Iowa is at the center of President Obama's and Mitt Romney's dueling strategies for victory, and the president holds a narrow edge over Mr. Romney there, according to a Des Moines Register poll released Saturday evening, which found Mr. Obama with 47 percent, to 42 percent for Mr. Romney.
The candidates crossed paths in Iowa on Saturday, and both are scheduled to visit the state one more time before Election Day, although the poll found that 42 percent of likely voters had already cast their ballots.
The poll, which was conducted Tuesday through Friday, has a margin of sampling error for each candidate of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The poll found that only 2 percent of voters remained undecided, and 5 percent declined to name their favorite.
“There are things that could happen today and Monday that would shape the final outcome,†J. Ann Selzer, who conducted the poll, told The Des Moines Register. “Nobody need be overconfident.â€
Whil e the findings are welcome news for Mr. Obama, whose political rise began with the Iowa caucuses four years ago, the poll found that 7 percent could still change their minds. And among that small group, the poll found that 48 percent described themselves as angry and pessimistic, double the overall average.
Iowa's six electoral votes are being contested heavily by candidates and their campaigns, which have descended on the state in the final weekend of the campaign.
