ADVERTISEMENT

Obama leads 47 percern to 46 among independents in the Hawkeye State. He also has a substantial lead, 68 percent to 34, among those who say they have already voted, while Romney leads 55 percent to 39 among those who say they will vote on Election Day.

In Wisconsin, PPP shows Obama with a bigger lead than most other recent polls, 51 percent to 45 over Romney. According to the RCP average, Obama leads Romney by less than 3 percentage points in Wisconsin.

The president has a 48 percent to 43 advantage over Romney among independents in Wisconsin, according to the poll.

Iowa and Wisconsin are among a handful of swing states that will be critical in determining the outcome of the 2012 election.

Democrats are optimistic that Obama will hold onto Wisconsin, which has trended Democratic in recent elections.

President George W. Bush won Iowa in 2004, but Obama returned it to the Democratic column in 2008.