Just as in the past two days, there are a number of presidential election polls being released on Friday. Neither of the battleground states profiled in polling are heading in Mitt Romney's direction.
Iowa and New Hampshire, two states whose electoral votes are important for both Romney and President Barack Obama's election aspirations, are polling several points ahead for Obama less than a week from election day, Nov. 6.
Here's a closer look at the two polls, the data pulled from the surveys, and additional polling information released on Friday.
Iowa
Gravis Marketing's poll conducted on Nov. 1 finds that President Obama is ahead by four points, 49 percent to 45 percent. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus four points, suggesting it is possible the race is closer than four points.
Despite his lead, the president had a low rating for his job performance in Iowa, with 45 percent saying they approved and 46 percent disapproving.
New Hampshire
For New Hampshire, the New England College survey says that 49.5 percent of voters prefer Obama, while Romney would receive 44.4 percent of the vote.
Another candidate would receive 2.4 percent of the vote and 3.7 percent were uncertain. Without providing details, the poll suggested that among men the race is close, but director of the Polling Center in NEC's Center for Civic Engagement Dr. Ben Tafoya said that "the gender gap exists with President Obama maintaining a strong lead among women."
Indiana, Nebraska, Hawaii
Three other states were polled as well, and though President Obama won Indiana in 2008 as reported by the New York Times, he is not expected to do so in 2012.
Howey/DePauw shows Romney ahead in Indiana 51 percent to 41 percent. We Ask America indicates that Obama is behind Romney in Nebraska at 54 percent to 41 percent, and the Honolulu Civil Beat gives the president a strong advantage in Hawaii at 61 percent to 34 percent.
Shawn Humphrey is a former contributor to The Flint Journal and lives near Washington in Germantown, Md.
