LOS ANGELES, Ca (Catholic Online) - In particular, Obama's lead among female voters has been dramatically reversed. Women are now evenly divided (47 percent Obama, 47 percent Romney). Obama led Romney by 18 points (56 percent to 38 percent) among women likely voters a month ago.

It's not yet known if any presidential candidate has ever lost 18 points among women voters in a single night. Obama has fallen in nearly every category.

The president has some personal advantages over Romney, diminished as they may now be. Obama still has an edge on Medicare, scores much higher on relating to ordinary people, is ahead on foreign policy, and on being moderate, consistent and honest. Only 14 percent of swing voters believe Romney is honest.

However, on the core issues of the economy and the deficit, Romney leads far ahead.
By a 37 percent to 24 percent margin, more swing voters say Romney would improve the job situation. Swing voters favor Romney on the deficit by a two-to-one, or 41 percent vs. 20 percent) margin.

Romney has gained ground on several of these measures since earlier in the campaign. Obama and Romney now run neck-and-neck at 44 percent each in terms of which candidate is the stronger leader. Obama held a 13-point advantage on this a month ago. Obama's 14-point edge as the more honest and truthful candidate has narrowed to just five points. Obama held a 17-point lead in June as the candidate voters thought was more willing to work with leaders from the other party.

After the first debate, the candidates run about even on this with 45 percent saying Obama, 42 percent Romney.

In the 11 swing states, Mitt Romney earns 49 percent support to Obama's 47 percent. One percent likes another candidate, and three percent are undecided.

This is the first time Romney has led the daily Swing State Survey since September 19. Until today, the president had led for 17 of the previous 19 days, and the candidates had been tied twice. This survey is based on findings from the previous seven days, with most of the responses now coming since Romney's debate win last Wednesday night.

Some suggest that the president must now need a clear positive proposal, such as tax reform, a Grand Bargain on S-B lines, as well as a sterling defense of his admirable record.

Supporters hope that the president can regain the people's trust and confidence somehow in the next debate, giving us a positive vision of what he wants to do.

Others point out, however that a sitting president does not recover from being obliterated on substance, style and likability in the first debate and get much of a chance to come back.

© 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.