The latest batch of Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS News polls show a tight race between President Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney in the battleground states of Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Wisconsin and Virginia. Follow-up interviews with poll respondents offer a glimpse into how likely voters view both of the candidates.
On Mr. Romney's business experience:
Amy Burch, 36, an independent who is an environmental scientist from Melbourne, Fla.:
Romney's a businessman and he obviously ran successful businesses and turned industries around. So if you think of the government as a business, which most people probably don't, he'll be able to use his business sense to help turn the economy around. As businesses succeed, they grow and with growth jobs are created.
Magie Ward, 29, a Republican legislative aide in Columbus, Ohio, and a Romney supporter:
He was the head of a business that was very successful and that's sort of like operating on a smaller scale from being the head of a country whose economy needs improving.
Richard Kafonek, 50, an independent and a production planner for a manufacturing company in Shrewsbury, Pa.:
Because Romney has been involved in a business environment, he has more experience than Obama has with business operations and situations that involve decisions affecting profits and losses. I think that a person who wants to run an economy in a capitalistic environment, which America is based on, needs to have been exposed to a capitalistic business environment.
Mitch Wall, 67, an independent and a part-time real estate agent from Riverview, Fla.:
I think his experience as a governor gave him some insight into the roadblocks that government can put in the way of businesses and corporations. I also feel that his time at Bain, while somewhat controversial, gave him the knowledge and experience to understand from a business perceptive how to create economic growth, which also creates jobs for the middle class.
The Obama campaign has spent heavily this summer in an effort to define Mr. Romney as wealthy and out of touch with middle-class Americans. Other lines of attack focused on his connections to outsourcing at businesses owned by Bain Capital and his reluctance to release more than two years' worth of tax returns. Several respondents picked up on these themes.
Shawn Rolingher, 44, an independent who is a physician assistant from Golden, Colo.:
It's a trust issue with Romney. I'm not happy with how secretive he is being about the tax issue. There might not be any real reason he is not forthcoming except he just feels personally that he doesn't have to disclose anything, but I think if you're running for a public office you need to open yourself up more than he has.
John Ong, 84, an independent and retired driller and tree surgeon from Dunn, Wis. who is supporting Mr. Obama:
I don't trust Romney. He's for the one-percenters, as they call them. And the only jobs he created were over in India and China. He's trying to cover up and hide something about his taxes, because he doesn't want to release his tax returns. I think he's just for the rich.
Jen Kanchy, 20, a Democrat, Obama supporter and a student from Oxford, Ohio.
I feel like Obama cares about the people way more than Romney does. Romney says he wants to stabilize the economy, which would be good, but I feel he is more interested in profits and money. Barack speaks for the common people and he's actually trying to change things. I'm excited because this is my first time voting. I'm really pumped.
That level of enthusiasm for the president is not matched by some voters in these states.
John Underwood, 66, is an independent and a retired carpenter from Boscobel, Wis.:
If I had to choose between them, I would chose Romney, but I plan to write in Ron Paul. I think the two people running are just not working for us. At least Romney would be better for the economy because at least he has experience in the business world, whereas Obama was a community organizer and a senator for a short time. Romney would be more able to handle the economy.
Nita Cermak, 51, is an independent from Lagrange, Ohio, who works as a school bus driver (and drives a cement mixer during the summer). She said she voted for Mr. Obama in 2008, but is “not happy with him. I thought he would do more than what he has. What has he really accomplished?â€
I'm not pleased with Romney either. I don't think he will do any better. I think the country is in so much trouble no one knows where to begin. I don't know if I'm voting for Romney but I'm definitely not voting for Obama. It's a possibility I may not vote and if that happens it'll be the first time I haven't voted since I was 18. And I'm a firm believer in voicing my opinions and voting. I wish we had more choices.
Ethel Beerer, 71, is a Democrat and a retired nurse from Olmsted Falls, Ohio, who says she's undecided this year.
Actually, I really don't know who I'm voting for. I've always voted Democrat, but I know the Republicans are against the health care bill. There's a chance I may not vote at all. I'm waiting until I've heard more clear cut ideas and discussed the issues with friends.
Mr. Obama gets mixed reviews on the economy from likely voters who say they're independents.
Darryl Perdue, 46, is an independent and a pipe fitter from Roanoke, Va.:
I'm voting for Obama because he's done a good job with the economy. He inherited a big mess. A lot of people have failed to realize that when he walked into office, the Dow Jones was down to 5,900 and it is now 12,000 and that's a good thing. He has created jobs. Maybe the economy has been slow but it is better than it was.
Glenn Drum, 66, is an independent and a retired hospital administrator from LaValle, Wis.:
I think Obama is on the right track in taxing the wealthy. They need to pay their fair share. That's a big factor for me, even if it's more anti-Romney than pro-Obama. I also feel that the economy is getting better. The unemployment rate has been dropping over the past year. New jobs are being created. I think Obama's fiscal programs are working, even if they're slow to come around.
Thomas Stephens, 70, is a retired tool-and-die maker from Studley, Va., who considers himself an independent.
I have negative feelings about Obama. He promised all this stuff. In my opinion he's probably the bigges t liar we ever had in office. He said he would change everything. Well, he changed everything but it was for the worse. I've been a Democrat all my life, a strong one. Bill Clinton was a good president. More people had jobs, more young people could afford houses, and if you had a 401(k) you made money.
Mary Cooper, 78, is an independent from Winchester, Va. The retired school kitchen manager said she will vote for Mr. Romney, but primarily because she opposes Mr. Obama.
Obama has done so many things that scare me. I feel that my freedom's been taken away.
