \f0 Since the Democratic National Convention,
President Barack Obama has opened up a {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.realclearpolitics.com/?state=nwa"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 popular vote lead}} hovering around three points on Republican challenger
Mitt Romney\'a0and has held steady at {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/obama_favorableunfavorable-643.html"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 favorable ratings of just more than 50 percent}} \'97 a number similar to
what he received after the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden. Those numbers according to
{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.realclearpolitics.com/"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 Real Clear Politics polling
averages}}.\ \
But according to recent polls, those may not be the most worrisome numbers for the Romney
camp. What is? Well, to quote Democratic strategist James Carville \'97
\b \'93it\'92s the economy, stupid.\'94 \b0 {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/14/us/politics/2012-presidential-election-poll.html?ref=politics"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 That according to a New York Times/CBS news poll}} that shows Mr. Obama
erasing one of the few advantages most polls showed the Romney camp holding.\'a0{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/14/us/politics/2012-presidential-election-poll.html?ref=politics"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 The poll\ulnone }}shows the
president leading Mr. Romney 47 - 46 while leading on all other major issues except for
the federal budget deficit.\ \
And according to other recent polls \'97 it\'92s not an anomaly.\'a0{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2012/09/12/fox-news-poll-obama-tops-romney-in-post-convention-poll-most-say-country-still/"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 A Fox News poll}} released
on September 12th shows Obama and Romney tied on the issue {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=11965"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 while}} {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2012/images/09/10/rel10a.pdf"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 several}} {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.langerresearch.com/uploads/1140a1AftertheConventions.pdf"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 others}} {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/jobs_employment/september_2012/job_creation_47_trust_obama_45_romney"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 taken}} since the Democratic
Convention show the President either tied or with a slight lead on the economy or job
creation.\ \
But {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-economic-policy-poll-romney-middle-class-2012-9#ixzz26dWsPFRS"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 to a politics writer for Business
Insider}}, it\'92s not the mere fact that Mr. Obama has the advantage on the economy
\'97 it\'92s the ground he made up to get there. Pointing to the New York Times/CBS
poll, he writes \'85 \'a0\ \
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\b \cf2 \'93For Obama, the swing from only a few weeks ago is incredible \'85 he has
shifted the numbers 15 points on the economy.\'94 \b0 \
\ And while {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2012/09/15/obama_economy_ratings_increase_among_likely_voters_in_new_york_times_cbs_poll.html"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 a writer for Slate tempers}} that enthusiasm slightly, he points out that
the mere fact that Mr. Obama has closed the gap should be cause for excitement in his
camp.\ \
\b \'93Although clearly statistically insignificant, the fact that Obama is not lagging behind
seems to be giving the president an opening to push his economic message in several key
states.\'94 \b0 \
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\f1 \cf2 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \f0 So what was the turning point? Several
pundits point to the Democratic National Convention \'97 arguing that Mr. Obama\'92s \'93Forward\'94
message may have resonated a little better than Mr. Romney\'92s \'93Are you better off?\'94
question at the RNC. A National Political Correspondent for the New York Times {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.cbsnews.com/cbsthismorning/"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 had this to say on CBS This
Morning.\'a0}}\ \
\pard\pardeftab720\sa240\ql\qnatural
\b \cf2 \'93Coming on the heels of the Democratic Convention, you know when there was an array
of Democrats making this argument, including former President Bill Clinton, that helped
on the economic side of this.\'94 \b0 \
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\f1 \cf2 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \f0 And {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.foxnews.com/"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 the Wall Street Journal echoes}} his assertion \'97 adding that it simply comes
down to which candidate better made his case.\ \
\pard\pardeftab720\sa240\ql\qnatural
\b \cf2 \'93He managed to make the argument that Mitt Romney should not be trusted with
the economy and to reassure voters that he can, and you see that in the polls too.\'94
\f1\b0 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \u8232 \u8232 \f0 But {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.policymic.com/articles/14801/obama-vs-romney-polls-obama-winning-nationwide-on-all-but-one-key-election-issue"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 a writer for PolicyMic thinks}} it might be simpler yet \'97 coming down to
sheer relatability.\ \
\b \'93... it seems consistently to be the President who American voters feel better
understands their needs. Romney comes off in polls as out of touch with the average
American voter, polling well amongst rich people but far worse with middle or lower-income
groups.\'94 \b0 \
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\f1 \cf2 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \f0 Despite his new and improved polling numbers,
some think the economy may still be a vulnerability for the president. {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/15/sept-14-obama-forecast-declines-on-poor-manufacturing-report/#more-34558"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 The New York Times\'92 Nate
Silver decreased}} the president\'92s odds of winning the Electoral College by 2.4 points
Friday after the release of a new U.S. manufacturing report. Referring to the report he wrote \'85
\'a0\ \
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\b \cf2 \'93 \'85 these industrial production numbers were very poor \'97 much more so,
really, than last week\'92s jobs report. In contrast to the jobs report, the industrial
production numbers showed an outright decline in economic activity \'97 by 1.2 percent ...\'94
\f1\b0 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \u8232 \u8232 \f0 Finally, {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.gallup.com/poll/1675/most-important-problem.aspx"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 Gallup points out\ulnone }}that
no matter what the polls say it would be wise for both candidates to keep their focus on
the economy. According to their tracking 72 percent of Americans believe the economy is
the most important decision in November\'92s election. \'a0\'a0\
}