Obama leads slightly in battleground states

boston.com reports that in four battleground states, Obama is leading McCain. Though within the statistical margin of error (barely), this is better news for Obama than McCain. The numbers are consistent with what existed before the conventions, meaning McCain/Palin didn't get a bump. Or if they did, it has gone away already.

The survey released this morning by The Washington Post, Quinnipiac University, and the Wall Street Journal gives Democrat Barack Obama a 49 percent to 45 percent lead over McCain in Colorado, a 48 percent-44 edge in Michigan, and a 47 percent-45 percent margin in Minnesota.

Only in Wisconsin is Obama's lead -- 49 percent to 42 percent -- outside the statistical margin of error. Late Monday, an ABC News/Washington Post poll said Obama had pulled ahead in Virginia, which has been Republican recently, 49 percent to 46 percent.

I've been saying for some time that the national polls are meaningless. If you want to know how the horserace is going, you have to look at state-by-state polls. This site always has a collection of the latest poll results of various types. Visit often, if curiosity strikes.