President Barack Obama holds a one point lead on his Republican challenger Mitt Romney, according to poll results released last night.
The CBS News/New York Times poll, taken before Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast, put Mr Obama ahead, 48 per cent to 47 per cent, among likely voters.
Mr Obama led Mr Romney, 49 per cent to 46 per cent in the same poll in September.
Mr Obama was ahead among women, 52 per cent to 44 per cent, while Mr Romney led among men, 51 per cent to 44 per cent.
Likely voters said Mr Obama would do more to help the middle class than Mr Romney, 52 per cent to 43 per cent, while the former Massachusetts governor, who dealt with a Democratic legislature, was viewed as working better with members of both parties in Congress at 50 per cent compared to 39 per cent for Mr Obama.
Mr Romney held a 51 per cent to 45 per cent edge on which candidate would do a better job on the economy and jobs, and a 54 per cent to 39 per cent advantage on the budget deficit.
While the nation's unemployment rate slid to 7.8 per cent in September, the lowest level since the president took office in January 2009, it was the first time the rate had fallen below 8 per cent in 44 months.
The CBS/Times survey found voters, by 51 per cent to 39 per cent, supporting Mr Obama over Mr Romney on abortion rights.
Mr Romney has called for Supreme Court to overturn its Roe versus Wade decision that legalized abortion.
Mr Obama also had an edge on handling Medicare, 51 per cent to 42 per cent.
Mr Romney's running mate, Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, has sponsored House-passed legislation that would replace traditional Medicare for future recipients 10 years from now with vouchers to buy private insurance or a government plan with a cap on expenditures.
The poll of 563 likely voters taken October 25th to 28th had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
A survey released yesterday of Hispanic Christian voters showed Mr Obama with a 63 per cent to 26 per cent lead over Mr Romney.