Mitt Romney trails President Obama in Florida as candidates speak at conference of Latino politicians

By Callum Borchers, Globe Correspondent

As Mitt Romney and President Obama address a conference of Latino politicians in Florida on Thursday and Friday, a new Quinnipiac University poll is showing Obama with a 4-point edge in the swing state.

The survey, released only hours before Romney spoke to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, showed the president leading his Republican challenger, 46 percent to 42 percent. A Quinnipiac poll taken just one month ago gave Romney the lead, 47 percent to 41 percent.

Most discouraging for Romney is the signal that he is losing ground among independent voters in Florida. Last month’s poll gave Romney an 8-point advantage over Obama; Thursday’s version put him in a 9-point hole.

The survey of 1,697 registered voters was conducted from June 12-18; Obama issued his order placing a moratorium on deportations of many young illegal immigrants on June 15. The order is popular among Latinos and independents.

“It also is worth noting that the last Quinnipiac University Florida poll was on the heels of the president’s backing of gay marriage, which might have hurt him at that time,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “At this point, Romney is not well defined in the minds of many voters, especially those in the middle. This movement reflects that uncertainty among voters who are up for grabs.”