Poll: Obama, Romney in tight race for Colorado

President Barack Obama and his GOP challenger Mitt Romney will meet on the debate stage at the University of Denver on Oct. 3, 2012. (CNN)

DENVER – The race for Colorado’s nine electoral votes is tight, according to a new poll by Purple Strategies that shows President Obama leading Republican Mitt Romney 45 percent to 44 percent.

A month ago, the Purple Strategies poll had Obama leading Romney 48-46 percent.

In the current poll, 45 percent of Coloradans approve of the job President Obama is doing, while 51 percent disapprove.

“When over half of Coloradans disapprove of the job the president is doing, it’s clear that something has to change,” said the RNC’s Ellie Wallace in a statement. “Coloradans are ready for a president who is committed to putting the best interest of the middle class first instead of the needs of his political buddies who are looking for our tax dollars.”

But the news isn’t much better for Romney, who’s being buried in an avalanche of questions about his unreleased tax returns and uncertain exit date from Bain Capital.

According to the survey, 37 percent of Coloradans view Romney favorably, while 55 percent of them view him unfavorably.

The Purple Strategies report averages results from Colorado, Virginia, Ohio and Florida and finds Obama with a 48-46 percent lead overall.

“Voters views about the economy are the strongest predictors of their vote choice,” the polling memo concludes.

“Among those who believe the economy is getting better, 93 percent support Obama, 4 percent favor Romney. And among those who say it’s getting worse, Romney leads Obama 84 percent to 7 percent.”