Widening the Battlefield
Contrary to my earlier worries, it looks like Team Romney is indeed making a push into Wisconsin:
Mitt Romney is to travel to Wisconsin, a state Barack Obama won in a 14-point blowout four years ago, as the Republican candidate’s surging campaign seeks to expand the ‘chessboard’ into previously safe Democratic territory.
At the same time, the Romney campaign has bought television advertising in the Boston market, which reaches screens in New Hampshire, a state Obama won by almost 10 points in 2008.
Asked whether Romney himself would be visiting Wisconsin in the closing days of the race, Eric Fehrnstrom, a senior Romney adviser, said: ‘Yes. Paul Ryan was just in Pittsburgh. We’ll be back in Wisconsin, sure. Wisconsin is definitely in play.’
Good move, Mitt. Now hit MI, MN, and PA while you’re at it.
Think big.
Steve,
I really wish I could convey how many were turned away from the rally yesterday. That road was… unbelievable. I expected overflow turnout, but not like that, and being in the middle of it was almost shocking.
Not getting cocky. Terrified of voter fraud. Afraid of da Chicago way — but TRUST ME — Mitt’s support in CO is massive.
Though I DO wish Obama wouldn’t have a rally in my favorite Denver park. Bad enough he signed the stimulus in my favorite museum… argh.
What about OR? I’m hearing that it might also be in play? At least, send some PAC money there and force Obama to play defense…
I can’t put numbers on it, but I think Oregon is closer than anybody thinks. On my visits to Clackamas and Washington Counties, I see very few Obama 2012 bumper stickers. Actually, they’re about as rare as Romney stickers. A few left-over 2008 Obama stickers, but not many. I don’t really get into Portland proper, but I really expected to see more Obama stickers on the road.
I would NOT expect Portland to go for Romney, but I’m willing to believe that the suburban counties might. If Portland doesn’t turn out to vote, then maybe Oregon isn’t so solid for Obama. I don’t trust the mail-in ballot system in a one-party state, but they do need Portland to turn out strongly enough so that it’s close.
At any rate, it’s another state where they’ll have to spend money playing defense.
Oregon is vote-by-mail. Maybe it’s because I’m a cynical old stick-in-the-mud, but I don’t trust vote-by-mail.
Then again, I don’t even trust my own state’s early-voting system — I plan to go to my polling place on E-Day as always.
I can’t watch the news at any time of day in Boston without seeing multiple Obama commercials. Nice to see Romney getting in the game.
We’ve long been underestimating Romney’s support base in what we’d call “light blue” states. Wisconsin probably will break for Romney- especially since we know the ground game from the endless recall elections of the past two years there.
Dems will try to cheat, but I think that the election will be out of the “margin of lawyer” in favor of Romney in many of these states. Plus, the O’Keefe stuff is going to hurt Dems and force electoral boards to pay attention rather than fall asleep.
And JFP, are you saying that you’re seeing Obama commercials in Boston? BOSTON? Is that spillover from New Hampshire, or is that a sign that even in New England Obama has trouble?
Boston’s TV market covers southern NH.
Jason B., I wish Obama was in trouble in MA. I think the Obama commercials here in Boston are spillover from NH because we also get the commercials for NH state races.
Romney may do better here in MA that expected if Scott Brown can get out the vote, and if Reagan/conservative Dems sit this one out. I would be stunned (pleasantly) if Obama lost MA.
JFP, someone HAS to get Obama to support the Yankees. Instant heartburn on Yawkey Way! But I think that sounds more reasonable that it’s NH spillover.
Still, I think the Scott Brown/Liz Warren race is going to have some spillover for Obama/Romney, and since Massachusetts generally has a favorable opinion of Mitt, it’s not out of the blue (pun intended) to see Romney perform better there, than not.
If it’s a cascade election, there’s an outside shot MA will go to Romney.