There are more signs today of a tightening race in Pennsylvania between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. A poll by the Allentown Morning Call and Muhlenberg College conducted March 27 – April 2 showed Clinton ahead by 49 percent to 38 percent, a nice margin, but down 3 points from mid-February. The margin of error is 5 points. A Strategic Vision poll conducted March 28-30 has Clinton up by 47 percent to 41 percent, compared to last month when she led by 18 points. This poll had a 3 point margin of error. The new surveys come on the heels of other polls, most of which had Clinton still ahead but by declining margins.

Obama appears to be benefiting by his six day barnstorming tour in the state plus a big statewide advertising campaign. ”After a barnstorming tour, all kinds of media attention throughout the state, plus his ad buy, you’d really start to see some questions raised if he wasn’t having some traction in the polls,” said Chris Borick, director of Muhlenberg College’s Institute of Public Opinion.

Clinton fares much better in Pennsylvania than other states in her favorability rating with 77 percent holding positive views of her against 21 percent. Obama’s favorability rating is also up around 70 percent.