MARQUETTE -- Ever wondered what kind of impact polls have on the national election?  Ishpeming native and Northern Michigan University alumnus turned pollster, Steve Mitchell, gave the answer Wednesday at NMU.

Mitchell says currently President Obama has a four point lead in Michigan.  However, nationally the most recent Gallup polls show Mitt Romney maintains a six point lead over the president.
    
Mitchell says the polls show it's a close race and it can go either way. He also says polls act like a sports scoreboard and only keep track of who's winning and don't impact the race.

"People think that because polls show one candidate ahead that, therefore, that's going to give that candidate an advantage. But in fact having been doing this now for 30 years, polling doesn't have that big of an impact.  People vote for the candidate they like, for the candidate they believe in," said Mitchell.

Mitchell says it remains to be seen if the president will enjoy a bounce in the polls equal to Romney's momentum following the first debate.  He also says bottom line, people need to cast their vote.