(RALEIGH) -- Now that it appear more likely that Mitt Romney will be the GOP presidential nominee, he has some ground to make up in North Carolina against Democratic President Barack Obama. That is according to the latest survey from Public Policy Polling.

"We find that Barack Obama starts the general election with a 5 point lead over Mitt Romney, 49-44 and we've tested an Obama/Romney match-up in North Carolina every month for the last year and a half.  This is the largest lead Obama's ever had," said Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling.

He added that Romney's move to the right to fend off primary competitors Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich are a factor is his fall in the polls.