Poll: Romney Up by Five in Florida

GOP challenger Mitt Romney is holding a five-point edge over President Barack Obama in Florida and has pushed above the 50 percent mark, according to a new poll conducted for the Sunshine State News.

The poll of 1,001 likely voters, conducted Oct. 22 and Oct. 24 by Harrisburg, Pa.-based Voter Survey Service, found Romney leading 51 percent to 46 percent. The poll found that just 12 percent said the debates had any effect on their decision, but among those 40 percent say they switched to Romney and 22 percent to Obama.

“Basically, Romney is winning this race, and the poll confirms the debates have had a big impact on his recent surge,” VSS President Jim Lee said according to the Sunshine State New. “The fact that Romney as the ‘challenger’ is already at 51 percent is a huge indication this race is all but over — undecided voters aren’t like to break for the incumbent in this kind of environment.”

However, University of South Florida political science professor Susan Macmanus told the paper that what matters now is turnout. “Polls can never predict turnout,” Macmanus she said. Early voting being this weekend in Florida and it may provide an insight into which candidate can better muster the troops.