New poll finds Romney moving into lead in NC

Republican Mitt Romney has a five point lead over Democrat Barack Obama, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll.

The Republican-leaning survey found Romney with 49 percent, Obama with 44 percent, three percent preferring another candidate, and four percent undecided.

Other recent polls have found the race closer. A Civitas poll taken July 18 found Romney leading 49-48 percent, a N.C. Citizens for Progress/Garin Hart Yang Research Poll on July 13^th found Obama leading 46-44, a Public Policy Poll conducted July 8^th found Obama leading 47-46, a Project New America/ Myers Research Poll taken July 7^th found Romney leading 49-48.

The Rasmussen Reports poll of 500 likely North Carolina voters was taken August 1 and has a margin of error of 4.5 percent.

The spin: “This moves the state from Toss-Up Status to Leans Romney in the Rasmussen Reports Electoral College Projections.''