Latest Elon Univ. poll: Obama-Romney in dead heat in Tar Heel State | News

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- North Carolina could still swing either way in the presidential race, according to the latest Elon University poll, which shows President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney in a dead heat.

With just over a week until Election Day, Republican challenger Romney and Democratic incumbent Obama both claim 45 percent of the vote in the Tar Heel State; about 5 percent of voters remain undecided, and within that group, leanings are evenly divided. Two percent said "neither."

Findings indicate a tightening of the race in North Carolina since late August when the Elon University Poll found Romney with a lead of 4 percentage points.

Of the 1,238 people polled, more respondents said Obama was better able to handle national security, health care, foreign relations and immigration.

Respondents did say there was one area where Romney would do better, the economy. 52 percent of respondents said the former Massachusetts governor would do a better job of handling the economy, compared to 42 percent for the president.

Obama is also polling much stronger among those who have voted early. The Elon Poll found the president leading Romney by a margin of 55-37. Among those who have not already voted, the challenger holds an advantage over Obama (48-43 percent).

The race is a statistical tie despite more than half of likely voters (52 percent) saying they believe the country is on the wrong track as opposed to the 43 percent of respondents saying it's headed in the right direction.

However, there is also growing optimism about the economy, with 49 percent of likely voters believing it will get better in the next year and another 29 percent saying it will stay about the same. Just 8 percent believe it will get worse.

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