NM poll shows Romney-Obama gap narrows

A new poll from Public Policy Polling shows Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney closing the gap on President Obama in New Mexico.

The PPP survey still shows Obama with a 5 percent lead, but that is down 11 percent from the Rasmussen Poll done in April that had Obama with a 16 percent lead.

UNM Political Science professor, Gabriel Sanchez says that's why we are seeing increase Romney activity in the state. He's opened six offices and he's scheduled a visit to Hobbs on Aug. 23.

Sanchez says this is even more important because PPP is known as a polling service that tends to favor Democrats.

Obama's campaign staff in New Mexico says they don't have to open new offices because the president has had a presence here since the last election. Sanchez says that could change if this one poll turns into three or four polls showing an increase in Romney's numbers.

Then we might see a visit or two and increased ads, offices and staff.

Another big factor in the New Mexico presidential race could be Gov. Susana Martinez. Sanchez notes the same PPP poll has Martinez with a 52 percent approval rating and her support of Romney could further close the gap.