Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanTrump, Biden have one debate goal: Don't lose RNC chair on election: We are on track to win the White House Kenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 MORE has propelled Mitt Romney into the lead over President Obama in the critical battleground state of Wisconsin, according to the latest survey from liberal-leaning Public Policy Polling.



Romney edges Obama 48 percent to 47, according to the poll, which has a 2.7 percent margin of error.



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That’s a 7 percentage point gain for Romney, who trailed Obama 50 to 44 in the previous PPP poll, taken in July, before Rep. Ryan (R-Wis.) was added to the GOP ticket.It’s the second consecutive survey of Wisconsin to find Romney has overtaken the president following the selection of Ryan as his running mate. A survey earlier this month from conservative-leaning polling outlet Rasmussen also gave Romney a 48-47 lead in the state.

According to PPP, Ryan has helped shore up the Republican base in Wisconsin. Romney has stretched his lead over Obama among Republicans from 78 percentage points to 88. The former Massachusetts governor has also seen gains among independents in the state, cutting Obama’s 14-point July advantage to only 4.



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Ryan is the only candidate to log a positive favorability rating in Wisconsin, with 49 percent holding a positive view, against 45 negative. Romney is underwater by 3 percent on the question of favorability, Obama by 4 and Biden by 7.

Obama held leads of between 5 and 7 percentage points in Wisconsin before the addition of Ryan to the ticket, according to three major polls.

Wisconsin is one of 12 battleground states — the others are Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire — that will be critical in determining the outcome of the 2012 election.

Wisconsin hasn't backed a Republican for president since Ronald Reagan in 1984.



The survey of 1,308 likely voters was conducted between Aug. 16 and 19.

