Latest poll has Obama, Romney tied in Ohio

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Mitt Romney has erased President Obama’s lead in Ohio, according to a Suffolk University survey, which shows the swing-state race tied at 47 percent.

The poll of likely voters, released Monday, also found the Republican presidential nominee leading Obama, 49 percent to 44 percent, among those planning to vote on Election Day, while Obama led, 48 percent to 44 percent, among those planning to vote before Nov. 6. Obama led, 54 percent to 41 percent, among those who said they had already voted, the survey found.

“Barack Obama has banked an early lead, but Mitt Romney should even the score with his slight edge among likely voters who plan to cast ballots on Election Day,” said David Paleologos, director of the school’s Political Research Center, in Boston. “However, failure to turn out his voters on Nov. 6 could be costly for Romney.”

No Republican presidential nominee has won the White House without carrying Ohio.

A Quinnipiac University/CBS News poll released Monday showed Obama holding a 50 percent to 45 percent lead among likely Ohio voters, compared to a Quinnipiac/CBS News/New York Times poll released Sept. 26 that showed the president leading 53 percent to 43 percent.

The averaging of Ohio polls Monday by RealClearPolitics has Obama leading by roughly 2 percentage points. The website’s averaging of nationwide presidential polls has the candidates essentially tied at 47 percent.

A Fox News poll of Ohio likely voters released Friday showed Obama retaining a 46-43 percent edge over Romney.

The Suffolk statewide survey contacted 600 likely voters on landlines and cellphones and was conducted Oct. 18-21. The margin of error was roughly 4 percentage points.

The survey found Obama leading, 53 percent to 41 percent, among women but trailing Romney, 52 percent to 40 percent, among men. The candidates were essentially even on favorability.