PPP Survey: Obama Has 7-Point Lead in Ohio

President Barack Obama leads likely Republican challenger Mitt Romney 50 percent to 43 percent among voters in the key swing state of Ohio, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Democratic Public Policy Polling (PPP) firm.

That’s essentially unchanged from late January, when Obama led 49 to 42 percent. The poll has a 3.3 percentage point margin of error.

A choice of Ohio Sen. Rob Portman as his running mate apparently wouldn’t do Romney much good in the Buckeye state. Obama leads 49 percent to 44 percent over a Romney-Portman combination. A hefty 36 percent of Ohio voters don’t even have an opinion of their freshman senator, while 31 percent approve of him and 33 percent disapprove.

Meanwhile, the president’s approval rating hasn’t changed from late January, with 48 percent of Ohio voters both approving and disapproving of him. Romney’s rating has improved, with 37 percent of voters now viewing him favorably and 53 percent unfavorably. That compares with 28 percent with a favorable view and 56 percent unfavorable in late January.

Obama’s lead among independents has shrunk a bit; he has support of 43 percent, compared with 40 percent for Romney. In January it was 45 percent to 40 percent in favor of Obama. Both candidates have increased support within their own party – Obama to 88 percent from 84 percent and Romney to 82 percent from 80 percent.

“Barack Obama’s led by 7 points or more now on our last three Ohio polls,” PPP President Dean Debnam said in a statement. “It seems unlikely he’ll win the state by that much in November, but it does mean he has some margin for error.”