President Barack Obama holds a seven-point lead in Oregon over Republican challenger Mitt Romney, according to a new poll

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The Oct. 16-18 poll also found that Measure 80, to legalize marijuana, faces long odds of passage. It now has support from 36 percent of voters, with 43 percent opposed.

The poll also makes it clear why proponents of the two measures aimed at siting a casino in Wood Village

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Measure 82, which would remove the state constitutional prohibition against private casinos, is losing 28 percent to 53 percent. Measure 83, which would site a casino at the old greyhound track in Wood Village, is behind 26 percent to 54 percent.

The survey did find that 53 percent of voters supported Measure 85, which would divert the corporate "kicker" tax rebates to education, when they were read a full description of the measure. In an earlier poll,

of the measure.

Obama's lead over Romney has dropped by two points since an

. Romney has not seriously contested the state and Oregon is routinely listed as being a largely safe state for Obama. But the new poll suggests that if there is a big surge for Romney in the last two-and-one-half weeks before the election, he could be within striking distance here.

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