Norfolk, Virginia (CNN) –In a late campaign push to change the battleground map, Mitt Romney will travel to Pennsylvania on Sunday in the hopes of capturing the traditionally Democratic-leaning state. A Romney campaign official confirmed to CNN the GOP nominee will stop in the Philadelphia area Sunday afternoon.
The Pennsylvania event falls into the Romney campaign's newly adopted strategy of expanding the battleground map in the final week of the race. Top strategists to the GOP nominee targeted Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota this week for potential gains, pointing to polls in the states that show Romney gaining on the President.
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A Franklin and Marshall College poll released Wednesday, for example, indicated President Obama Obama had a 49%-45% edge over his Republican opponent.
Romney's campaign began purchasing air time in the state this week–a move that was countered by Obama's team. The campaign also announced Rep. Paul Ryan, Romney's running mate, will be traveling to Middletown, Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The Obama campaign immediately scoffed at Romney's Pennsylvania trip as an "act of desperation."
"Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are going all in Pennsylvania, following the lead of every Republican presidential candidate since 1992 who have made last ditch investments in the Keystone State. Not one of them carried the state," Obama campaign northeast regional press secretary Michael Czin said in a statement.
The Romney campaign instantly fired back, accusing the president's re-election advisers of reacting from a "defensive crouch."
"We are looking at an expanded map, while the Obama campaign is pouring resources into states that were supposed to be safe for them," a Romney campaign official said.
"I totally understand why Chicago is freaking out, but I just thought they'd be better at hiding it," the official added.
In the final days before the 2008 election, then GOP nominee John McCain and his running mate, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin made campaign stops in Pennsylvania with similar hopes but to no avail.
In a strategy memo, Romney campaign officials referred to recent comments made by former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell who said Democrats could let down their guards in the state, opening up the possibility of a "startling upset."
Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, a Romney surrogate, predicted the GOP nominee would win the state in an interview on Fox News Thursday.
Romney's upcoming visit to Pennsylvania was first reported by The Daily.
From CNN Politics
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Then do it before it's too late. Win those plus Florida and you'd get a sure win.
I can't put my finger on it but this Romney guy is a little strange don't you think.Wait until these evangelicals find out all he has in that closet with his tax returns.And the way he looked at Obama during the debates,kind of a "thirsting"look.
I smell desperation. I guess even Mitt the Twit can read polls and knows he's way behind in the electoral map. 4 more days and this clown is GONE. Forward!
"Tries" to put PA in play is the key word here. Bottom line is it's not going to happen. But Romney probably has $75 million to spend in the next six days, so why not spend some in PA?
Perhaps Mr. Romney should put the Caymen Isands in play... that's where his money (and his soul) is.
Didn't you hear Mitt? The big voter supression effort there failed. You're wasting your time.......
Give it up, Romney
I though the gop in pa,already said they rigged the elections in pa,oh yea ,the courts put their boot on the gops neck ,but some braindead stupid people will still vote for romney the lieing tax cheat. Morons!!!
Oh, I don't know, Romney campaign. Your candidate's home state is Massachusetts. Why not pour money right into your own backyard and get support for your ticket right there where the candidate calls home?
Oh, that's right, they know him best and are voting overwhelmingly and double digits for President Obama.
Boston is trying to make it appear that Chicago is freaking out. Meanwhile in Boston, they can't even get the candidate's own state to vote for him but they expect Pennsylvania and Minnesota to be fooled.
If Chicago is freaking out, then Boston is freaking nuts.
Romney's campagin is circling the drain.
It seems to me that CNN is getting desperate covering up the failures and broken promises from this administration.
"The Pennsylvania event falls into the Romney campaign's newly adopted strategy of expanding the battleground map in the final week of the race. "
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Here's a better strategy: TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN FOR AMERICA. Now that would get you some votes – or not.
Romney has a better chance of winning Transylvania than Pennsylvania.
In is dreams he will win! I live in pa everyone hates him!
Ha Ha, the loser Romney continues in his delusional view of the world.
Dream on, Karl Rove.
This race is ovah.
Kick the Liar out of your state - he leaves an awful stench when he leaves.
Not if he paid us.
Don't tread on me!
VOTE for a better future. VOTE Obama for President!!!!!!!!
Chicago? so the repubs are dismissing Illinois because they are trying to paint my President as a gangster to gain traction in other states? I bet people in Illinois are thrilled to know they are being painted with such a bizarre brush. Last I checked, their citizen's votes count also.
PA is fools gold for most republicans my friend. SMH.......Obama'12
Don't let them buy your state, PA.
The Romney team is watching Florida slip away so now they feel they have no choice. It is actually them who are desperate...
Sorry, Willard. But you are more than a few days late and a couple million bucks short. Even Rick Santorum can't help you there. After all, he no longer lives in Pennsylvania, and the voters there threw him out on his kiester years ago. He even lost there in the Primaries.
Fella, go home to your parking garage with car elevators! You're going to get blown out of the water next Tues. And...nobody likes you! LOL