Romney pulling Illinois voters from Obama

CHICAGO, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- President Obama has a strong lead in Chicago but rival Mitt Romney has greater support in other parts of Illinois, a post-debate poll indicated.

Obama had a whopping 79 percent to 12 percent lead over Romney in Chicago, a Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll found.

His advantage narrowed in suburban Cook County, 57 percent to Romney's 34 percent, and 54 percent to 41 percent in the surrounding counties. In the remaining 96 counties, the GOP presidential aspirant led, 46 percent to 41 percent.

More white voters have been attracted to Romney since February. Then, whites favored Obama 48 percent to 41 percent. The latest survey, conducted Oct. 4-8, found Romney with 46 percent and Obama with 45 percent.

Obama's support has also slipped among white suburban women. Eight months ago, they favored the president 63 percent to 30 percent. That support has now fallen to 50 percent, with Romney at 43 percent.

Some 95 percent of Illinois African-Americans continue to support Obama, the poll indicated.

The president's job approval continues virtually unchanged from February at 53 percent statewide, but has dropped among Democrats.

Statewide, 51 percent of voters approved of Obama's handling of the economy and jobs.

The survey of 700 voters has an error rate of 3.7 percent.