Now here's a shock!

According to Rasmussen, Mitt Romney has a 47% to 46% lead over President Obama here in Iowa. Three percent prefer another candidate, and four percent are undecided.

I'm stunned. I frankly have never thought of Iowa- which has become increasingly liberal as the years have gone by- as being in play.

Rasmussen also says that Romney is leading in Ohio, Florida and Missouri. He and the President are tied in Virginia, a formerly reliable "red" state which has been trending Democratic in recent years because of population growth in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Romney also leads in the most recent Rasmussen poll in North Carolina.

All but Missouri and North Carolina, where Romney has more substantial leads, are within the margin of error. But it's significant- to say the least- that President Obama does not apparently lead Gov. Romney among likely voters in any of the six key swing states.

The Republican candidate leads in today's Rasmussen tracking poll by four points, 48% to 44%, wifh four percent preferring someone else and four percent undecided.