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Romney closes in on Obama in Florida, Virginia

On the eve of the first presidential debate, GOP candidate Mitt Romney is nipping at President Obama's heels in two key battleground states: Florida and Virgini

On the eve of the first presidential debate, GOP candidate Mitt Romney is nipping at President Obama's heels in two key battleground states: Florida and Virginia.

Obama's notable September surge in swing state polls has stopped short in Florida where the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll showed the president at a statistical tie with his opponent. Obama leads 47% to Romney's 46% in the Sunshine State, meaning Romney made up ground since mid-September when he was down by five points.

"Romney has tightened in the races where we've seen the most fluidity in all year," msnbc host Chuck Todd said on The Daily Rundown Wednesday. 

The tight race in Florida reflects similar statistics in Virginia where Obama is up by two points at 48%. Last month, the president possessed a wider lead on Romney at 49% to 44%.

The NBC/WSJ poll also showed Obama continuing to hold a significant lead in a must-win state for Romney: Ohio. The president is favored by voters there 51% to 43%.

Todd indicated Romney would face a difficult decision should he continue to underperform in the Buckeye State.

"In a week, if that doesn't move, Romney is going to have to make that tough decision to pull out of Ohio," Todd said. "He has got to decide where is the money better spent."