Obama has lead over Romney in swing states 28 (UPI) -- Polls indicate President Barack Obama has a 7-point lead over Mitt Romney in New Hampshire but the two are neck and neck in North Carolina and Nevada. Polls of likely voters by NBC, The Wall Street Journal and the Marist Institute indicate Obama is leading the Republican nominee in 51 percent to 44 percent in New Hampshire but is only ahead by 2 points in both North Carolina and Nevada, USA Today reported. Obama's lead in New Hampshire has been aided by improved perceptions about the direction of the country, said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. "There's been a reversal on the economy," Miringoff said. In June, more voters saw Romney as better for the economy, but no longer. In the crucial swing states -- Ohio, New Hampshire, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida, Virginia, and Colorado -- Obama has a lead, with an overall average of 49.5 percent to Romney's 44 percent, the NBC News blog reported.