The Hill's Justin Sink reports.
Mitt Romney continues to grow his lead in North Carolina, now leading President Obama by five points in the state where Democrats plan to hold their national convention.
Romney was the choice of half of the respondents survyed in a poll released Tuesday by Civitas, versus 45 percent for Obama. That's a slight improvement over Romney's March showing, when he led the president 47 percent to 45 percent.
The reason for Romney's improved fortunes? Independents, who now favor him by 19%.
Even though polling has shown a pretty tight race throughout this cycle, Romney is still heavily favored to take the state. As Peter Hamby wrote in May, the political winds aren't nearly as salubrious in the Tarheel State for Obama this time.
The real questions are whether Obama can keep it close enough to force Romney to waste resources, and also whether he can, at least partially, vindicate Democrats' decision to hold the convention in the state.
