Fun fact: almost exactly four years ago, MRG put Obama only 1 point ahead of Romney in Michigan. Over a year later he went on to win it by nearly 10 points, of course.
And maybe that's what would have happened if the election had occurred in September 2011. Obama's approval on September 23, 2011 was 43/51 per RCP. On election day 2012, it was much better - 50/47.
Yeah but don't forget, Barack Obama was 50 years old in September 2011, whereas on election day he was 51. However, Mitt Romney was 64 in September 2011, and then went on to be 65 on election day when Obama beat him.