Obama expands lead, Romney still in striking distance

(REUTERS) - President Barack Obama has a growing lead in polls and an easier path to the White House than challenger Mitt Romney, but the Republican is still within striking distance with eight weeks to go before the election.

Mr Obama expanded his edge over Mr Romney after their back-to-back nominating conventions and has leads in eight of the top nine battleground states, giving him an advantage but not a lock on the race.

While bumps in the polls after a convention often do not last, Mr Romney is running out of chances to recast the race and win over a small group of undecided voters. Three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate in October are the last major campaign events before the Nov 6 election.

"Clearly, heading into the final 60 days of the campaign the president has opened up an edge, and that includes in the swing states, too," pollster Peter Brown of Quinnipiac University said. "But Romney just needs to move the needle a few points and the race would be right back to even," he said.