With only four full days of campaigning left, polls suggest that the election will go down to the wire.
A poll by analysts at Real Clear Politics last night showed the candidates tied at 47.4 per cent each in the popular, vote while the oft-consulted Pew Research Centre also predicted a 47-47 deadlock.
There was better news for Barack Obama in polling in key swings states, however, with the president holding a narrow lead in 11 of 13. That suggests the incumbent is on course for at least 300 votes in the US electoral college, according to a New York Times forecast yesterday, more than the 270 he needs for re-election.
It also hints that Mr Obama has benefited from his handling of the storm’s aftermath, especially since Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey and previously one of the president’s fiercest critics, lavished praise on him for his response.
“I’d sure rather be Barack Obama right now than Mitt Romney,” Daily Beast special correspondent Michael Tomasky said. “Sandy and Chris Christie stopped Romney’s momentum cold and put some wind, so to speak, behind the president’s back.”
An IPSOS poll indicated backing for both candidates was solid. Only 11 per cent of Mr Romney’s supporters said they might change their mind, and just 8 per cent of Mr Obama’s backers indicated the same about the president as he seeks re-election.
About a quarter – 26 per cent – of registered voters said they have already cast their ballots. Among them, Mr Obama leads by 52 per cent to 43 per cent. The number is not necessarily predictive because Democrats are typically more likely to vote early than Republicans.
In other good news for the incumbent, US companies added jobs in October at the fastest pace in eight months, a sign of modest healing in the labour market.
Other data yesterday showed a sharp improvement in consumer confidence and a drop in new claims for jobless benefits.
Both candidates face a gruelling schedule for the final weekend of the campaign. Tomorrow, Mr Obama will be in Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa and Virginia and on Sunday will appear in New Hampshire, Florida, Ohio and Colorado.
Mr Romney will appear in Wisconsin and Ohio today and New Hampshire, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada over the weekend.