Polls show Obama ahead in US presidential race
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WASHINGTON (AFP) - New polls suggest President Barack Obama has opened a clear lead in his re-election race over Mitt Romney, raising the stakes for the Republican challenger in a crucial month for his campaign.
Mr Obama is ahead nationally and in most of the dozen swing states that will decide the Nov 6 election, as Mr Romney prepares for two pivotal moments - his selection of a running mate and his primetime convention speech.
Several days of polling suggests that the Democratic incumbent's attempt to fix an image of Mr Romney in the minds of voters as a rich businessman oblivious to the struggles of the middle class may be working.
And they also indicate that, while Americans are in a ornery mood after years of economic pain and do not expect Mr Obama to offer immediate relief, they have an increasingly unfavourable view of his opponent Mr Romney.
