President Obama's re-election team is using bad polls to try to raise campaign cash.

In a fundraising e-mail sent out last night, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina writes: "If the general election were held today, President Obama would lose to Mitt Romney -- according to the latest poll from Washington Post-ABC News."

Messina told supporters, "If the idea of a President Romney scares you, it's time to own a piece of this campaign -- donate $3 or more today."

The survey cited by Messina did give Romney a small lead, but within the margin of error. Still, recent surveys show Obama's approval ratings falling and tighter races with Romney and other potential Republican opponents, in large part because of rising gas prices and continued anxiety about the economy.

Messina noted, "Many other polls put the president on top, but all point to the same reality: We're looking at a race that will be tighter than you think.

"And," he said, "the other side has groups ready to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to tear down President Obama."

Though the Republican race remains in flux, the e-mail focuses on Romney: