Swing-state races now very tight after Romney's post-debate surge

Ohio (18)

Obama has only a 1.5 percent lead in the RCP average, a sign things could be tightening.

The president has been ahead in Ohio for months and may have lost a chance to lock-up the state with his debate performance. It was thought before the debate that Romney might have to focus his resources on other states.

Democrats are hopeful that gains made early in the cycle, when Obama effectively portrayed Romney as an out-of-touch corporate raider to the state’s blue collar voters, is enough to withstand the GOP challenger’s late charge — particularly since voting has already started.