Presidential Polls 2012: Romney, Obama at Highest Favorability Ratings of Campaign, Close In Swing States

A new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows the presidential contenders both at record high favorability ratings.

Nearly a week after his lauded showing in the first presidential debate, Mitt Romney is viewed favorably by 47 percent of registered voters. While that's lower than the 51 percent of voters who view him unfavorably, it's still three points higher than September, and the highest it's ever been since September of 2011.

Polls have been bad news for President Obama this week, but he's still seen favorably by 55 percent of registered voters, his highest rating since early 2010. Still, 45 percent view him unfavorably, but that's down a point from September.

Of course, favorability does not equal electability. On that front, the polls are all over the place post-debate. Gallup showed Romney closing the gap and running tied with the president, then a Pew Research poll actually had Romney up by four points.

That Gallup poll also showed Romney erasing Obama's lead among women, which had been a very comfortable--though apparently not insurmountable--18 points.

But the vagaries of the Electoral College may actually help Democrats this time around. Obama still has strong support in swing states, particularly among the fast-growing Latino population.

He still leads in Michigan and Pennsylvania, too, but new polls show Romney gaining in those states as well. Obama has a three-point lead in Pennsylvania, 43-40 percent, with a large undecided population, down from from a double-digit lead in September.

And after a 10-point lead in Michigan a month ago, Obama's lead has narrowed to three points there, too, 48-45 percent.

Another Gallup poll is due in the afternoon on Tuesday, and that one should be restricted to likely voters. While there's no consensus on which candidate is currently in the lead, Nate Silver believes once the dust settles, Obama will retain his advantage, though it will be much smaller than it was last week.

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