Middleburg Heights, Ohio (CNN) - In a clear sign the campaign is confident about putting North Carolina back in the Republican column this year, Mitt Romney's campaign is moving its spokesman out of the state and plans to shift more staffers out in the coming days.
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The spokesman, Robert Reid, will be moved to Ohio, which is increasingly viewed by both campaigns as the central battleground of the 2012 race.
"With the increasingly widening polls in North Carolina, we will continue to allocate resources, including key senior staff, to other states," said Romney spokeswoman Sarah Pompei.
The campaign is not pulling out of the state completely.
Pompei said their victory centers throughout North Carolina "will remain open and we expect our supporters and volunteers to remain engaged in our unprecedented get out the vote efforts through Election Day."
The move confirms what Republicans have been saying privately for weeks: that North Carolina, a state President Obama won by just 14,000 votes in 2008, was trending safely in their direction, especially in the wake of Romney's impressive debate performance in Denver earlier this month.
The staff change was first reported by the Raleigh News & Observer.
Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt responded to the news by posting to Twitter: "Interesting that the GOP is pulling out of NC the day early vote begins and Obama supporters are lined up around the block at the polls."
Obama campaign traveling press secretary Jen Psaki said in North Carolina the Obama campaign has one of their best ground operations in the country.
"We feel confident in our operation there and we're continuing to compete for every single vote," she said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."
Both campaigns poured more ad money into battleground states this week, including North Carolina. At $828,000, Romney's campaign spent less than Obama's campaign at $880,000. The ads run Monday through Sunday.
– CNN Senior Producer Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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The Romney/Ryan waves continues to sweep the nation.... Hopefully it sweeps a lot of Democrats out along with the empty suit in the Whitehouse and his buffoon side kick.
The problem with Obama is he thought the minority would grow the economy in the last 4 years, wrong the minority can never grow any economy anywhere, becouse if locks skills and education as a foundation. Romny has a vision just like me.
They are done with you N.C. You are no longer important.
Why anyone would vote for Obama is beyond me. Obama is an evil man.
And yet CNN said absolutely nothing like this when Mittens and his PACs pulled out of PA.
You know, you could at least try to be less obvious, CNN.
"the 1 prophet".. Talking about education with the way he "spell"
I am not surprised. Losers cut an run and that is what the Romney/Ryan and the Republicans are. LOSERS that are desastrous for this country. Republican policies brought this great Nation to its knees four years ago and we remember that. We are not idiots to put them in charge again.
They must have braindead and stupid people in n c if their dumb enough to vote for the gop that tanked the economic in the first place .hay dummies ,the economic is coming back with no help from the gop trash !!!!
@jkrehator = No they're not! Didn't you read the article? or is your concentration span no more than a 1 paragraph span? Let me repeat what the article said:
"The campaign is not pulling out of the state completely.
Pompei said their victory centers throughout North Carolina "will remain open and we expect our supporters and volunteers to remain engaged in our unprecedented get out the vote efforts through Election Day."
I just voted in North Carolina—for Obama. No thinking woman would vote for Romney.
truth hurts, look at the electoral math (dun dun DUN!!!!). Romney's screwed.
Can't wait to throw Obama and Biden to the curb!!! Go Romney/ Ryan!!!
Yea! Way to go, North Carolina!
Truth Hurts–Go say that line in the mirror and point your finger, when you chant that line-get loud with it–shout it from the house top–say it tuntil your eyes water, LOL and don't stop saying your chant until 11/06/2012–then you'll know the truth
tim , president obama is not an evil man, the evil man is your man robme who his whole campaign is about lies and you know it
TIM–Evil is what is inside you–List three reasons why is EVIl and I bet your family will say those words describes your hateful spirit
Obama needs to get his suitcases packed because he's fell too far behind and romney is the better choice
Kim Jackson–Romney/Ryan appear to be the good times you mama told you about–but in reality those good time ususally get you in TROUBLE!!! the same as that pair will do to 97% of America
People would rather have a president that hasnt accomplished anything in 4 years but only early voters are voting for obama because early votes are the only votes he'll get. Romney has my vote!
Seems to me that Romney feels he needs the extra help in Ohio if he is to have a chance, and he's willing to let NC fend for itself........in other words, he's willing to trade off NC just to have a ghost of a chance in Ohio.
Sniffit–CNN's Gloria B on the panel Debate went there about the President " He seemed to be ANGRY" That was a very low blow
The binders are coming to get you, Romney. People are finding out that Romney's binder story is not even true. MassGAP, an advocacy group focused on getting women into top Massachusetts government jobs, prepared the binders before the 2002 election, and they gave the binders to Romney without Romney asking. Romney dodged the question he was asked at the debate, and he had to make up a story to do it. This is the guy who is asking voters to trust him on his tax cut and economic plans, and they will get the details after the election. Sure. Romney must be severely kidding.
The truth is going to catch up with Romney. He is finished. Search you feeling, truth hurts. You know it to be true.
Can't wait for Obama to win and shut Romney and his 1950 white male policies up. Yea I am a white guy and believe everyone should be treated equal!
I think this is a case where "confidence" should be seen as "arrogance". Everything I've seen, read or heard says that this election is going to be close ... Mr. Romney should not be taking anything for granted.
Listen to all the Romneyturds crowing because the troglodytes in NC are dense enough to vote GOP. Thank God Romney will lose and we will not have to suffer under his nonleadership!