Back to business: Presidential candidates return to campaign trail

President Obama and Republican Mitt Romney have entered the final stages of political campaigning. Credit: Reuters

While New Jersey is still taking stock of the aftermath of the storm, the two Presidential candidates will today return to the election trail.

The big question consuming the campaign strategists is whether Hurricane Sandy has changed the race.

They will be poring over the polls. You can join them in this exercise by looking at this blog where I reproduce the latest surveys.

So ready for statistical overload? Love your polls? Ok, great. Me too.

Look especially at Ohio, a state which took a glancing blow from the storm and which will almost certainly decide the race.

But first the most striking poll of all: 78% of Americans approve of President Obama's performance in handling the hurricane. That is going to cheer up Team Obama.

  • Colorado: Obama 50%, Romney 47% (We Ask America)

  • Colorado: Romney 46%, Obama 45% (Reuters/Ipsos)

  • Ohio: Obama 50%, Romney 45% (Quinnipiac)

  • Ohio: Obama 50%, Romney 45% (Public Policy Polling)

  • Ohio: Obama 48%, Romney 46% (University of Cincinnati)

  • Ohio: Obama 48%, Romney 45% (Reuters/Ipsos)

  • Florida: Obama 48%, Romney 47% (Quinnipiac)

  • Florida: Romney 50%, Obama 47% (Gravis)

  • Florida: Romney 50%, Obama 49% (We Ask America)

  • Florida: Obama 47%, Romney 47% (Reuters/Ipsos)

  • Iowa: Obama 50%, Romney 45% (Public Policy Polling)

  • Iowa: Romney 45%, Obama 44% (University of Iowa)

  • Iowa: Obama 49%, Romney 47% (We Ask America)

  • Michigan: Obama 48%, Romney 45% (Detroit News)

  • Michigan: Obama 48%, Romney 42% (EPIC-MRA)

  • North Carolina: Obama 49%, Romney 49% (Public Policy Polling)

  • Pennsylvania: Obama 48%, Romney 44% (Franklin and Marshall)

  • Virginia: Obama 49%, Romney 47% (Quinnipiac)

  • Virginia: Romney 49%, Obama 44% (Roanoke)

  • Virginia: Obama 48%, Romney 46% (Reuters/Ipsos)

  • Wisconsin: Obama 51%, Romney 46% (Public Policy Polling)

  • Wisconsin: Obama 51%, Romney 43% (Marquette Law)

If you've read all that data, I'm impressed. If you think you can shift the needle, apply for a job as an Obama or Romney strategist. But be quick. There's only a few days to go.