UPI-CVoter poll has Obama ahead

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Hours before voting began Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama held a 1 point lead over Republican rival Mitt Romney, a United Press International poll indicated.

The UPI-CVoter poll indicated Obama was the preferred candidate to 49 percent of the 1,112 adults interviewed nationwide Monday compared to 48 percent who said they preferred Romney. The polling also indicated Obama held an edge in the electoral college with 223 of the 538 votes to 180 for Romney. A candidate needs 270 electoral college votes to secure the presidency.

There are 135 electoral college votes in play in the 10 battleground states: Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Obama and Romney are tied at 49 percent each in Ohio, which has 18 electoral votes. In the other battleground states, they are separated by 1-4 percentage points, within the 4.5 percent margin of error.

Obama leads Romney 51 percent to 47 percent in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, representing 24 electoral votes, while in Iowa and Minnesota, Obama leads 50 percent to 47 percent, representing 16 electoral votes, leaving Obama still seven electoral votes shy if he wins all four states.

In Colorado, which has nine electoral votes, Obama is 2 points ahead, 50 percent to 48 percent.

Romney leads Obama in Indiana and North Carolina, 51 percent to 48 percent, and 50 percent to 48 percent in Florida, representing 55 electoral votes and leaving him 35 shy of ousting the incumbent.

Obama leads Romney by a point in Virginia, with 13 electoral votes, 59 percent to 49 percent.

"These states are too close to call as the difference between the two candidates' likely vote share is within the margin of error," C-Voter pollster Yashwnt Deshmukh said.