MISSOURI: Romney opens 9% lead

A new, automated We Ask America poll of Missouri shows Mitt Romney jumping out to a 49%-40% lead over Barack Obama.

Both candidates consolidate 82% of their parties, but Romney owes his big lead to a 49%-31% edge with independents.

In 2008, Missouri was the closest state in the nation, with John McCain nipping Obama by less than 1%.

But Romney has held consistent, very solid leads over Obama throughout the past year.

Click here to read my battleground guide to Missouri, which -- like GMC in its mid-1990's SUV's -- will put you "comfortably in command" of the landscape.