Obama Still Leads over Romney after ConventionsPresident Barack Obama still got the lead over Republican candidate Mitt Romney according to recent polls. According to the survey by Reuters/Ipsos of 1,419 voters, 47 percent said they will vote for Obama and 43 percent were for Romney.

President Obama’s lead over Romney in the daily rolling poll was left unchanged since Saturday. This made the Republican strategists to work overtime as their candidate failed to get more votes following the disappointing employment numbers.

The president’s lead was more sustained than the boost that Romney got after the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida last August 30. The Democratic convention just ended last Thursday night in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Romney’s senior advisers said that it is not yet time to panic as several polls showed Romney losing in vital swing states. They maintained that the results reflected the recent Democratic convention and not tight presidential race.

Romney’s advisers maintained that Americans’ feelings regarding Obama’s handling of the economy will be in favor of their candidate. To them, Romney’s standing in battleground states has improved and will likely to attract the swing voters with his economic policies.

The poll showed Romney leading in popularity among registered independent voters. 35 percent said they would vote for Romney and Obama got 31 percent. But when they were asked who among the two will protect American jobs, 32 percent said Obama while 27 said Romney.

Among the 1,660 registered voters polled, Obama got 42 percent while Romney received 35 percent. Obama’s position in the category has a steady increase over the past two weeks. It started with 3 percent last August 28, then reached 40 percent on September 7.

72 percent of registered voters polled said that the national economy as well as the national deficit was on the wrong path. 66 percent felt the same about jobs and unemployment. 57 percent said that the overall direction of things in the country were on the wrong track.

The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission will try to recreate the communal experience of the past by offering free Movies in the Park that will go on every Friday and Saturday until November 16. The screenings are coordinated and promoted by local organizations to nurture neighborhood friendships.

The sponsors can choose the movies from NORDC’s collection of animated, action, adventure, classic, dance, comedy, and inspirational films. Some of the movies from the collection include Spider-Man, The Blind Side, and The Wizard of Oz.

The movies will be projected onto a 30 by 60 foot screen in playgrounds across New Orleans. Residents are welcome to bring their own chairs or blankets as well as food and drinks. Children under the age of 16 should be accompanied with adults. Pets and alcoholic beverages are not allowed during the screenings.

Digby Park in eastern New Orleans has scheduled two movie screenings this season. It is one of the first locations in the program last year. During that time, the Pine Village, Rosedale, and Melia neighborhood associations managed to attract around 250 neighborhood residents.

According to park supervisor Kerry Williams, neighbors brought lawn chairs and blankets. There was a concession stand that offered popcorn, hotdogs, and nachos. He added that when the movie ended, the audience gave a round of applause.

Last weekend, Hoffman Triangle Neighborhood Association, together with the Taylor Park Booster Club, held a screening of How To Train Your Dragon at Taylor Park. The event also featured arts and crafts for the kids, face-painting, and information on affordable housing for adults. Proceeds from the concession sales will fund kids’ sports via the booster club.