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President Obama holds narrow leads over his Republican rivals in the key battleground state of Ohio, according to a poll released Tuesday.

The president's lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has slipped to two points since May, according to the new Public Policy Polling (D) survey. Obama edges Romney, 45 percent to 43 percent. The president leads Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who entered the race on Saturday, by four points (45 percent to 41 percent).

Obama leads Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann by seven points; businessman Herman Cain by eight points; and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who is not an announced candidate, by 13 points.

Though he leads the GOP contenders, the president’s approval ratings have slipped further underwater in the Buckeye State. According to the poll, 44 percent of Ohio voters approve of the president's job performance while 52 percent disapprove. His approval rating is down two points since May, and his disapproval numbers have ticked up three points. As expected, he receives high marks (79 percent) from his Democratic base and low marks (93 percent) from Republicans. But, notably, 16 percent of Democrats have soured on him, and a majority (59 percent) of independents disapprove of his job performance.

Further, independent voters favor both Perry and Romney by five points in matchups with Obama. Against the other Republicans, however, Obama leads among independents.

The president is touring the Midwest this week but will not make a stop in Ohio, which he won by five points over John McCain in 2008. Since electing Obama, Ohio voters have replaced their governor and five members of their congressional delegation with Republicans.

PPP surveyed 729 Ohio voters from Aug. 11-14. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.