Obama wins 'babysitting' poll

David Jackson | USATODAY

This is the stage of the election where you see all kinds of polling questions.

The babysitter query, for example.

According to a comprehensive ABC News/Washington Post poll, registered voters would rather leave a child with President Obama than Mitt Romney, by a margin of 49% to 36%.

That was one of the "lighter questions" in a poll that, on its top line, gave Obama a slight election lead over Romney among likely voters, 49% to 46%.

ABC takes a look at the lighter side of its poll:

"Obama's reserved, less-confrontational performance at the debate could be a big reason for the upswing. The president suggested he might have been 'too polite' during his meeting with Romney in Denver. But whatever that his demeanor cost him, it seemed to hit home with when it comes to caring and responsibility.

"Respondents' preference on the 'who would you rather have as the captain of a ship in a storm?' question has tightened from a 12 point Obama lead two weeks ago to a statistically insignificant +4 for Obama now, possibly reflecting a Romney debate performance that suggested skill under duress.

"Sixty percent of voters think Obama is more apt to go bungee jumping, while only 21% think Romney would be up for the thrill. Romney has been labeled as uptight by many political pundits as his younger opponent is often portrayed as more of a sporting type, apt to a risk.

"The candidates split the decision when voters were asked who they would rather have as an employee. Both received 46% on that query, suggesting those surveyed see Obama and Romney as reliable people."