The latest Franklin & Marshall College Poll of Pennsylvania voters shows President Barack Obama with a 6-percentage point lead over GOP challenger Mitt Romney.

President Barack Obama. File photo/ Associated Press.

The poll results show Obama with a lead, 44 to 38 percent, with 15 percent undecided.

Including voters who lean toward one or the other candidate, Obama’s advantage is 47 to 42 percent, with 7 percent unsure.

According to the poll, Obama is seen as better understanding of the concerns of ordinary Americans, 57 to 30 percent; better able to handle foreign policy issues, 53 to 34 percent, better able to handle the job as military chief, 47 to 37 percent, and closest to respondents’ views on abortion and gay marriage, 47 to 37 percent.

But Romney now leads as the presidential candidate most prepared to fix the nation’s economic problems, 44 to 42 percent. He trailed on that issue when polled in June, 38 percent to 44 percent.

Mitt Romney (AP photo)

Those taking the poll gave Obama more negative than positive marks on job performance, 43 percent positive and 56 percent negative.

The poll seems to suggest that both candidates have a lot more work to do in Pennsylvania before the Nov. 6 election.

– John Guerriero