UPI Poll: Obama, Romney tied with just days ahead of Election Day President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney shake hands at the end of the final presidential debate on the campus of Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida on Oct. 22. WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. President Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney were in a dead heat six days ahead of Election Day, a United Press International poll indicated. Obama and Romney each were preferred by 48 percent of likely voters, the UPI-CVoter opinion poll released Wednesday indicated. Romney picked up a percentage point this week to tie Obama, results indicated. Obama led Romney by as many as 3 percentage points soon after the third presidential debate Oct. 16, but saw his lead fall to a single point Monday. Obama also saw his approval ratings dip, with only 49 percent of registered voters saying they approve of his performance in office while 45 percent said they disapprove. Results indicated the latest approval rating was a 2 percentage point decline from his 51 percent approval rating earlier this week. Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews conducted Oct. 24-30 with 1,526 registered voters, of which 1,146 indicated they were likely to vote on Election Day.