Close races in big swing states

The latest round of swing state polls show Barack Obama gaining in Ohio, John McCain lengthening his lead in Florida, and a tightening race in Pennsylvania.

In Ohio, Obama leads McCain 49 percent to 44 percent in the Quinnipiac University survey released this morning. In the same poll last month, they were tied. Obama is holding his own among women, with a 10-percentage-point edge.

In Florida, McCain is ahead 50 percent to 43 percent, up from a 4-percentage-point edge last month, according to Quinnipiac. McCain is getting a boost from his pick of Sarah Palin as running mate -- about 60 percent of likely voters say she was a good choice -- and from former backers of Hillary Clinton, 25 percent of whom are supporting him, up from 14 percent last month.

And in Pennsylvania, Obama's lead of 48 percent to 45 percent is within the margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Obama had a 49 percent to 42 percent lead last month. A Strategic Vision survey released today gave Obama a 47 percent to 45 percent edge in the state.